Carpe Diem Special #96, BrunuhVille's ²nd "Fable"

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

As you maybe can remember we had last month (May) all prompts based on Legend, Myth, Saga and Folktales and I enjoyed it a lot. I even had a sad feeling that that month was over. Therefore I decided to (at least one) do a composition by BrunuhVille which in a way connects us back to May. I found a nice composition titled "Fable" and I love to share that one here for your inspiration.

I think it's a wonderful piece of inspirational music and I hope you all like it as much as I do. To make this episode a little bit more interesting I have also found a Celtic fable to share here with you all.

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The Legend of Lough Gur

LARRY COTTER had a farm on one side of Lough Gur in the county of Limerick and was thriving in it, for he was an industrious proper sort of man, who would have lived quietly and soberly to the end of his days, but for the misfortune that came on him, and you shall hear how that was. He had as nice a bit of meadow-land, down by the water-side, as ever a man would wish for; but its growth was spoiled entirely on him, and no one could tell how.
One year after the other it was all ruined just the same way: the bounds were well made up, and not a stone of them was disturbed; neither could his neighbours" cattle have been guilty of the trespass, for they were spancelled [= fettered]; but however it was done the grass of the meadow was destroyed, which was a great loss to Larry.
"What in the wide world will I do?" said Larry Cotter to his neighbour, Tom Welch, who was a very decent sort of man himself: "that bit of meadow-land, which I am paying the great rent for, is doing nothing at all to make it for me; and the times are bitter bad, without the help of that to make them worse."
"It is true for you, Larry," replied Welch : "the times are bitter bad - no doubt of that; but may be if you were to watch by night, you might make out all about it: sure there's Mick and Terry, my two boys, will watch with you; for it is a thousand pities any honest man like you should be ruined in such a scheming way". 

Credits: Lough Gur, a lake in County Limerick Ireland

Accordingly, the following night, Larry Cotter, with Welch's two sons, took their station in a corner of the meadow. It was just at the full of the moon, which was shining beautifully down on the lake, that was as calm all over as the sky itself; not a cloud was there to be seen anywhere, nor a sound to be heard, but the cry of the corn creaks answering one another across the water.
"Boys! boys!" said Larry, "look there I look there! but for your lives don't make a bit of noise, nor stir a step till I say the word."
They looked, and saw a great fat cow, followed by seven milk-white heifers, moving on the smooth surface of the lake towards the meadow.
"it is not Tim Dwyer the piper's cow, anyway, that danced all the flesh off her bones," whispered Mick to his brother.
"Now, boys " said Larry Cotter, when he saw the fine cow and her seven white heifers fairly in the meadow, "get between them and the lake if you can, and, no matter who they belong to, we will just: put them into" the pound."
But the cow must have overheard Larry speaking, for down she went in a great hurry to the shore of the lake, and into it with her, before all their eyes: away made the seven heifers after her, but the boys got down to the hank before them, and work enough they had to drive them up from the lake to Larry Cotter. 

Credits: Heifers (an Irish kind of catlle

Larry drove the seven heifers, and. beautiful beasts they were, to the pound; but after he had them there for three days, and could hear of no owner, he took them out, and put them up in a field of his own. There he kept them, and they were thriving mighty well with him, till one night the gate of the field was left open, and in the morning the seven heifers were gone. Larry could not get any account of them after; and, beyond all doubt, it was back into the lake they went. Wherever they came from, or to whatever world they belonged, Larry Cotter never had a crop of grass off the meadow through their means. So he took to drink, fairly out of the grief; and it was the drink that killed him, they say.

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What a nice fable don't you think so too? And I think it's a nice fable to go along with the music of BrunuhVille .... and ofcourse I hope it will inspire you to write haiku.

As I listened to this music ... I saw images of combat in my mind, combat in the Highlands or in the green meadows of Ireland ... warriors fighting for honor to be granted awards for their combat by the king. The fable brought me another problem ... how can I bring both inspiration-sources into one haiku ... so I had to think it over and over again. Finally I think that I have composed a wonderful haiku inspired on both sources.

Here it is:

warriors of the king
fighting for glory - in the meadows
the lowing of cows

© Chèvrefeuille

Credits: in the meadows (Drumbeg)

I think this is a nice one ... and maybe it is one of my best ... but that's not up to me to say ...

This Special CD episode will be open for your submissions tonight at 7.00 PM (CET) and will remain open until June 11th at noon (CET). I will try to post our next episode, breeze, later on today. For now have fun, be inspired and share your haiku with us all here at Carpe Diem Haiku Kai.

Carpe Diem #481, Helpful (Mongolian Mythology ... in a way)

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

This is our last day of our month in which we discovered world wide legends, myths, saga and folktales. And this is our last Mongolian Mythology post in which we will discover how helpful we can be  to others. In a way this is a new Mongolian Myth ... I have written it myself inspired on a real Mythology story of Mongolia.

Credits: Altai Mountains

The Cry of an Eagle

A long time ago, in a faraway place somewhere on the steppes, there lived a Mongolian shaman named Batbayar. He was known through out the steppes and many people came to him for counseling and healing. His yurt was made of deerskin and on the floor there were several colorful tapestries.  Underneath those tapestries he had a secret room hidden where he performed magical and alchemical rituals. No one knew about that secret room, because in there was his true wisdom hidden.
One day a young man, Maidar, come to Batbayar with a very heavy burden or problem weighing on his shoulders. As he came to Batbayar's yurt he bowed deep. "Batbayar?" he said. Batbayar looked at him with his deep blue eyes. "What's your name?" he asked with a voice full of music and love. He invited Maidar to his yurt. They sat down on the colorful cushions and looked at eachother a few minutes.
"My name is Maidar", Maidar said after a while, breaking the holy silence in the yurt. "I have a problem and I hope you can help me wise Batbayar". Batbayar had already seen his problem which laid as a burden on the young man's shoulders. He had noticed his sad aura, but didn't mention that. he waited until Maidar would have told him his problem. "Tell me your problem Maidar", Batbayar said.


