The Līgo Haibun Challenge is hosted by Ye Pirate and Ese.
This week we are invited to be innovative. Instead of completing our prose with a haiku, we can choose an alternative style of oh-so-brief poetry. I have selected the Cambodian pathya vat style – four lines of poetry where the second and third lines must rhyme.
This week is also prompt week, and i have chosen the Mexican proverb ‘It is not enough to know how to ride – you must also know how to fall’ as my inspiration.
Please do go and check out the other entries by visiting the co-hosts’ blogs and finding the InLinkz linky thing! There are some very talented writers out there…
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– One Wild Song –
The weather yesterday was what I told myself to be the winter version of the day of my dad’s funeral – blue skies, here and there the odd wisp of teased, cotton wool clouds, everywhere crisp and bright.
It was a fitting day for us all to gather for his memorial service. A man who loved colour in his clothing as well as in his art, he would have delighted in such a day to celebrate his life, his achievements, his work.
Throughout the service – a mixture of classical music, hymns, choral works, poetry and other readings – I kept on thinking that I wouldn’t have been surprised if the man himself had arrived, charging down the aisle in a puff of cigar smoke, rainbow-hued tie flailing. It was all so ‘him’. The stunning surroundings, the atmosphere, the sheer grandeur of it all, yet wrapped in an intimacy so tangible it could almost be touched and held close.
So many amazing sentiments were expressed. They were touching, even humorous at times, topped off by a huge round of applause fit to lift St Paul’s Cathedral from its foundations and expose the OBE Chapel to the world outside.
It could have been no better.
clapping of hands stings in echoes for life that flows – sorrow no more
Here’s my latest entry into the dVerse Open Link – why not take a look at everyone else’s wonderful responses?
This is dedicated to some friends of mine, a lovely couple, who have had a horrible time this year. To top it all, one of their beautiful cats passed away yesterday. They know who they are – this is for them, and their puss.
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– Cat Heaven –
In cat heaven, there’s always sunshine And plenty of places to rest In cat heaven, no-one disturbs you In cat heaven, cats always know best
In cat heaven, there’s cream and fresh tuna And your bowl is full to the brim In cat heaven, your coat’s always glossy In cat heaven, you always look trim
In cat heaven, there’s room for cats small and large Moggies and pedigrees too In cat heaven, old enemies make friends once more In cat heaven, no-one is blue
So if you are wondering where I have gone And you miss stroking my fur Just think of cat heaven, look way up above From cat heaven, you’ll hear my purr.
I stand and stare at you in the moments after you stop living; there are no more words to say to you, under my breath. I can no longer pretend or hope or believe or pray that you can hear me, that you can smile somewhere deep inside at the sound of my voice, and be glad that I’m with you at the end. I resent you for it; for not saying goodbye, for cutting free so unilaterally.
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So, for me, an unsurprising choice this week, when we are invited to write about the difficult or spicy subjects that we tend to swerve, given half the chance. Death yet again is my theme. The death of my dad. Today in particular has been pretty bad. There’s no rhyme, no reason for it. That’s grief, I guess. Tomorrow will be different, I know.
You can read and discover many more slices of life right here.
