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"2017 Poems"


Prologue
Gondola Rides

By Gypsy Blue Rose




Gondola rides in Venice with

Your arms around my waist

Pressed against your chest and

Sweet kisses caress my neck

You whisper in my ear

& kiss my cherry lips

Deliciously decadent

Eternal bliss

And the best …  

Near you when I awake



 

Author Notes Happy Valentine!

 photo 87146282-9051-49d5-a43f-c5187ad05347_zpsnuthknkn.jpg


Chapter 1
Tanka (in mom's kitchen)

By Gypsy Blue Rose



In mom's kitchen 

embers burn beneath the table 

to warm the heart 

of a lost and lonely child  

to play in hallways of my mind.


 

Author Notes Tonight I was thinking about my who died when I was ten-years-old.

To keep warm we used a brasero. It was a heater commonly used in Spain when I was a little girl. It is placed under a table covered with a cloth that extends to the floor to provide heat for people sitting at the table.

In cold nights, we spent our nights at home playing games with family and friends.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Review Guide= is the syllable count is 31 or less--as it should? How is the presentation? Does it remind you of something? Is it insightful? Does it flow from line to line? Is the third line a good transition from the haiku (top 3 lines) to the lower phrase (line 4 and 5). How is the presentation? Is it attractive and easy to read?

Tanka is a type of Japanese poetry of 31 Japanese syllables OR LESS. Japanese's syllables (on) are different than English syllables so the syllable count is not exact.

Originally, in the time of the Manyoshu (latter half of the eighth century AD), the term tanka was used to distinguish short poems from the longer poems. In the ninth and tenth centuries, however, notably with the compilation of the Kokinsh, the short poem became the dominant form of poetry in Japan, and the originally general word waka became the standard name for this form.Japanese poet and critic Masaoka Shiki revived the term tanka in the early twentieth century for his statement that waka should be renewed and modernized.

Haiku is also a term of his invention, used for his revision of standalone hokku, with the same idea.


for more information click here

Example=
On the white sand ( 4) syllables
Of the beach of a small island (8)
In the Eastern Sea. (5)
I, my face streaked with tears, (6)
Am playing with a crab (6)

By Ishikawa Takuboku

~*~*~*~*~*~*~


I love and I am passionate about Japanese poetry. I invite EVERYONE to participate in my multi-author tanka book, regardless whether you are an expert or a novice.

I believe that art is the language of the heart and soul and it should be nourished and treasured.


Chapter 2
I Want You to Want Me

By Gypsy Blue Rose





 
My boyfriend likes horror more than romance,

‘stick to what you do best’ is his love stance.



 
He paints portraits with maggots on a hook,

I paint with brushes, maggots make me puke.


 
We watch tales of terror into the night,

the kind with people and zombies who fight.



 
My love likes werewolves and vampire chicks,

I go for post-apocalyptic flicks.


 
I'd rather be writing haiku and haibun

but I lost a bet and my sweetheart won.


 
Writing rhymed poetry is not my forte,

I love him so much I did it anyway. 





 

Author Notes

Today, I lost a bet and my boyfriend, Dean Kuch, won. We were listening to a song called, 'I want you to want me'. I said it was a Beatles' song and he said it was Cheap Trick's. Yeah ... I lost.

I don't like to write rhymed poetry but a bet is a bet and I must honor it.

Thank you for reading. :)


This one is for you, darlin',

luv ya'

Gypsy


Chapter 3
To Thine Own Self-Be True

By Gypsy Blue Rose

Grey skies and rain

against my window pane.

Tears on glass 

tears on my face.

The world makes no sense

because you are not there.
 
The gypsy said it best.

And life without passion

is worthless.
 
I will always be true to myself

I don’t care what people think.

I don’t care. 

The world is gray and I wish...

I was not here... to feel this pain.
 
 

 

Author Notes The sad free verse is just a reflection of how I felt when I wrote it and not related to my message below.


My friends and I have been providing fun challenges and opportunities to poets in our FanStory community. All we ask in return is to share your creative spirit and talent. We want people to enjoy writing, learning, and having fun with haiku.

Some people complaint about my club promotions so I will only promote the club in the forum's challenge room from now on. If you have questions about the club or this note, please send me a private message.

We are the kind of writers who support, encourage, and promote education and fun doing what we love to do. WRITE!

Thank you for reading and for your kindness. God bless you.

Gypsy



"This above all: to thine own self-be true,

And it must follow, as the night the day,

Thou canst not then be false to any man.

Farewell, ,,,," Hamlet Act 1

~William Shakespeare



Chapter 4
Divine Love

By Gypsy Blue Rose


the sun came out today

but clouds darken my den

vultures over my home

wait eagerly for death

of my spirit and soul

but Divine Love protects

with mighty righteous light

stronger than hateful folks




 

Author Notes ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

My poem was prompted by a review I received yesterday for my new tanka class announcement. A reviewer who I thought was a friend wrote it.