Credits: Altai Yurt

Maidar looked at him and saw those loving and caring eyes. "If there is someone who can solve my problem than this wise man can do that", he thought.
"One day I was riding through the steppes on my horse, as I do often, because I love the steppes. I came along a young woman, somewhere on the steppes around my village. She sat on a rock and was crying, her face hidden behind her hands. I knelt before her and asked her why she was so sad and crying. She told me that she had met a nice guy and they had fallen in love. Her boyfriend did everything for her and treated her like a queen, but some day he had bought a very nice necklace for her. She looked at me, still crying, but she had no more tears to cry. She only had that sad look in her face. "I lost my necklace", she said. "My boyfriend became very angry and left me as I had told him that I lost the necklace he had given me". I asked her if she could remember were she could have lost it. She nodded. "Somewhere around this rock I am sitting on", she answered. I looked at her redstained face and said: "I will find it for you and than we go to your boyfriend and tell him". "Will you really do that for me?" She asked me with a bright smile on her face.

Her Necklace

I started searching the surroundings of the rock and after three days I finally found her necklace. It was broken near to the tiny lock of it and gave it back to her. She was overwhelmed with joy and kissed me. Right on that moment her boyfriend came to her on his horse and saw her kissing me. He saw the necklace and became very angry. He jumped of his horse and started to fight with me. I lost, because he was a muscled man, very strong and fast ... a real warrior with an athletic body. After our fight he yelled at me. "You thief. I will haunt you forever and I will kill you one day!" This is almost a year ago and he is still haunting me. Maidar looked at Batbayar with tears in his eyes. "And I only helped her to find her necklace back". Batbayar had listened and was impressed that this young man, who looked so strong was crying.
"As I can see, you have still problems with that and you only did what was good, you helped someone in need". Maidar nodded and would say something, but Batbayar shook his head. "No need to tell me more Maidar. I know how I can help you and I know your problem". Maidar looked at him. He had still tears in his eyes. "You know?" he asked. Batbayar nodded. "You are afraid to be helpful again and that makes you sad, because that's why you are here ... to help others". Maidar smiled. "Yes you are right. After that fight I only did things for myself, but in a way it felt empty, it felt like I was incomplete". "You can help me if you want to Maidar. I am getting old and soon I will go to my ancestors. I have no relatives left. So will you help me? In change for your help I will teach you all my secrets, all my wisdom I will give to you. I will teach you Tengriism and shamanism".

Credits: Altai Eagle-hunter

Several years later somewhere high in the Altai Mountains an old shaman and his apprentice sat down on a rock. They sat there for a few days looking over the steppes and the mountains. "Maidar". The apprentice looked at his old master. "It's time. Can you hear the cry of the Eagle?" Maidar nodded. "Yes my master I can hear the cry of the Eagle". As he looked at his master he saw that his spirit was already gone, had left his body. Than he heard and saw the Eagle. In his mind he heard the last words of his master, Batbayar. "You have become a great shaman Maidar and I know that you have finally regained your helpful strength and a lot more ... use it well ..."
Maidar stayed for a few days in the mountains and than returned to the yurt of Batbayar, which was now his yurt.

Credits: Mongolian Shaman

Maidar became a great shaman, even better than his beloved master Batbayar, and returned every year to the mountains to the place were he had lost his master to talk with the Eagle.

whispering leaves
telling all wisdom of the steppes -
cry of an eagle

(c) Chèvrefeuille

I hope you did like this "new Mongolian myth" and I hope it will inspire you to write new haiku and share them with us all here at our Haiku Kai.

This episode will be open for your submissions tonight at 7.00 PM (CET) and will remain open until June 2nd at noon (CET). I hope to publish our first episode of June,  after loving, later on today. For now ... have fun!
PS.: My dad is home again ... yesterday he was released from the hospital, now it's time to heal for him. We don't know yet if the tumor was good or bad ... so we have to wait for that result.

Carpe Diem #480, Dragon (Mongolian Mythology)

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

First I have to tell you something. My dad is coming home from hospital today. He went in surgery last monday to take away a tumor on his back. After a few days hospital he may return home today. We don't know yet if the tumor is good or bad, but my dad is feeling ok again and will recover.

Than second, I have published a new episode of "Suikazura No Retsu", which you can find on the left side of our Haiku Kai. And I have launched a new weblog in which I will gather all the episodes of "Suikazura No Retsu".

Today our prompt is dragon and it's referring to a Mongolian Folktale titled "Hunter Boy" which I will share next. It's a bit long tale, but I hope you all do like it and that it will inspire you to write haiku, senryu, tanka, kyoka or haibun.

Hunter-Boy

They say that, in this remote beauty, there is a game wealthy Hunter-Boy. His winter camp is in the Altai Mountains and his summer camp in the back tablelands. When he rides his chestnut colored pony eastward he hunts buck and doe, after heading westward there is always an antelope tied to his saddle, if traveling south he tracks deer, if galloping to the north he kills fox and wolf. After hunting he always comes back with something strapped to his saddle. He is never selfish with his catch, whenever around his neighbors he shares the meat. Hunter-Boy is a grown man, able to reach the saddle ties and put his foot into the stirrups. Therefore, over these years, the neighboring families there have never gone without.

Credits: Altai Mountains

One day, when Hunter-Boy was on his way to go hunting, a hawk came flying over and swooped down to catch a thin white snake curled up in the tall grass near the river shore. As the hawk flew back by, the small snake called out, "Hunter-Boy, help! Help!" Hunter-Boy feeling sorry for the snake thought to himself, "Poor thing, the little creature has run into trouble and is pleading me, how can I refuse to help!" He pulled out an arrow and shot the hawk and the thin white snake fell to the ground. "Hunter-Boy, your grace must be repaid!" said the little snake as it disappeared into the tall grass.
That evening, after strapping a roebuck to his saddle, Hunter-Boy headed back along the river shore. On the way he happened upon a multitude of snakes lying criss-cross along the path. "Are you having a gathering today?" asked Hunter-Boy out of curiosity. Then just ahead the thin white snake came out, saying to everyone, "This is Hunter-Boy, the one who graciously saved my life." All of the snakes circled around Hunter-Boy in a loud commotion, "Our master has invited you to visit him." Then the small white snake said, "I am the Dragon Master’s youngest daughter, yesterday you saved my life and my father wishes to show his appreciation by inviting you to visit his palace." "How can I ever get to the Dragon Master’s palace?” asked Hunter-Boy. "Close your eyes and I will lead you there." replied the thin white snake.

