haiku shoot

2007-12-28T12:08:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my blog

2007-01-07T03:37:00.000-08:00

The 40th. WHA Haiga Contest (12/2006) Natalia L. Rudychev

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Japanese translation by Ban'ya Natsuishi
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all rights reserved © Natalia L. Rudychev

2007-01-03T01:47:00.000-08:00

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dragon cloud
stands still
in the darkening blue
your breath
warms my hands
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all rights reserved © Natalia L. Rudychev

tanka first published in Ribbons, Volume 2, Number 4, Winter 2006

2006-12-18T09:42:00.000-08:00

The Smile and "Hello, Dear"

I've known her for as long as I can remember. We met almost every day but we both were too shy to introduce ourselves. For me her name was the smile and invariable "hello, dear". She was well advanced in years, slim, and tidy. Her clothes showed signs of wear but the overall impression was very pleasing. We talked only once when my Irish setter ran to her and insisted on smelling her pockets. She did not protest. She was worried and a little confused. She said, "Dear, I don't have any treats just some sunflower seeds". I explained that my dog was fond of sunflower seeds. She gave him a handful. While he was eating I could tell that she was happy because she could afford to treat somebody. I thanked her and we parted ways. Afterwards I could not stop smiling. Her happiness filled me with joy. I left for college a week later. This year somebody told me that she passed away.

the sky clears

rainbow bridges

two riverbanks

Fist published in Contemporary Haibun Online, December 2006, vol 2 no 4.

http://contemporaryhaibunonline.com/pages24/Natalia_Rudychev.html

2006-10-12T19:37:00.000-07:00

indian summer...

indian summer

sparrow in a puddle

plays with its mate

First published in Asahi, Oct 7-8, 2006

2006-10-03T22:45:00.000-07:00

SOMEONE LOST

Dry twigs of placid days are feeding fire,

illuminating stretch of long-deserted shore,

as leaves are dancing night away with shadows,

paced by the tunes of high and low tide.

The wreath of nameless herbs is twined to crown

the halo of the ever-changing moon

that lights the line of lonely tanka verses

where sea can't reach the rumpled page of sand.

Beneath the tangled labyrinth of branches,

the path is writhing in the claws of roots

to home where the worn armchair is waiting

to rock the pain of someone lost all night.

First published in SP Quill, Fall 2006, Volume 12, 33.

2006-10-01T15:24:00.000-07:00

GENTLY, EVER SO GENTLY

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all rights reserved © Natalia L. Rudychev
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The 37th WHA Haiga Contest

2006-09-28T15:55:00.000-07:00

bright blue sky...

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all rights reserved © Natalia L. Rudychev
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2006-09-25T13:02:00.000-07:00

DOWNPOUR...

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all rights reserved © Natalia L. Rudychev
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2006-09-23T12:00:00.000-07:00

today is my Mother's Birthday!

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all rights reserved © Natalia L. Rudychev
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2006-09-20T08:54:00.000-07:00

after working all day..

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all rights reserved © Natalia L. Rudychev
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2006-09-12T13:47:00.000-07:00

MOONSET

First published in Haigaonline, volume vii, issue 1, spring/summer 2006

http://www.haigaonline.com/issue7-1/gallery/nr.htm

2006-09-08T21:50:00.000-07:00

today is my Name Day

In many families in Russia Name Day is as big as Birthday.

2006-09-07T15:49:00.000-07:00

OPEN NOTEBOOK

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all rights reserved © Natalia L. Rudychev
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2006-09-01T08:13:00.000-07:00

BEE OVER PANSY ~

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all rights reserved © Natalia L. Rudychev
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A present for Origa.
Winner of the Third Prize in Origa's the Fourth Calico Cat haiku contest.

2006-08-29T15:13:00.000-07:00

third spas...

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all rights reserved © Natalia L. Rudychev
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Third Spas is also called Linen Spas and Nut Spas. It is celebrated on August 29. Nuts (for the most part hazelnuts) are blessed and eaten. After this day most of the harvest worries are over. Wheat is harvested and linen is taken care off. People have much more free time that can be devoted to thinking and creative activities. In folklore hazel is often called the poet's tree.