I didn't promote my class announcement at all and I expect only a handful of people will read it but that is fine with me. I wrote it mainly for my loyal fans who read everything I write, regardless whether I promote it or not.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Review for my ''BEGINNERS TANKA CLASS ANNOUNCEMENT" a prose post.

**** four stars

''It is a good Tanka? Actually, no Tanka at all and the rating down is more spiritual feeling that writing should be embraced by the heart rather than the commercial. I will no longer support advertising without heart. I only review - like the masses for the pennies. Is that what you want? Three of the best teachers have left and Ray (mountainwriter49) should be teaching your class for he really has the center while you have the edge. Comment Written 26-Feb-2017 by _______. (I will keep it anonymous)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I teach haiku classes at fanstory because I love to teach and I do it well. My students don't complain, in fact, they have taken all my classes since I started teaching in December.

Am I the best teacher? No, I never said I was. Am I a haiku master? No, the only master I know died 300 years ago, his name is Matsuo Basho. I am another student with the gift of teaching skills. Every day I learn something new about haiku and I will until I die.

Haiku and other Japanese poetic forms are an enigma to me. They are a simple but challenging poetic form. I love it because it is visual and intuitive, spiritual and meaningful, and it gives me great joy.

I will continue to write it and teach it regardless those who hate me and complain about it. Thank God they are the minority and most folk are kind and respectful. I have learned a lot from them in the past two years.

I have an infectious passion for this amazing poetic form and a God given gift to pass that passion on to my students. I also possess teaching accreditation, knowledge, work experience, and skills to teach in an effective manner.

I promote my classes because I love to teach and I want to share my knowledge with you all.

The potential earnings for teaching classes here are not much but that is not why I teach. I promote it because I believe in education and I believe what I am making a difference for some folks.

Since I joined fanstory two years ago, I have consistently advocated for haiku and for the right we all have to present our work in a beautiful, pleasing, and artful manner. I think I am doing alright.

My haiku students, fanstory poets, and I are changing minds about the beauty and complexity of haiku. All my students make me extremely proud every day and I will continue to teach and promote my heart out so those of you who can't stand to see me succeed and grow as a poet and teacher ... I am here to stay, deal with it.

Those who complain about my class promotion, doubt my teaching skills and credential, and spread gossip about me can't stand to see people on this site succeed and grow... how sad for them. Thank God they are the minority and most people are respectful and kind. I have learned a great deal from them.


Gypsy
FanStory Haiku Instructor and poet


Chapter 5
what a long, strange trip it's been

By Gypsy Blue Rose

Sacramento, California, USA

I read Mastery, Ulla, and Prettybluebird's curriculum posts and I thought I would give it a go.

I'm an eclectic kind of gypsy and my work history reflects it.

1971 to 72 -- My first job was -a clerk at a bakery store. I was 13 years old. I earned 200 pesetas a month and I didn't see any of it. All I remember about my first job was that the baker worked in the basement and there was a trap door on the floor behind the counter. Every time he brought up pastries to the store, he peeked up my skirt. I hated that job and my boss.

The first day at work, the owner made me eat one of everything for two reasons, one, to tell people what the pastries tasted like and the other to make me sick at the thought of eating them at work.

1973-75 -- My father found out about the pervert-voyeur and he made me quit. Shortly after, he found another job for me working at a hospital's restaurant as a cashier.

At 15-years old, I thought that was a great job. The manager at that place also harassed me. My bosses were a bunch of freaks.

*1975 -- My stepmother kicked me out of her house when I was 15-years-old so I moved to the USA to live with my maternal aunt. My mother died when I was 10-years-old.

1980 to 83-- I worked various menial jobs while attending community college.

1983-87 Loan Representative for American Savings and Loans. I processed home loans at a bank. I was laid off because the bank relocated.

1987- 89 -- I worked as a -victims of rape and molest's advocate. I responded to a 24-hour-crisis-line.

When the victims were taken to the hospital for a rape exam. I accompanied them through the medical exam and police questioning process, around 8 hours long. My job didn't end there. I provided peer-counseling and accompanied the victims to court. I loved the job but after a while, it became more than I could handle. It was hard not to take it home.
San Joaquin County Women's Center

1993-96 -- I managed an outreach program for homeless people and drug addicts. The dining hall is called St. Mary's Interfaith Dining Room. It was an amazing place that offered many services to the poor.

We had the only school for homeless children in the country. We offered meals, dental and medical care, showers, job search skills classes, art classes (my idea), clothes closet, furniture and household items, etc... I loved that job but after getting my degree I sought a job in education.
St. Mary's Interfaith Dining Room website

*1997 to 1999 -- went to school at San Joaquin Delta College to earn an Associate in Arts Degree in Business with a minor in Vocational Accounting.