Credits: Altai Mountains (2)

While walking along the thin white snake whispered into Hunter-Boy’s ear, "My father is going to offer you precious objects of silver and gold, but don’t accept them. Instead, ask for the small round precious stone which my father always keeps in his mouth, once you place it in your mouth you will be able to understand the languages of all four-legged and winged creatures. However, I will warn you about one thing. After you have put the precious stone into your mouth, can understand the language of the flying creatures and know what they are saying, what ever you do, you cannot tell what you have heard to any human being. If you do, your body will immediately turn to stone. Please, don’t ever forget this." Hunter-Boy, understanding what she had said, nodded his head. After walking a ways further he opened his eyes only to find that they had already arrived at the Dragon Master’s palace.
The Dragon Master, wanting to express great thanks to Hunter-Boy, opened the doors to his one-hundred and eight treasure houses saying, "Hunter-Boy, you may choose anything from among these treasures of mine." Hunter-Boy walked up to the door of the treasure house to peer inside. Gold and silver glittered in his eyes and the pearls were piled high like mountains. Treasures to revive the dead, to bring sight to the blind, to bring sound to deaf ears and speech to the speechless. There was enough for a lifetime of grains, for garments which the sun and wind could not penetrate; the universe would never lack from these treasures.
Hunter-Boy bowed to the Dragon Master and said, "Dragon Master, I live as a hunter, a guardian of the remote spaces, I have need of the small round stone which you keep in your mouth. Please bestow that upon me."

Credits: Mongolian Dragonmaster

The Dragon Master, looked to the right and laughed, looked to the left and cried, took the precious stone from his mouth and gave it to Hunter-Boy. From that time on Hunter-Boy, able to understand the languages of the four-legged and winged creatures, became an even more successful hunter.
One day, as Hunter-Boy went up the mountain to go hunting, he overheard the mountain birds in discussion, "Tomorrow, they say that Sir Tiger, our mountain creature king, will be celebrating his birthday. They also say that he is going to eat the flesh of those two children who always come up the mountain to fetch firewood...the two of them don’t know that they will die tomorrow."
Hunter-Boy was very surprised to hear this and wanted to tell those two children, however, he remembered that if he were to tell them his own body would turn to stone. But then, if he didn’t tell them, when the two poor children go to gather firewood and are eaten by the tiger...the fear tore at him all night. Suddenly, at the break of dawn, an idea came to him. He took his bow and arrows and headed up the mountain, he arrived at a cliff and sat down to wait. Shortly after, the two children came up the mountain gathering firewood and were paying no attention to what was going on around them. All of the sudden the fierce tiger jumped out roaring, “MEAT! MEAT!". They say just as the tiger hurled himself toward the two children, Hunter-Boy, with a single arrow, shot the tiger through the neck killing him instantly. The two children bowed down in front of Hunter-Boy, their lifesaver, thanking him. All of the mountain animals who, time and time again, had been humiliated and taunted by the tiger also came to show their appreciation at his deed.
As the days and nights passed, Hunter-Boy became more and more skilled at hunting on horseback, and at the same time continued to answer to the needs of the neighboring families. One summer day, it is said, Hunter-Boy went to a far off mountain behind his home to go hunting. The Emperor and Empress of the bird kingdom were leading their subjects on a long journey to a faraway place. All of the four-legged animals were growling and quarreling, they say even the bunnies and gophers were grouping together fleeing in excitement. At this, Hunter-Boy, in a state of wonderment, got down from his horse and sat in the shadow of the trees to listen to the birds in conversation.
"Tomorrow this mountain is going to burst and create a large flood. All creatures must take their belongings, not leaving anything behind in the village, and head out." they exclaimed.
At that instant, Hunter-Boy, jumped up and took off toward home. As soon as he reached the village he began, "Quickly we all have to move away from here! Tomorrow the mountain behind us is going to burst and there is going to be a dangerous flood..." As he spoke, it is said, not even one person believed his words. He moved away and thought to himself, "I am an orphan and these people have cared for me since my birth they have taught me the difference between right and wrong. How can I just leave them with this threat of death?" He spoke up "Hurry, get away from here! Hurry! There is really a flood coming!" Hearing this the people badgered him asking over and over. "How do you know about this flood? Who told you?" They say not even one person was prepared to flee.

Credits: Mongolian Vulcan

At this, very worried and excited, he thought to himself, "How can I be afraid of turning to stone and let all of these people and animals die". Then Hunter-Boy began by telling them about saving the thin white snake, and the Dragon Master summoning him to visit his palace to show his gratitude. About the precious stone which the Dragon Master kept in his mouth and how he begged the Dragon Master to give him the stone. How, once he placed the stone in his own mouth, he could understand the languages of all creatures, therefore killed the tiger and saved the two children gathering firewood. He explained how today he overheard the mountain animals talking. He told them that the Dragon Master’s youngest daughter strictly told him not to tell any of this to any other humans otherwise his body would change into stone. As he was speaking his body slowly began to harden
and just as he stood he turned to stone. Everyone around blinked as they watched in disbelief, then their eyes grew larger and larger. Only after witnessing this did the people believe what Hunter-Boy had said. All of the sudden, as everyone began frantically running to and for to get away, there was a loud noise, "Ka boom". The mountain behind them had really burst and they could hear the sound of the rushing water crashing down toward them.
The people gazed at the stone figure of Hunter-Boy from afar as it stood firm in it’s place, not even the water caused it to budge. At a safe distance, everyone sobbed and cried saying, "Hunter-Boy turned to stone for us!". From this time on the people who were saved from the flood continue to pass the memory of Hunter-Boy on from generation to generation.

