if time was ours

footprints mirage whispers turn the hourglass

six words abandoned

change leaves fall colors walls abandoned

there is a season

too warm for this fall
too dark to linger in dusk's
embrace without you--

indian summer : my seasons : six words

indian summer to fall discontent winter


.

never black and white- six words

cloud cover shadows sunshine infused fog...

more than words

small voices big words
sparkle for-- laugh with-- moments
when i couldn't-- did.








 



(new photos with my writing students on flickr there's no way you can't smile looking at these... they really do inspire me. enjoy the weekend. x c)

what was is still

what was is still and--
cold feet fell deep reflections
made memories and still--

.

.

 .

...since 1969
for my parents' ruby red 40th wedding anniversary!

out of focus reflection

come words gone --focus--
--out of focus-- photographs
steal moments words lost

.

.

.

steal moments words lost
--out of focus-- photographs
come words gone --focus--

(six words)

i don't take photographs of flowers--


(inspired by this photo : here)

then—

then—
her laughter
shattered my silence—
a faint light
flickered in darkness
as pieces of her laughter
fell—
sparkled
--reflected
danced—
touched me
--gently
let them fall
laughter
and her eyes big
–gleamed with
something else to
tell me on another day
as her nose scrunched
and the corners of her mouth
could no longer contain
her laughter

(for abby)

 photos : by c 
(my ever-evolving flickr)

and puzzle six words

found the peace i was holding

puzzle haiku : hold syllables

hold pieces in my

fingers like syllables in

words touch fit just right

--revolving door--

--was there-- wanted to be-- life
turned around with and by--
chance and whim-- revolving door--
i've stepped out for air-- now
sit still-- right here on solid
ground dizzy hold on--
to you and watch at times--
they arrive step in and
turn out-- revolving door--
the reflections --spin
and dance-- as they come--
and go--

--revolving door--

to fall : six words

the words fell from my fingers


.

last train

when you run i run
after you last time last train
last breath we made it

.

now we drive past

missed the train on purpose waited for the next : flirted with disaster in shadows of the light at the end of the tunnel

..and six more

as august drifts closer to september--

six words times two

.

the wind touches then leaves-- fall---


.
,

pages rustle as we write stories

.

.

{thanks for all the support in my absence my dear friends you are much appreciated. i finally updated all 3 blogs today and you can read a bit more about my absence here or here. back soon}

big kiss. x c

precarious-- still--

:

.

wind rustles the leaves
precarious-- still-- they can't
deny they've fallen

:


.
:

traces : left : to make

.

footprints trace those in
smooth sands deep that time will tell--
the hours-- yours to make

.

{for maria teresa & christophe ♥ 11 july 2009}
.

.
.

porcelain :: pages unfold haiku

.

.
.

porcelain pages
blown open by this wind your
fragile faith shatters

.

almost falling

.

often trip over
instances oblivious
and keep on walking


.

wading :: underwater~haiku

.
.

wading through waiting
drowning in waves that at times
caress my warm skin~


.

.



.
.


~underwater~haiku series~

{fin}
.

holding :: underwater~haiku

.

i found peace the breath
i was holding became my
next my final swim~

.

.


{underwater~haiku series}

thought :: underwater~haiku

.



.
.

worth every dizzy
second when i never thought
i'd come up for air~

.


{underwater~haiku series}

reflected :: underwater~haiku

:

come up for air the
world magnified slowed view light
reflected silence~



:



{underwater~haiku series}

take :: underwater~haiku

.

:


pulls me takes me lulls
me and lets me fall in slow
motion gliding down~

.

:



.





{from underwater~haiku series}

magnified :: underwater~haiku

.


the world magnified
slowed don't want to move let me
hold this breath let go~

.

.



.

{from underwater~haiku series}

fall :: underwater~haiku

.


.

touch gentle rhythmic
water heavy pulls me lulls
me down lets me fall~

.




{first of a new underwater~haiku series}

#sixwords

.

you changed the way i dream


.



