An Eighth Shot of Espresso: Coffee and Creativity on Mum's Third Shift

What is Haiga? Dip the glass pen into the ink make straight lines curved into letters minimal strokes of the brush to convey a scene for all to see green for spring flowers blue for deep rivers white for puffy clouds red for sunset's tears words and art work in tangent in harmony to make the idea whole.    (art "Star Dancer" copyright A. Dameron, 2015)   touch the stars tonight all over your fingertips dances all winter  

A haiga is a haiku paired with visual drawing. It's usually a painting or a drawing, but it can also be a photograph, collage or digital image. pastel on black paper, 2019 Faithful companion you have crossed the rainbow bridge wave from other side

I rain drips from the eaves  as thunder shakes the heavens  the dead do not care  II. a lone candle sits flame casts wandering shadows restless in its wake III. dusty books on shelves words are accumulated but they have no voice IV. truth forever mute hidden for no one to see too dangerous for power V. the last bastion keeper of forgotten age hopes the sun will rise VI. a single wish flares thread of history changes for future children VII. for now darkness reigns but the light only grows dim watching and waiting VIII. red blood cools quickly  the house becomes so quiet  there's another ghost

cascade of water  cold rapids far far below  my soul is drowning the air is cooling sun's rays are growing shorter darkness encroaches the current of fate sweeps me away in its grasp unknown arrival there isn't a way to steer away from danger I face it head on finally it slows bubbles of foam on surface burst and fade away

I. see the ferryman press the gold coin into his hand then he welcomes you II you're the only one today must be a slow day or this trip's just yours III. it's quiet, peaceful the sound of lapping water he pushes off shore IV. he's a quiet chap not much for conversation he just has one job. V. cross the river Styx  the darkness is comforting  it's time to forget

 I. Cheerful light is gone the cloud rolls over the sun colors are muted II. They say it won't last shadows are temporary the darkness lasts years III The mole squints upwards: says, "it all looks fine to me." dives back to his home. IV. All the birds take refuge protected by the green trees they weather the storm V. When the fury passes debris scattered everywhere pick up the pieces VI. Fix what is broken continue living again soon all forgotten.

  I. Grey skies shine outside a chill still enters the bones It's February. II. A drone to my left hear fussy minute details I dream of big dreams III. Making the best of ashes that slip through my hands find no diamonds. IV. The world has moved on and all my feeble attempts drop in the ocean. V. Mortality looms blackened petals curl and burn return to ether. VI. Name is not spoken true death happens twice over ghost cries silently. VII. When spring comes again thorns surround roses petals remember.

Three in the morning too late to sleep, lie there or will you get up? So many worries what will happen tomorrow? Will things be all right? It all feels for naught when all you see are dark clouds. Brace for the sunshine. Look out the window And the world is still asleep And all is quiet. Then the sky is born Rosy pink light in the East Chase all the fear away. The impact you make might not be felt for a while. Keep doing good things.

All prompts from #vss365 on Twitter. Prompt words are marked with #.  I. Don't release the hounds. All of them are out for blood. #slaughter everyone. II. Meet in a tavern the barkeep's cellar has rats one #quest to start all. III. Mother's lullaby she sings the baby to sleep the world just listens. IV. A #misty morning campsite is peaceful, quiet Nature is at peace. V. The #little insults all pile up in a short while so I turn and leave. and you still can't understand just why I can't take a 'joke'. VI. When I was a child I watched an #orchestra play Wanted to be there and now I watch my daughter proudly from the audience. VII. Her very #dry humor might not be to your liking it's an acquired taste. VIII. They say #idle hands are sure to cause wicked souls so keep them busy so they do not have the time to even think of mischief. IX. Take me to #dinner good food and good company at home or just out I just want to be with you and for you to be pres...

I. Music, my refuge I lose myself in the notes Away from it all Just me and my instrument and no one is involved. II. Let melody flow harmony for heart alone and unspoken words. III. Until cymbals clash of real life and its demands crescendo so loud impossible to ignore heavenly time is over IV. Looking at the score: jump directly to the end and play the coda. .