Hunter's Boy Spring, a blue rock formation in the Altai Mountains, a natural sacred site

There in the Altai Mountains, standing upright next to the source of a natural spring, is a blue rock formation, and they call this spring “Hunter-Boy’s Spring”.

What a story don't you think so too? Of course it's ''to long'' for a blog post, but I just had to share it with you all. (Credits story: Culturev.com)

This episode is open for your submissions tonight at 7.00 PM (CET) and will remain open until June 1st at noon (CET). I will try to post our next episode, helpfull, later on today. For now have fun!

Carpe Diem #477, Hunting (Mayan Mythology)

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

We are going further with our journey through Mayan mythology. Today our prompt is hunting and it refers to the Mayan folktale 'The Jaguar and the little Skunk. It's a nice story with a great lesson hidden in it.

“The Jaguar and the Little Skunk” from the Mayan tribe shows a valuable life lesson that is known and understood throughout
the culture: one should never go out by their self to do a difficult task that one doesn’t have the right ability or experience because it may end up hurting loved ones around them.
People normally go about their daily lives not thinking about what might happen or who they might hurt due to their actions.
Whether we go out thinking we can do something we cant and end up hurting ourselves and upsetting the people we love or by taking to much of a medicine thinking that it will help but ends up as
not waking up the next day only leaving someone we care about finding the mistake we made. One should never go out by their self to do a difficult task that one doesn’t have the right ability or experience because it may end up hurting loved ones around them".

That's the lesson we will learn out of this folktale ... and here is the story itself:

Credits: Jaguar and the little Skunk

The Jaguar and the Little Skunk

Once there was a gentleman jaguar and a lady skunk. Mrs. Skunk had a son, who was baptized by Mr. Jaguar, so Mrs. Skunk became his comadre (godmother). And as Mr. Jaguar had baptized the little skunk, he was Mrs. Skunk's compadre (godfather).

Mr. Jaguar decided to go looking for food and came to
Mrs. Skunk's house.
"Well, compadre, what are you looking for? What have you come here for?" the skunk asked the jaguar.
"Comadre, what I have come to do is to look for some food," said Mr. Jaguar.
"Oh," said Mrs. Skunk.
"I want my godson to come with me so that he can learn to hunt," said Mr. Jaguar.
"I don't think your godson ought to go; he's still very small and something could happen to him. He better not go, compadre," said Mrs. Skunk. But the little skunk protested:
"No, mother, I had better go. What my godfather says is true. I need to get some practice, if I'm going to learn to hunt," said the little skunk.
"But if you go, you'll be so far away," said Mrs. Skunk.
"I'm going, I'm going. Come on, let's go." So they set
off on a long walk.
"We're going to where there's a river. That's where we're going," Mr. Jaguar explained to the little skunk, his godson.
"When are we going to get there?" asked the little skunk.
"We're getting close. Follow me so you won't get lost," said Mr. Jaguar.
"All right," answered the little skunk. They finally came to the river.
"This is where we're going to eat," said Mr. Jaguar to the little skunk.
"All right," said the little skunk.
"Come on over here. I'm going to sharpen my knife," said Mr. Jaguar.
"All right," said the little skunk, looking at his godfather.
Mr. Jaguar sharpened his claws, which he called his "knife."
"I sharpened my knife. Now you're going to be on guard, because I am going to sleep. When you see them come, wake me up," said Mr. Jaguar.
"All right," said the little skunk, "all right, godfather."
(Skunk wakes Mr. Jaguar when prey is sighted)

Credits: The Jaguar and the little Skunk

Then Mr. Jaguar told him: "Don't shout. Just scratch my belly when they come. Scratch my belly, so I won't alarm them. But don't wake me up if just any little old animals without antlers come along, only when the one with big antlers gets here. That's when you'll wake me up."
"All right," said the little skunk. Then the one with the big antlers came, and the skunk awakened Mr. Jaguar. He scratched his belly, and pointed out the deer to Mr. Jaguar, who attacked the animal with big antlers. He went after him and seized him.
"All right, my godson, let's eat. We're going to eat meat," said the jaguar.
"All right," said the little skunk. And so they ate and ate.
"Now we're going to take whatever leftovers there are to your mother," said the jaguar.
"Since we are full, we can take something to your mother. Your mother will have meat to eat, just as we did. We will take some to your mother," said the jaguar.
When they came back to the mother's house, he told the
lady: "Look at the food here. Look, we've brought you some
food, the food that we hunted. Eat your fill of the meat,
comadre," the jaguar said to Mrs. Skunk.
"All right," said the skunk, and ate the meat.
"I'm full," she said.
"It's good that you're satisfied. I've seen that you are, so I'll be leaving now," said Mr. Jaguar to Mrs. Skunk. And so he left.
After the jaguar left, the little skunk stayed with his mother.
When they ran out of meat, Mrs. Skunk said to her son:
Dear, our meat is all gone."
"Yes, the meat is all gone. I better go and get us some
more food," said the little skunk.
"How can you, son? Do you think you're big enough? You're very small. Don't you think you'll be killed?" asked Mrs. Skunk.
"No, mother, I already know how to hunt, my godfather taught me how," replied the little skunk. "I'm leaving now." He left, and Mrs. Skunk was very worried.
Her son came once more to the river, the place to which he had come with his godfather to get the meat.
"This is how my godfather did it. Why shouldn't I be able to do the same thing?" said the little skunk.
"This is how you sharpen a knife," said the little skunk. He sharpened his "knife."
"This is the way my godfather did it. I'm not going to hunt the little animals, I'm just going to hunt the one with the great big antlers. I'm going to hunt one for myself just like the one I ate with my godfather. I have my knife here and I'm going to sleep for a little while."
The little skunk lay down to sleep, but then he awakened. He was waiting for the one with the big antlers, and when he came, he attacked him, thinking he was as strong as his godfather. But he just hung from the neck of the one with big antlers. His claws had dug into his skin. He was hanging from his neck and was
carried far away and fell on his back. He was left with
his mouth wide open.