.

stepped out from shadows

blinked in the sunlight
squinted surprise in your eyes
you winked cuz you knew--
.

tracks

::

railroad tracks old and
broken and trains sometimes crash
and do we go back----

::

::
.

just thought--

i heard the rain all along always brought my umbrella because the storm would pass-- did-- again and would-- would have walked through the rain with you, again, would have even danced-- again, heard it all along, just thought-- if you-- but the clouds

carousel

.

:
.

i'd lost my ticket
second glance found you by chance
ride the carousel

:
.

turn back

.

denial plays a
song drive home check blind spot need
to hear that again

.

our tracks and a railroad

.

::

::

::

this railroad was here before me
and before you and here
when you sat by my side here
bright mornings when no one else
existed but us and here when you missed
the train and here when i road
alone here when i wondered why--

::

and all at once understood the silence
before those souls take last breath
lost walk along solitary
final steps on to the tracks
got this one way ticket--

::

but somehow we're here again
back along these railroad tracks
dignified moment of silence
for seen unseen still here and though
so much has changed at times
it would seem nothing's changed

::

and i hear you in the soft approach of
the train in the distance
the tunnel the light the ticket the fight--
fall and step walk run miss-- laughter
whistles past this railroad here
before me and you here when you
sit by my side and for a moment
we look out the same window.

::

::

.

footprints crossed

:

never crossed the mind

unholy footprints side by

side faiths merge we walk

.

:

train de nuit

.



:: missed chances taking you
where you belong
on an old train found with the one
you'd never dreamed of
until today ::



.



:: until today
you'd never dreamed of
on an old train found with the one
where you belong
missed chances taking you ::


.

glimpse

.

dust off the window
peer in-- the world still as it
was we are could be

.
.
.




inspired by ::
train de nuit post on my words and photo booth moments blog :: la voila

night air hums

.

.



.


the slow breathing tick
of watch falling leaves distant
airplane night air hums

.

.





.

nightstand

took denial with
the glass of water on my
nightstand, need to sleep

.

that

that i would always
remember that you'd always
forget----

.

.



.

motionless touch

.


.
.


.

.
hot fresh still open
window curtain motionless
touch this moment lost


...


touch this moment lost
window curtain motionless
hot fresh still open


.

.



.

somehow know--

:

there's a whisper in
the air can't quite hear somehow
know-- it's about you




.
:

and found sleep at last

.

.
.




.


curtains sway drift but
cannot rest with you wonder
what it'd be like--

.

:: in between ::

.
:


water meets land past
meets present you winked at me
somewhere in between



.

song in the distance

.
::

a song brings me back
nights when i was someone else
dancing here driving



::

.

faith

.

smile reflects courage
touch a small pond ripples in
sunlight generous

.


.


.

.


:: inspired by matt ::

Friedreich's Ataxia in the heart :: FAITH

.

old train ticket in my purse

.
.

after all this-- train
still passes in the distance
in our distance-- still--

.

this taste

night still dark as the
cherries sweet stems touch embrace
beside the almonds

.
.

.

don't always want to go

.

.
.
my mind takes me where
i don't always want to go
but sometimes you're there

.

.
.

.

her soft words accented

.

---and the next day gone
not ready-- to arrange her
death in syllables


.
.
.

in subtle light she glowed

.

at her mother's funeral
she watched the wooden box move
down the aisle and tears sympathetic
smiles and glances she tapped
her father on the shoulder
in the middle of prayer
to ask a quick question something about
what would happen next
she leaned on the pew with both
hands then bent down to brush off
the knees of her white tights
living in the presence of her friends
and in a rose scented whisper life carries on
.

.

.

.

.

sit with me

cafe table sun
on the brick wall a shadow
of an empty chair



.
:

.

the ride

.

human emotions
car honks in the street.. airplane
soars through clouds.. leaf falls



.

and this is what i write

::


the poetry of everyday, every day.

{sixwords}

::

seconds

:
sit here in open window evening silence
my watch sits on my desk beside me
i rest my head on my left palm and
pause to think and not think and
somewhere in this moment
i hear time pass


:
.

.

but still

i envelop the
envelope you never sent
words you never said
.



.
:

pieces could fall

.

.
.