A collection of haiku and tanka using word prompts from "#vss365" om Twitter/X. Prompt words are marked with a #. I. A majestic bird she unfurls her wings in flight #proud and without fear. II. I don't have #remorse over what I can't control and no misplaced guilt loaded onto my shoulders I'm not my sister's keeper. III. A cheeky response brings smiles and rueful laughter or a stony glare depends on the audience and on their lack of humour. IV. #suspicious actions deflections are #successful all thanks to privilege. V. They are #astonished that not everyone believes the same as they do. VI. #Motivated by the pure goodness of your heart? Is there such a thing? VII. Hasty solution completely #rushed and bodged up and yet it still works! VIII. I am #overwhelmed by my body's odd workings and I wonder why it won't just work normally just like everyone else's? IX. I love the Islands they're warm and hospitable saying " #aloha ...

 (All prompts from #vss365 on Twitter/X. Prompt word marked with #) Here in the #aery where the falcons all fly free safe from predators. #Archipelago islands in tropical seas time for vacation! #Graph 's lines up and down and track all the highs and lows approval or none a pointed needle this #acanthes -thesia stabbing and jabbing and my nerves are all on fire my cries are only silence. Time is a circle it just seems like a straight line #chronos is confused. Not a daisy, but an #aster , small and dainty blooms in the autumn. It's so #poetic history repeats itself no lessons are learned. Cycle of #rebirth from old life to the new one you're learning again. What if your knight who shines in scale-mail armour is a good #dragon ? It runs like #clockwork : sins repeat generations so break the cycle. #serendipity : you would not be here if the fate was different. #Coins locked in a vault Gold, silver, copper await Centuries later. A #marvelous tale: rabbit flies ove...

 More #vss365 responses in haiku and tanka. Prompt words are marked with # #greed not just for funds time, affection, attention it's never enough #rats scurry around wondering at the wide wide world through their simple eyes. Today I ran my fingers along the edge of the kitchen knife. I had to come face to face with all possibilities. What am I to you? #Chopped liver, fancy but bad? Parade me around serve me on silver platters, but you can't live without me. Colors on my #brush pastels, the color of spring sunny storms abound. A contradiction: approval is so #fluid one day it is good the next, according to whim withdrawn because of reasons. So day after day I #muster the energy to face all of it. Old wise matriarch she always kept the peace and held it together the #glue who oversaw all that fell apart at her loss. The leading questions #probing for what I do know what you keep hidden. #Cathartic feeling when someone confirms to you that you aren't nuts that ...

25 stanzas of Haiku and tanka written with daily prompts from #vss365 on Twitter/X. Haiku has 3 lines per stanza (each line with 5-7-5 syllables, respectively). Tanka has 5 lines per stanza (5-7-5-7-7 syllables). The original prompt word is marked with #. Some have more than one prompt word; that covers more than one day of #vss365. _____ I. She's obsessed with him: what she feels is not true love just sad #limerence . II. Mum serves #muskmelon tropical fruit in a bowl But Hubby declines the texture is way too much appearance too exotic. III. Peaceful tranquil nights light beams upon the river I stand there, #moonstruck . IV. #intellectual uses very big words to #discombobulate V. The need to be seen is so #poignant but also so delusional. VI. There's too much shouting things that do not matter much: there's too much #clamor . VII. Argue with the storm face the #shipwreck of folly: it's a long way down. IX. An #exquisite meal only distracts you from the constant...

  My responses to #vss365 on Twitter/X. The day's prompt word is marked with a # I. The final #frontier is not what you think it is: delve into your mind. II. Biggest #heist of all You stole in and took my heart I don't want it back. III. Shackled in my mind I dream of happier days the taste of #freedom . IV. At the last sunset when the glow of life is done: time for the #endgame . V. Music and laughter party around the campfire #balter and sing loud. VI. They give #credence to all of the evil misdeeds: still do not believe. VII. Family party: voices raised in argument such a #kerfuffle I simply roll my eyes and just do what I was doing. IX. Nice to think about but I'm not interested: much #velleity . X. Rhythm on guitar dancing shadows mix and match: this dark #fandango XI. A #dragonfly is luminous, ethereal: wings under the moon. XII. My limbs so heavy my body wrapped in blankets this #dysania . XIV. Today I read So many bad takes on things: what's this #codswa...