Credits: Little Skunks

Since he had not come home to his mother, she wondered: "What could have happened to my son? Why hasn't he come back yet? Something must have happened to him. I better go and look for him."
And so Mrs. Skunk went as far as the bank of the river. She was looking everywhere for her son, but couldn't find him. She began to cry when she found the tracks where the one with the big antlers had come by running.
"They must have come by here," said Mrs. Skunk, and began to follow the tracks. She came to the place where her son had been left lying on his back. When the mother caught sight of him, she noticed that his teeth were showing and shouted at him: "Son, what are you laughing at? All your teeth are showing," she said to him before she had gotten very close. When she did get close she told him: "Give me your hand. I've come to get you, but you're just laughing in my face." She put her hand on him, thinking that he was still alive, but when she noticed that he was already dead, she began to cry.

I hope this folktale will inspire you to compose haiku and to share them here at Carpe Diem Haiku Kai. Have fun, be inspired and share. It inspired me to write this haiku:

lessons of nature
told by an ancient tribe -
lotus blooming

© Chèvrefeuille

This episode is open for your submissions tonight at 7.00 PM (CET) and will remain open until May 28th at noon. I will try to post our new episode, rascal, later on, but I don't know if that episode is on time, because I have a very busy Monday ... so I hope I will be on time. If not ... please forgive me and be patient.

Carpe Diem #473, Creation/Ancestor (Aboriginal Mythology)

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

Another day has started ... it's a wonderful sunny day here in The Netherlands and it's almost 25 degrees Celcius ... so it looks like summer is here ... a bit early, but well ... all nature started earlier this year, because of the soft winter.
Today we will go on with our journey along worldwide legends, myths, saga and folktales and today we are starting with stories from Down Under, in other words, we are starting with stories from the Aboriginals in Australia.
Our first myth is, as you can understand from our prompt, Creation, the creation-story of the Aboriginals. I hope you all will like this story and I hope it will inspire you to write haiku.

How the World was Created - An Aboriginal Dreamtime-story.

There is no single creation story among Aboriginal peoples, who have a diverse mythology. Some traditions hold that the Earth was created by one of the gods of the Dreamtime, others that particular creatures were created by particular gods or spirit ancestors.

Credits: Aboriginal Dreamtime

In the beginning the earth was a bare plain. All was dark. There was no life, no death. The sun, the moon, and the stars slept beneath the earth. All the eternal ancestors slept there, too, until at last they woke themselves out of their own eternity and broke through to the surface.
When the eternal ancestors arose, in the Dreamtime, they wandered the earth, sometimes in animal form - as kangaroos, or emus, or lizards -- sometimes in human shape, sometimes part animal and human, sometimes as part human and plant.
Two such beings, self-created out of nothing, were the Ungambikula. Wandering the world, they found half-made human beings. They were made of animals and plants, but were shapeless bundles, lying higgledy-piggledy, near where water holes and salt lakes could be created. The people were all doubled over into balls, vague and unfinished, without limbs or features.
With their great stone knives, the Ungambikula carved heads, bodies, legs, and arms out of the bundles. They made the faces, and the hands and feet. At last the human beings were finished. Thus every man and woman was transformed from nature and owes allegiance to the totem of the animal or the plant that made the bundle they were created from -- such as the plum tree, the grass seed, the large and small lizards, the parakeet, or the rat.
This work done, the ancestors went back to sleep. Some of them returned to underground homes, others became rocks and trees. The trails the ancestors walked in the Dreamtime are holy trails. Everywhere the ancestors went, they left sacred traces of their presence -- a rock, a waterhole, a tree.
For the Dreamtime does not merely lie in the distant past, the Dreamtime is the eternal Now. Between heartbeat and heartbeat, the Dreamtime can come again. (Source: Aboriginal Creation-story)

There are many Aboriginal-Creation stories and here is another told in a wonderful video by: Rachel. 

What an awesome story ... and maybe it has happened that way ... all people, religions, cultures and so on are equal ...

rainbow serpent
watches humanity always
bringing equality

© Chèvrefeuille

A senryu this time ... not really my ''cup of tea'', but it rolled from my pencil ...

This episode is open for your submissions tonight at 7.00 PM (CET) and will remain open until May 23rd at noon. I will try to post our new episode later on today. That will be our 4th CD-Special by Jack Kerouac, our featured haiku-poet of this month. For now ... just have fun!

Carpe Diem #472, Worship (Hindu Mythology)

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

First I have to make you all an apology because I lost my list of stories which I would like to use this month. So I had to choose a few other stories the last past days. A few days ago, the prompts were referring to Hindu Mythology and I used Native American stories ... so today I will make that ok and share a Hindu Mythology story.
Today our prompt is worship and it refers to the story of Krishna and Uttanga which will follow hereafter. Krishna is one of the most important deities of Hinduism and we have seen Him earlier in our Carpe Diem Haiku Kai. Playing his flute and creating the world as the story goes.

Krishna and Uttanga

After the great war of Mahabharatha was over, Lord Krishna was traveling back home. On his way back, he passed a barren desert. He waited there for the night. There in the barren desert he saw a Sage named Uttanga. Uttanga was a great devotee of Lord Krishna. He spent most of his time in meditation and did not know much about what happened in the outer world...
Uttanga saw Krishna camping the desert and was thrilled to meet him. Uttanga fell at Krishna's feet and worshiped Krishna. Krishna picked up Uttanga lovingly and embraced him. 'My friend! What are you doing here?' Krishna asked Uttanga. Uttanga smiled and shook his head. 'Just meditating, my Lord! The question is what are you doing here?'