2000 to 2002 -- I found a job teaching office skills to destitute and disabled people for Goodwill Industries in Stockton, California.
Goodwill Ind. website

2002 to 2007 -- I relocated to Sacramento and found another job teaching business classes to destitute adults for CET. After four years, I was promoted to executive director.

The Center for Employment Training (CET) is a well-known nonprofit vocational training school. I was laid off due to health issues.
The Center for Employment Training website

**2005 - I attended the University of Phoenix and received a bachelor's degree in business management from the University of Phoenix.

2008 to 2010 -- After I recovered, I found another teaching job at a private school called San Joaquin Valley College. I love teaching. I think it's the best job in the world.
San Joaquin Valley College website

** In 2010 I retired early due to health issues -- After I recovered, I started my own business selling folk art paintings and teaching haiku.

Today I am an instructor at FanStory. I teach Japanese poetry - Haiku and Tanka so far- in the future I plan to teach the art of Haiga.

I love teaching and I love haiku, what could be better? It's the perfect job for me.

Thank you for reading,

MariVal aka Gypsy

Author Notes I followed my friend Bob's lead. His curriculum post. click here to read "a body of work" by Mastery

The title comes from a line of a song called 'Truckin' by the Grateful Dead

Truckin' got my chips cashed in, keep truckin', like the do-dah man
Together, more or less in line, just keep truckin' on

Arrows of neon and flashing marquees out on Main Street
Chicago, New York, Detroit and it's all on the same street
Your typical city involved in a typical daydream
Hang it up and see what tomorrow brings

Dallas, got a soft machine; Houston, too close to New Orleans,
New York's got the ways and means; but just won't let you be, oh no

Most of the cats that you meet on the streets speak of true love,
Most of the time they're sittin' and cryin' at home
One of these days they know they better get goin'
Out of the door and down on the streets all alone

Truckin', like the do-dah man Once told me "You've got to play your hand"
Sometimes your cards ain't worth a dime, if you don't lay'em down,

Sometimes the light's all shinin' on me,
Other times I can barely see
Lately it occurs to me what a long, strange trip it's been

What in the world ever became of sweet Jane?
She lost her sparkle, you know she isn't the same
Livin' on reds, vitamin C, and cocaine,
All a friend can say is "Ain't it a shame?"

Truckin', up to Buffalo Been thinkin', you got to mellow slow
Takes time, you pick a place to go, and just keep truckin' on

Sittin' and starin' out of the hotel window
Got a tip they're gonna kick the door in again
I'd like to get some sleep before I travel,
But if you got a warrant, I guess you're gonna come in

Busted, down on Bourbon Street, set up, like a bowlin' pin
Knocked down, it get's to wearin' thin They just won't let you be, oh no

You're sick of hangin' around and you'd like to travel,
Get tired of travelin' and you want to settle down
I guess they can't revoke your soul for tryin',
Get out of the door and light out and look all around

Sometimes the light's all shinin' on me,
Other times I can barely see
Lately it occurs to me what a long, strange trip it's been

Truckin', I'm a goin' home Whoa whoa baby, back where I belong
Back home, sit down and patch my bones, and get back truckin' on




Chapter 6
Our Country's Founders

By Gypsy Blue Rose

 


our country’s founders

turn in their graves

as trump stumbles along






 

Author Notes click here to read the full article in the New York Times

The Constitution appears to be having a moment. When Khizr Khan, the Harvard-educated lawyer, and father of a Muslim soldier killed in Iraq, chastised Donald J. Trump at the Democratic National Convention last week, he made his point with a small, but a deeply symbolic prop.

"Let me ask you," said Mr. Khan, directly addressing the Republican presidential nominee, "have you even read the United States Constitution?"

As the audience erupted in cheers, Mr. Khan pulled a miniature version of the founding document from his coat pocket and shook it in the air. "I will gladly lend you my copy," he said.

picture source: pocket us constitution president commemorative


Chapter 7
A Thousand Splendid Suns

By Gypsy Blue Rose

1. Have you ever been arrested?

NO

2. Have you ever broken the law?

YES

3. Have you ever met a celebrity? Or more than one?

YES. Jerry Garcia, lead singer and guitarist for the Grateful Dead; Huey Lewis and the News; poet Maya Angelou; Dennis Hogan, lead guitarist/singer and his band the Tazmanian Devils; folk singer, Joan Baez; etc ...


4. Have you ever bullied anyone?

NO. I hate bullies.

5. Have you ever been bullied?

YES

6. What is your biggest fear?

WWIII AND FASCISTS, IN OTHER WORDS... 4 years of Donald Trump and his incompetent cabinet.

