South Pacific

*

South Pacific

well here I am

walking on the sands

of Hanalei Bay

Kauai, Hawaii

which is where the movie

South Pacific was filmed-

even though it is not really 

the South pacific,

more like the middle Pacific

but that wouldn't make 

as a good a title... 

That little peak

in the background

is Bali Hai

whereas in the musical and movie

the mythical island 

upon which the story took place

was called Bali Hai

from the Hanalei pier

looking across the bay

lying on the water

is Puff the Magic Dragon

the front lower ridge

is the dragon's neck

the red patch his eye socket

and when the on shore winds blow

the surf sends up spray

that appears like 

Puff's steaming nostrils

(click to enlarge -
I have left the pics
at full resolution)

and on this expansive lawn

with 180 degree views of the bay

in this most special of islands

my son #1 will marry his love

tomorrow

Oh Happy days

*

Across Oceans

*

Across the Oceans

I have travelled across oceans

leaving home at 9am

I arrived at my destination

at 3pm the following day

I took three flights

and spent 12 hours

in the air

leaving 32 C at home

and 99% humidity

I am enjoying 

a cool 25C

Where am I?

*

Summer Moon

*

Summer Moon

 

One evening

when we had only just moved

into our new home

 I was putting out the lights 

for bed

when something 

in the gum trees opposite

caught my eye

December moon

waxing for the second time

  

In her lacy night gown

she slumbers

 

  

Brilliant moon

is it true

that you too

must pass in a hurry

Issa

 

 One perfect moon

and the uncountable stars

drowned in a green sky

Shiki

 

From watching the moon

I turned

and my friendly old shadow

led me home

Shiki

*

Alexander Beetle

*

Alexander Beetle

I found a little beetle, so that beetle was his name,
And I called him Alexander and he answered just the same.
I put him in a matchbox, and I kept him all the day...
And Nanny let my beetle out
Yes, Nanny let my beetle out
She went and let my beetle out-
And beetle ran away.

 

She said she didn't mean it, and I never said she did,

She said she wanted matches, and she just took off the lid

She said that she was sorry, but it's difficult to catch

An excited sort of beetle you've mistaken for a match.

 

She said that she was sorry, and I really mustn't mind

As there's lots and lots of beetles which she's certain we could find

If we looked about the garden for the holes where beetles hid-

And we'd get another matchbox, and write BEETLE on the lid.

  

We went to all the places which a beetle might be near,

And we made the sort of noises which a beetle likes to hear,

And I saw a kind of something, and I gave a sort of shout:

"A beetle-house and Alexander Beetle coming out!"

  

It was Alexander Beetle I'm as certain as can be

And he had a sort of look as if he thought it might be ME,

And he had a kind of look as if he thought he ought to say:

"I'm very, very sorry that I tried to run away."

And Nanny's very sorry too, for you know what she did,

And she's writing ALEXANDER very blackly on the lid,

So Nan and me are friends, because it's difficult to catch

An excited Alexander you've mistaken for a match.

A A Milne

*

Gong that Bell

*

Gong that bell...

Today is a day

for celebration

Today

I am gonging 

this great bell

at Todaji Temple

in Nara

Japan

for the benefit 

of my blogging friend

Barry

of
An Explorer's View of Life

who is celebrating the end 

of his cycle of chemotherapy
at the Chemo Day Care
Princess Margaret Hospital
in Ontario, Canada

It is a custom at the hospital 

where Barry has been having treatment

to ring the bell 

as you leave the building

on the day
that your treatment completes...

Let's

ring all the bells

gong all the gongers

all across the world

and join with Barry

in a celebration

of his life

Let's think about

the wonders of science

the resilience of the body

and the tenacity of the spirit

and let's send Barry

our best wishes

and our love

for his on going recovery

and his great health

and longevity...

Let all the bells ring out now....

Gong g g g g g g g g g..............

P.S. 

Barry,
I know that the correct day
is the 18th at 2pm
However I have begun ringing
a few days early
as am going to be mobile
and in transit
for a number of days
unable to access a computer
and don't entirely trust
the pre-set function
on the posting






But I am sure
a little warm up gonging
in advance
will set the scene
and get everyone armed
with bells and gongers
in preparation 
for 2pm
on the 18th




and don't worry...
I will hear the bells ringing
from where-ever I am
on this earth...




Many Happy Days to you Barry

*

Little Cove Walk

*

Little Cove Walk

 

Slip into your thongs...

or do you call them flip flops

  or jandals -

if you are a New Zealander,

or slippers -

as in Hawaii...

  

Let's walk down the lawn

and cross the road

  

to the steps

  

down to the boardwalk

  

 I am taking you for a walk

just a little stroll today

it is so hot

I thought you might like a swim

at Little Cove

  

What's that?

  

who's this 

  

oh 

you little beauty

it's the Blue Faced Honey Eater

  

taking refuge

in the shade 

of the palm fronds

  

see you later

  

we turn left 

and amble down hill

slowly

  

we are heading 

for this cove

  

which looks so cool

and inviting

  

it's not too busy today

  

and the sea is calm

  

 

we'll find a spot

with some shade

  

down we go

  

 you can fish

  

or swim out the back

across the cove

  

have a try at 

stand up paddling

  

snorkle

at the edge 

of the bay

  

body surf

  

or even share

a little romance

  

now we have cooled off

let's head back home

 

and if we get hot

we'll take a little rest

where the brush turkey 

has created a mammoth nest 

on the bank

and we'll look out 

over the ocean

of Little Cove

my new home...

*

A New Day

*

A New Day

At the rocky edge

I turn to the morning sun

Raise my arms up high

And exhale my yesterdays

Praying for a fresh new day

 

The new day begins

I am a knotted bundle -

Memories, habits.

But this day is untainted

And I am born again - Blessed

Thank you to Joel Goldsmith,

spiritual writer and mentor

from way back,

who, in his many books,

 reminded me
over and over again

that each day

brings another fresh 

new opportunity

to
become...

and thanks also to Dan 

for introducing me

to the Tanka

poetry form

*

Post Script

Dan has suggested that I tell you
about the poetic form of Tanka -
The Tanka is a little like
a stretched out Haiku



We begin with the Haiku format
which has a total of 17 syllables

in three lines:
with a five
seven
five
syllable pattern


and then we tack two further lines
on the end
each of which has 7 syllables.


And there you have it
A Tanka


A lovely and simple form of writing poetry
where brevity is of the essence
and being succinct
captures the spirit
of the writer's intention
in a nutshell

*