Credits: Lord Krishna

Krishna thought for a few seconds and then spoke, 'A great war was just over! We just finished the Kurushektra war, my friend! I am now going back home...now that my work there is done...'
Uttanga blinked...A war? Krishna could not stop a war? Uttanga fumbled, 'But my Lord! A war? A war would have caused so much bloodshed....Why would you even allow such a war to happen?
Krishna sadly nodded his head, 'This war was responsible for many people to lose their lives...But it was necessary...'
Uttanga said surprised 'You are saying that a war is necessary?' Uttanga looked disgusted as he continued, 'this war has created so much misery and loss…Did you do nothing to stop the war Krishna?’ Uttanga became more and more angry, as he spoke. In anger he pulled out the water from his Kamandalam and held it in his hands and said, ‘If that is true Krishna…then I am going to curse you…’
Krishna looked at Uttanga and smilingly shook his head. Gandhari’s [the mother of the Kauravas] curse already hung on his head. He had accepted that curse willingly….He did not need another person who did not understand him…He had to make Uttanga understand, ‘Uttanga! I did everything in my power to stop the war…I went and pleaded with Duryodhana [the eldest Kaurava] to make peace with Pandavas…I said that he did not even have to give back the Pandavas the whole of the kingdom that they had lost….I was even ready to accept five villages - one each for each of the five Pandavas...’ 

Credits: Lord Krishna and Radha

Uttanga looked surprised as Krishna continued, ‘Yes! I actually pleaded with Duryodhana to give five villages, one for each of the five Pandavas…and do you know what Duryodhana said?’ Krishna said with pain filled eyes. Uttanga questioningly raised his eyebrows as Krishna continued, ‘Duryodhana said he would not give even the space to occupy a needle to the Pandavas…He said he was willing to fight for it…It was his….’
Uttanga felt a little silly with the water in his hands as Krishna continued, ‘Besides Uttanga, the Kauravas humiliated the Pandavas and Draupadi[the wife of the Pandavas]…Such cruelty could not be forgiven…And so...' Krishna said taking a deep breath, '...the war was fought…’
Uttanga dropped the water uselessly on the floor and looked at Krishna with tears in his eyes, ‘I am sorry I doubted you, Krishna…’ He looked down looking shamefaced, ‘I am sorry I was about to curse you for something you were not responsible…’
Krishna shook his head. He ordered his guards to prepare lunch for the sage. The sage enjoyed Krishna’s hospitality for some time. The next day, as Krishna left for his kingdom, Krishna spoke to Uttanga, ‘Uttanga! I know that when you heard my story yesterday you were about to curse me...you transferred some energy to the water in your Kamadalam…It was wasted…Your powers were wasted…I wish to make up for it…Please ask for anything from me, I will grant you any boon you want…’  Uttanga shook his head, ‘I need nothing Krishna…I am an ascetic…I am devoted to you…I can see you whenever I want...What more could I want….’
Krishna smiled,‘Please Uttanga! I insist! Please ask for a boon…’
Uttanga thought for some time. Krishna did not give his word normally to everyone…Krishna expected him to use the boon carefully…He looked at the place where his water had spilt and suddenly smiled, He looked at Krishna, ‘Krishna! I lost some water on that day right? So that is what I ask from you…Water…If I ever feel thirsty, you have to make sure that my thirst is quenched….’
Krishna smiled and blessed Uttanga. Krishna started his journey to Dwaraka.
In the desert Uttanga sat meditating on the Dark Lord. Once as Uttanga had finished his meditation, he felt very thirsty. He looked around and saw no water. Krishna! He thought as he closed his eyes.

Credits: Lord Krishna playing His flute

When Uttanga opened his eyes, standing before him was a hunter with his dogs, dressed in rags looking dirty and filthy. The hunter was panting as if he had run a long way. The hunter took out the water from a pouch in his belt and took a sip. The hunter looked at Uttanga and said, ‘Sir! You look like you are thirsty….Want some water?’ The hunter said gruffly handing over the dirty pouch to Uttanga. Uttanga wrinkled his nose. The stench coming from the man was unbearable…The water that the man was drinking was probably dirty. Uttanga stepped back and shook his head, ‘I don’t want anything…Go away from me…’
The hunter looked amused, ‘Sir! You actually look thirsty…I saw you lick your lips, when I was drinking water…I filled the water from a river near my house…It is very clear and pure…’
Uttanga wanted to just get away from the dirty man and his dogs, who were sniffing him, ‘Go away now!’ He said angrily and slightly nervous looking at the dogs.
The hunter tried again, ‘Sir! You won’t find a lot of water here…' The hunter said pointing at the desert around him, '...Please sir…take some water…’
Uttanga looked angrily at the hunter and said, ‘I would rather die thirsty then to drink water from a dirty man like you…go away!’
The hunter gave a sad smile and went away from there...Uttanga was angry and still walking with no water…Krishna, your broke your promise…How dare you…
Standing before Uttanga with a very sad smile was the Dark Lord, who suddenly appeared before him. Uttanga angrily looked at Krishna ‘Is this a way to repay a boon…I thought you said I would get water, whenever I was thirsty…My thirst is almost killing me…and what?’ Uttanga said angrily waving his hands, ‘No water?’ He said looking scornfully at Krishna.
Krishna did not say anything while Uttanga was ranting. Finally Uttanga looked exhausted then Krishna spoke quietly, ‘You are right, Uttanga…I did not give you water…I was going to give you nectar of immortality…amrita of the Gods….’
Uttanga looked stunned as Krishna continued, ‘Indra, the God of the Devas has the nectar of immortality with him…I asked him to give that to you…' Uttanga looked stunned as Krishna sadly continued speaking, 'Indra agreed to give you the amrita, but he imposed a condition. Indra said that it was after all Amrita ...only a person who truly deserved it should be given it....Indra said that he would first test you and if you passed the test, he would give the amrita to you...'