7. Have you ever killed someone?

NO.

8. What physical feat are you most proud of?

NONE

9. What is the most embarrassing thing you've ever done?

WALKING OUT of a fancy restaurant's restroom with toilet paper stuck to my shoe.

10. (Finally, right??) What's a book title that best describes your personality?

A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS by Khaled Hosseini


Chapter 8
1/6/1 (such)

By Gypsy Blue Rose





 

such    

yearning for your warm touch—

much...

 



 











 

Author Notes A short poem I wrote with my man in mind ...

(D. this one is for you, darlin'.)



Thank you for reading me.




Chapter 9
When You Are Not There

By Gypsy Blue Rose





The moon is out tonight

but not its silver luster

her full-face hides in winter haze

too shy to show moon shadows
 


dark hills dip and rise

beyond my picket fence

melancholia fills my days

because you are not there
 


night creatures sing

lonely songs  which I forget

my heart is breaking, my dear friend

because you are not there





 

Author Notes My father was a good man but a neglectful father. I've been on my own since I was 15-years-old learning about life by trial and error ... many errors.

I haven't written a free verse for over a year but you inspired me to write this one. Thank you, my friend.

If I could choose a father, I would choose you, Douglas. Not that you are old enough to be my father, but you guide me when I am a little lost and you are there when I need a friend to listen. You are one of the most loving and generous friends I have and I love you very much.

This one is for you, Douglas. I am sorry when I am contrary.

Gypsy


Chapter 10
Cleveland School Shooting

By Gypsy Blue Rose



 

sheer sounds of terror in the schoolyard

gun

shots





 

Author Notes My son was in a school shooting. I will never forget when my girlfriend told me that she heard it on the radio. My heart stopped for a second. I drove to the school as fast as I could but the police stopped me two blocks away due to a blockade. The school was under siege. I had to park and run the rest of the way. When I got there I was forced to wait for two hours to find out if my son was dead or alive. It was horrible. All the parents had to wait to be reunited with our children because five children were killed, and until their parents were informed, the school administrators wouldn't release the rest of the children. I don't know why they did it. It seems cruel.
 photo Children1-300x105_zps9bgeh8rx.jpg

The Stockton schoolyard shooting occurred on January 17, 1989, at Cleveland Elementary School at 20 East Fulton Street in Stockton, California, United States. The gunman, Patrick Purdy, who had a long criminal history, shot and killed five schoolchildren and wounded 32 others before committing suicide. His victims were predominantly Southeast Asian refugees. This particular shooting happened almost exactly 10 years after another school shooting in San Diego, which also happened to be at a school named Cleveland Elementary.

Michael Jackson came to the school to visit the kids and do a private concert. He also paid for the children's therapy. Michael was a good hearted man that love children.

 photo 97e1f731ef83fbd52a5a5e7da8c233dd_zpsqr6s6of9.jpg


There has been 200 schoolshootings in the USA since 2013.
the picture is a school mural, google images


Chapter 11
Clouds

By Gypsy Blue Rose





 




We’ll lie together in fields of blue.

I’ll let my hair down—kick off my shoes.

You’ll lay your jacket o’er morning dew,

we’ll watch the clouds go by, amused.


               
   Blue Beard flows near Caribbean rocks   
             
followed by elephants in bright blue socks

our home, a love-filled, seashore box

ideas take wing on seaside walks.






 

Author Notes Dr Dip challenged me to write something other than haiku so there you go. This is as close to rhyme poetry I am going to get.

It's a whimsical poem about my boyfriend and I watching clouds go by and imagining what they are. :)

Thank you for reading,

Gypsy


Chapter 12
Picasso's Painting

By Gypsy Blue Rose



Picasso's painting,
Blue Nude woman hugs the wall--
room's bare essentials



 

Author Notes picture is Picasso's 'Blue Nude' painting


Chapter 13
Your Memory Lingers

By Gypsy Blue Rose




your memory lingers 
the cool breeze carries your name
soft kisses on my neck
feverish eyes tell me you want me
when nothing else matters

I count the days
until I see you again
walking together in Old Sacramento
when the leaves fall
and people pretend to be someone else

let the miles burn
annihilate the perverse distance
come!
I'll wait by the river bank
under the cool rain



 


Chapter 14
2/4/2 (Russian)

By Gypsy Blue Rose




 

Russian
collusionists 
love Trump




 
 
 


Chapter 15
haiku (delightful aroma)

By Gypsy Blue Rose

 

delightful aroma

satiates hungry senses--


red rose blooms



 

Author Notes kigo is late spring for rose blossoms http://www.2hweb.net/haikai/renku/500ESWd.html


Chapter 16
5/7/5 (exotic blue rose)

By Gypsy Blue Rose

 

exotic blue rose

for lovers and troubadours--

a piece of heaven




 


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