.

i can't put you back
together still i can hold
you-- maybe you'll... fall--

.

in between the headlines

.

this just in.

scribbled words on a newspaper
at breakfast today
strong coffee warm walnut toast fresh cherries
how gentle to write like this
tender paper pen sinks in casually glides over yesterday's news
my words pressed in newsprint
on the edge my right palm smudged black ink
the words are scribbled
still-- you--
in between the headlines

.

:

.

.

in between the headlines
still-- you--
the words are scribbled
on the edge my right palm smudged black ink
my words pressed in newsprint
tender paper pen sinks in casually glides over yesterday's news
how gentle to write like this
strong coffee warm walnut toast fresh cherries
at breakfast today
scribbled words on a newspaper

this just in.

.

glow reflected

.

brilliant moon tonight
we were lost and found under
dark sky loyal glow
.

.
.

.
dark sky loyal glow
we were lost and found under
brilliant moon tonight
.

change

woke up this morning
and everything and nothing
had changed forever
.



.

.




..

full moon tonight

.

Darker than the night
i'll write these words without you
blinding bright full moon

.
.

.

. .tangled.

.
.

wish you could unwind--
yourself-- the web-- you're caught-- just
feel what touches you

. .tangled.


feel what touches you
yourself-- the web-- you're caught-- just
wish you could unwind--

.
.

seventeen syllables

.
.
the words are not there
seventeen syllables as
elusive as you
.

.
.




.

the unsent letter

.

your language or mine
wouldn't have made a difference
the unsent letter

.
.

accent

.
: whispering despair
when we laugh-- hidden echo
hints of your accent : .
.

that once you--

.

my cheeks that once you
kissed --stained with tears that once you--
that because of you--
.

mirage of what

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
the mirage of what
we could be in this desert
tempted-- thirsty---
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

flashlight

.
.
turned on the flashlight
your silhouette in my mind
what was i thinking--
;

.
{mirrored haiku}
.
;
what was i thinking--
your silhouette in my mind
turned on the flashlight
.

.
;

train whispers

.

heard the whistle of
the train in your eyes open
window curtain danced . . .
.


.
.

what have i left?

.
.

what have i left

to write about

the dark swirls of this wood--

the last breaths of steam that rise from my coffee--

when all that seems to come to mind is you.

.

.
.

whispers

elusive-- peaceful--
yesterday's whispers glow warm
on your lips-- today


.





.
.

what we've got-- we make

:

strawberries walnuts
honey fresh bread-- warm-- love with
what we've got-- we make
.

.
.

familiar flavors

.

the spices in your
life became mine and always
had been in my tears
:

.

i think but one thing

nothing bothers me
when he's near i think but one
thing-- he'll be gone
.
.

.

and then another

.
.


.
took a pill and then
another, no remedy--
soothe cease kill-- pain, love

.

stream of dusk and sand .

golden tones drench the
sea with lust wheels spin lost in
stream of dusk and sand
.



.
.

scribbled at breakfast haiku 3::

.


cardamon clove salt
sweet tears honey red chili
promise deception



.
.

scribbled at breakfast haiku 1::

.

love disguised fear-- faith
you won't even say it to
yourself how could i--
.






.

you won't know

.
it's the not knowing
and knowing what you know won't
stop fire from burning

.

.
.

words #fail

.


the honey isn't
sweet not today my words to
you have meant nothing
.




.

fall for nothing

.

you don't see my tears.
wipe away your feelings in
one touch stubborn pride.
.



.

your hands

.
can't reach you when you're
there-- your hands are still clenched and
yet-- you're letting go
.

.