Credits: Lord Krishna

Krishna pointed at the direction of the hunter, ‘The hunter was actually Indra…He had amrita in his pouch…He wanted to see whether you saw the Brahman [the Force which runs within us all…] in all the people…’ Krishna sadly shook his head, ‘You could not see that all people are equal, Uttanga…’ Uttanga looked too shamefaced and bowed down, his thirst forgotten, ‘Despite all your meditation and prayers, you still do not realize that everything is one and the same and all are equal…I am sorry Uttanga…’ The Dark Lord said turning away, ‘You still have a lot to learn about Love and the Brahman…’
The Dark Lord handed some plain water to Uttanga who was now not in a mood to drink it. Uttanga just went away and promised to himself that he would become a better person and try to see everyone equally no matter who they are… (Source: Hindu Mythology)

I think this is a wonderful story in which we can see how Uttanga is worshipping Lord Krishna and we learned that all people are equal without exceptions. (I couldn't find fitting pictures, so the pictures are not for illustrating the story, but for illustrating the post ... sorry.)

deep silence
devotees listen in ecstasy
worshipping Krishna

worshipping Krishna
while he plays his flute
creating the world

creating the world
without inequality of All -
deep silence

© Chèvrefeuille

Well I hope you did like this story and that it will inspire you to write haiku, senryu, tanka, kyoka or haibun. 

This episode is open for your submissions tonight at 7.00 PM (CET) and will remain open until May 22nd at noon. I will try to post our new episode,Ancestor, later on today. For now have fun, be inspired and share your haiku with our haiku-family.

Namaste

Carpe Diem #471, Uneasy (Native American, Sioux)

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

Another wonderful legend will soon be shared here. We are going further with our journey through Native American legends, myths, saga and folktales and today I love to share a legend from the Sioux. It's about a big sea monster and how the Sioux tried to defeat it.

Devils Lake and the Legend of the Sea Monster

Many, many moons ago, it seems, rumors had circulated among the Native Americans about a huge sea monster that had wiped out a whole army of Native Americans.
After his appearance, the water in Devils Lake had become so polluted that all the fish disappeared. The native Americans became so uneasy about the whole matter that Little Shell, Chief of our tribe, sent Ke-ask-ke (Big Liar), our medicine man and inventor, to investigate.
Ke-ask-ke found a band of Sioux Native Americans living at the lake. The old Sioux medicine man related this strange story of how there had appeared to them Owanda, the Seer.
It seems the Sioux had just completed a bloody battle, and victorious, had driven the Chippewa’s to the Canadian border. The Sioux had planned another attack on the Chippewas to drive them beyond the border, when there appeared to them the Great Spirit Man, Owanda the Seer, with the warning that if they did, a huge monster would come out of the lake and swallow them up.
They did not heed this warning. The Chief of the Sioux warriors ordered the strongest men to dress in full war regalia. Drums began beating. The native Americans began howling, Ki-ya-ya, Ki-ya-ya. Bows, arrows and hatchets flew. Oh! what a fierce people.

Credits: Lakota Sioux Wardance

Native American women also danced in a circle. Even young boys were dressed in full war clothing, dancing. But just as they were ready to go on the warpath, they saw the water rise and boil. The earth seemed to tremble from under their feet. A large ugly monster came out of the water, his saucer like eyes flashed like a copper fire. The Sioux became terrified. Never in their lives had they seen such an animal. He had short legs, a short chubby neck and a large head. He made for the Sioux. They fought for their lives, but the demon was too powerful. One by one he swallowed everyone in sight. However, a few got away to other Native American camps.
The medicine man, who had left upon the warning of the Spirit Man, returned a few days later with another band of Native Americans. That was the beginning of mysteries. The lake water became salty, like that of the sea. The medicine man was baffled. The fish disappeared as if by magic. Not even a dead fish could be found. Fish had been plentiful. In fact, the Native Americans, formerly, had taken them out in the spring time with a pitchfork and hauled them away in wagon loads.

Credits: Sioux Medicine-man

The old Sioux medicine man sent for other tribal medicine men to help investigate. That was the reason our Chief Little Shell had sent Ke-ask-ke. They prepared a seance, known as brains of Know-it-all. All night the Native Americans feasted, danced, sang and prayed. At last Ma-che-gambe said he had the answer. He ordered the largest boat and with the medicine men set off on the lake. They came to an area of water which had suddenly turned to a stormy sea. A few yards off they saw large bubbles on the surface. The medicine men became panic stricken.
“Ma-che-gombe is crazy,” they said, “to bring us face to face with the sea monster. We have no chance of overpowering him.” They wanted to cast him overboard. However, Ma-che-gambe convinced them they need not fear. But the whirlpool pitched one of the medicine men overboard. When he hit the water he began spinning around, going deeper and deeper. Then he disappeared-”vanished to the grave of the sea monster,” his companions thought. This was enough. The medicine men started sharpening their knives. It was time to kill Ma-che-gombe. 

Credits: Ma-Che-Gombe, the sea-monster of Devils Lake

“Do you know,” Ma-che-gombe said, “that he who fell into the water is the Spirit Man of the Water?” “The Great Spirit will not suffer us loss of our brother. This problem is not a matter of one man, but one of concern to all the Native Americans welfare and it is our mission to solve their problem.” The medicine men for once agreed. They rowed along the boiling hole until the Spirit Man who had fallen into the water appeared again. He described what he had discovered. Deep in the water he said he found a hole where the water came out boiling. This was the mouth of a subterranean passage connecting with an underground river that ran across the country to the Gulf of Mexico. They decided the monster came to Devils Lake from the sea through this underground river. And as he made his way into Devils Lake, the salt drew all the fish into this underground river and they were never able to get back into the lake.

What a story don't you think? Well ... I hope it will inspire you to write haiku ... have fun!

This episode is open for your submissions tonight at 7.00 PM (CET) and will remain open until May 21st at noon. I will try to post our new episode, worship, later on today. For now ... be inspired and share ...

Carpe Diem #470, Proud (Native American, Indian)

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

We will continue our journey along the world wide Legends, Myths, Saga and Folktales and after our side-step yesterday we return to our Native American friends. Today our prompt is Proud and it refers to a legend which is told by several different Indian tribes.

Before I share that beautiful story I first will ask your attention for the following. As you all know I have started a Carpe Diem Haiku Kai Forum where you can ask help by writing your haiku or making it stronger. There are several questions published to be answered and I would like to invite you all to maybe visit our forum and help our family-members. You can go to our forum by clicking in the column at the left or by clicking HERE.


Credits: Coyote Proud

Ok ... back to our episode of today. Here is the story of the Coyote Proud:

The Story of the Coyote Proud

In old days Coyote was bright green, and how he came to be the colour of dust, was this way:

One day he was walking along looking for something to eat, and he came to a lake. And there he saw a little bird with ugly grey feathers. It was bathing in the lake, and when it came out on the bank, all its feathers fell off and left its skin bare.
After that, the little bird jumped into the lake again, and came out covered with beautiful bright blue feathers! It hopped about and sang:
"This water is blue!
And blue I am too!"
"Little Bird," cried Coyote, "you are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen! Tell me how you changed your ugly feathers for these bright blue ones."
"I went into the lake four times in four days, and sang a magic song," said the little bird, "and the fourth time, my feathers all fell off. Then I jumped in a fifth time, and these beautiful ones grew all over me."
"Little Bird," said Coyote, "teach me your song, for I also wish to be blue."
So the bird taught Coyote its song, and he jumped into the lake and bathed four times in four days. The fourth time all his hair dropped off. Then he jumped in again, and his hair came back a beautiful bright blue.
Well! He was proud! And as he walked along he looked about on all sides to see if anyone was admiring him. He even examined his shadow to see if it was blue. And of course he did not look where he was going, and suddenly he hit a stump, and rolled over into the dust.
He rolled and rolled, and when he got up he was all dust-coloured! And that is the reason why ever since that day all Coyotes have been the colour of dirt. 

Credits: Coyote Proud

A wonderful story I think ... I enjoyed it for sure. I hope this story will inspire you to write haiku and share them with us all here at our Haiku Kai. This story brought a smile on my face and so I have tried to bring a little bit humor in my haiku. I hope I have succeeded in that goal ...

proud like a peacock
steps a businessman around
stumbles over the sill

© Chèvrefeuille

This episode is open for your submissions tonight at 7.00 PM (CET) and will remain open until May 20th at noon (CET). I will try to post our new episode, uneasy, later on today. For now ... have fun, be inspired and share your haiku with us all here at our Haiku Kai. !! Visit also our weekly haiku-meme Haiku Shuukan !! 

 

 

Carpe Diem #469, Awareness

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

The last few days we had prompts referring to Native American Legends, Myths, Saga and Folktales and I will continue with that, but not today. As I was preparing this new episode about Awareness another nice tale came in mind, a Dutch folktale and I love to share it with you all.
This Dutch folktale is about a very wealthy woman who isn't very kind towards her surroundings and she thinks herself she is much much better than the rest of the people. It's a very classic folktale, but it has something to do with being aware of the way you live and your view on the world around you.
As you all know I am a Dutchmen from The Netherlands and this story I love to share is one which is told still ...

The Lady of Stavoren (a Dutch folktale)
 
Stavoren was one of the most wealthiest cities in the Middle Ages. Ships from everywhere crowded the harbor, and brought richness to the merchants of Stavoren. They became as rich as one could think and decorated their doors with gold leaf.

One of these wealthy merchants was Richbertha, a woman whose husband had died years before. She had inherited his fortune and continued to trade. She became wealthier and more beautiful and everyone spoke about her as the Lady of Stavoren.

Statue of the Lady of Stavoren in the harbor of Stavoren

One day a famous captain visited the Lady of Stavoren. He stood before her bowed and gave her a beautiful ruby ring. The stone was huge and sparkled in the bright sun. The Lady of Stavoren was impressed with its beauty. And thanked the captain for his gift, but it also filled her with greed and she asked the captain to bring her the most precious thing in all the world.
The captain sailed all the seven seas to find her the most precious thing on the world and he finally succeeded to find the most precious thing in all the world.
He sailed back to Stavoren where the Lady of Stavoren already had heard of his success and was waiting for him in the harbor. He asked her to come aboard to see what he had got for her. As she saw what he had brought her she became angry and full of rage. He had gotten her a full load of grains, wheat for bread. The Lady of Stavoren demanded that the wheat would be thrown into the sea, into the harbor. The captain tried to stop her, but that made her even more angry. She pulled of her ruby ring, which the captain had given her, and flung it into the water where the strong current swiftly carried it to sea. While she did that she said: "Sorrow will no sooner come to this city than my ruby-ring will return to me". And sayin that she commanded the men to toss the sacks into the sea.
The next evening, the lady sat down at her table to enjoy a feast. Where she sliced into the fish on the plate before her, she gasped, for there, inside the fish, lay her ruby ring.
That very night many ships were lost at sea in a terrible storm, and within weeks, the wheat at the bottom of the harbor began to grow. As it did, sand gathered between the stalks, and soon sand filled the harbor. Before long, large ships could no longer enter, for the sand bar grew and grew. To this day, the sandbar is called "Lady's Sand".
What once was the liveliestand wealthiest port of Europe grew smaller and poorer, and everyone says this was the fault of the greedy Lady of Stavoren, who didn't understand how precious is the bread that feeds us.

Credits: Seagrain rising up in the harbor of Stavoren

It's a wonderful story in which is very clear that greed is a bad habit and it can turn you to poverty. In this story (there are 27 different versions) the Lady of Stavoren becomes aware of what she had done after several years in poverty.

gold ring thrown away
returned in the belly of a fish
bringing poverty

rich merchant woman
could not understand her wealth -
no more bread

© Chèvrefeuille

Well ... I hope you did like this Dutch folktale and I hope it will inspire you to write/compose new haiku ...
This episode is open for your submissions tonight at 7.00 PM (CET) and will remain open until May 19th at noon (CET). I will try to post our new episode, proud, later on today. For now ... have fun!
!! BTW I have published a new page "Discover the World of Haiku" with links to other websites and weblogs you can find that new page above in the menu bar or HERE it's a page in progress !!