.

under my fingers

ideas still wet ::
like paint on this wall sticky
:: under my fingers

my biggest critic

.

my biggest critic
strong warm eyes that melt mine next
step and kiss goodbye

.

highway

.

highway drive with you
talk wonders life religion
dusk your voice this glimpse
..

lost

melodious notes
from your voice have fled-- flood my
heart sweet anguish lost

::

fragments mirrored

.
..

fragments that glimmer
gently shattered dignified
staggering impact
......
::
;

shattered dignified

.
:

::::

........

staggering impact

gently shattered dignified

fragments that glimmer

......
::
.

tells me stories {ii}

tells me stories while
i drive laughs so hard-- lost-- gaze
at him not the road

. :: .

tells me stories {i}

tells me stories when
he's half asleep but all mine
awake in a dream

.
::
.

ordinary moments

...the dark velvet blue
sky saw a star twinkle as
i shut the window...

a whirling dervish

a whirling dervish

of occasional dizzy

glances at desire

::

image here

ash

ash falls from the sky

gentle like snow nothing's as

it seemed anymore

.

viens avec moi

my mind takes me where
i don't always want to go
but sometimes you're there

::

until--

once more you slam the

door tender oblivion--

i'll still be inside

::

still

woke up this morning
and everything and nothing
had changed forever

::

you always

:: was thinking about

you but life interrupted

like you always---

looking away

i sip my coffee
sit before this screen as if
nothing had happened

::

detour

hi.
carla coulson photographer

during an unexpected detour {i still haven't arrived anywhere that even remotely resembles what i thought i'd have found by now} i tripped over a lot of things lying in my path to.... wherever i thought i was going...

for instance, a month or two ago i was looking for a challenging poetry lesson for one of the young students that i tutor in writing. the idea of haiku crossed my mind and five seconds after she complained about the constraints of 17 mere syllables, we were both hooked on the complex simplicity, the lull and force of writing haiku, of capturing moments in the same rhythm and a completely different light. flashes of light. glimpses of what i might otherwise not have told you, honest, courageous, brief, touching, strong, gentle, funny, poignant, subtle breaths of what was almost overlooked and whispered words of longing lost, held, found...

i've been writing haiku and sharing here and there, mostly on twitter, and in the meantime, have met some amazingly talented, creative, inspiring, supportive, fun and generous poets, writers and all-around interesting people, thoughtful and funny, i love funny, i need funny... and with some gentle encouragement that sincerely touched me, i've created this sparkling new blog to catch my fallen words shattered hopes scattered thoughts exhaled pieces together and molded into 17 syllables. 17 syllables that posses the potential to-- well-- you fill in the rest--

because the experience of haiku is personal, unique to each individual who reads it and different in the next moment if you choose to read it again. and haiku is accessible. anyone can find a laugh or a smile, a pause in a hectic day, a moment of peace, reflection, perspective, as your own thoughts echo in the deceptive depth of a single haiku.

most of you just haven't tried yet. i intend to change that. this is my effort. and please introduce yourself, stop by often i'll post haiku and short poems {maybe some longer ones...who knows, go crazy!} throughout the day. i love getting to know all of you and your work. find me on twitter and we'll play #haikuwordgame together! i'm kinda shy so you might have to say hi first haha. i will start a list of twitter poets here to keep the conversation moving.

so please enjoy the charming and charismatic nature of haiku poems that wink at you just when you think you're not looking. don't read just these -- read as many as you can find. moments of your lives will forever be reflected and changed. {repeat if necessary}

x chantal
{aka @inotherwords_c on twitter}

scattered words fallen

::
broken i hold words
scattered thoughts shards laughter tears
fallen i write you--
::
.

::
fallen i write you--
scattered thoughts shards laughter tears
broken i hold words
::

chandeliers on the floor

•
..
::
.
::
::
::::
:::::::::
.
.....
::chandeliers::on::the::floor::
savor what light comes your way
bend to reach pieces scattered fallen shining
soft light reflects in what's shattered
illuminated shadow of a dim glow
capricious exquisite determined shimmer of what's always been
dignified still inevitable collision perspective
enlightened darkness
::chandeliers::on::the::floor::
ornate
polished
::
splinters
rough around the edges perfection
broken fallen transported in that moment
touch what makes you bleed
the veil of trepidation falls gently
with courage strength and breath
::chandeliers::on::the::floor::
from this breath
the flicker of gold in your dark eyes illuminates the path
pieces destined to fall in a generous glow
grasp what light comes your way
staggering impact gently shattered splintered
imperfect glimmer dignified fragments
::chandeliers::on::the::floor::
::::::
...
•