2006-08-25T19:49:00.000-07:00

SUMMERTIME IS UP...

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all rights reserved © Natalia L. Rudychev
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2006-08-22T09:05:00.000-07:00

just before dawn...

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all rights reserved © Natalia L. Rudychev
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2006-08-21T08:22:00.000-07:00

Apple Spas

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all rights reserved © Natalia L. Rudychev
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Apple Spas is a holiday celebrated on August 19. This is the day when apples are blessed. After the Apple Spas evenings get cooler and autumn begins. It is customary to enjoy apple pies, stewed apples, and apple jam during this celebration.
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2006-08-17T16:04:00.000-07:00

occupied Japan

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all rights reserved © Natalia L. Rudychev
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2006-08-14T09:49:00.000-07:00

Honey Spas

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(all rights reserved © Natalia L. Rudychev)
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In Russia Honey Spas is celebrated on August 14. This is the day on which the honey is blessed. Honey Spas marks the beginning of honey harvest. According to common belief, it is the day when swallows leave for the winter. This is considered to be a sign that summer is leaving. Vacant swallow nests resemble honey combs. Swallows are the birds that according to the myth tried to spare Christ from prolonged suffering on the cross and cried that he is already dead. Spas means Saviour. There are three holidays called Spas. Each of them is dedicated to one sacred part of the cross. August 14 is also the day on which, according to the legend, Russia was christened.

2006-05-12T07:27:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day
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I am travelling to Russia for a month and a half to see my mom. I am not sure I can be active on-line during this trip. I hope to be inspired and bring back a notebook full of Russian haiku. In US Mother's Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May. This year it is May the 14-th. I use this extra opportunity to give my mom gifts and make her smile. One of these gifts is this haiga.
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Mother's Day -
sunlight
fills the mailbox
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(all rights reserved © Natalia L. Rudychev 2006)
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I want to thank Dr. Gabi Greve for including this haiga into World Kigo Database:
http://worldkigodatabase.blogspot.com/2006/11/womens-day-international.html
This made my mom and me very happy.
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2006-05-09T11:12:00.000-07:00

running away

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(all rights reserved © Natalia L. Rudychev 2006)
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2006-05-08T07:43:00.000-07:00

last step

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(all rights reserved © Natalia L. Rudychev 2006)
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2006-05-05T16:10:00.000-07:00

graduation
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graduation -

weathered boots

walk on clouds

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(all rights reserved © Natalia L. Rudychev 2006)
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2006-05-04T13:22:00.000-07:00

sunset

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(all rights reserved © Natalia L. Rudychev 2006)
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2006-05-02T14:59:00.000-07:00

For a long time I could not forgive him the horse that was taken

from the knacker's yard and perished right on the set.

Nikolai Burliaev

Petition of the Horse

(archives of Passion According to Andrei)

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.............................to be late for slaughter

bad luck or fate

steady karmic curse

to be born forever

unsuccessful date

with a shining blade

i am late

the girth

tightens my endeavor

till the very end

i don't understand

whether flesh or soul

suffers cuts and sever

playing endless role

on director's call

i begin to fall

through the stairs roll

like a clown

from the highest wall

down

i receive the fee

of the cold Grand Prix

bullet shot

makes an easy run

to the Eden's sun

happy lot

path is firmly set

(it's a pity that

Stanislavsky's dead

he would kneel and bow)

now

i am tired... no

the breaking bones wouldn't scare me

pain would not grow

yet i dread to ruin my part and plea

(the director wants me to play sincere)

by the hundredth take it will be too much

i'll lose my touch

and the shot will smear

i return again to my karmic curse...

let me come to life in the form of stone

let me grab the chance to escape new birth

i'll bless the knaker with final moan

can't you tell by eyes looking through the mane

slaughter house for once will be more humane

2006-05-01T23:43:00.000-07:00

The Bear
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All roses are beautiful. Some roses are special. It has nothing to do with a giver. The roses on my coffee table are special. I touch one petal and it feels right. The comforting sensation of plush endures twenty years after a toy bear was thrown away. The bear had been in my family for fifty years. My grandma handled it with gentle care when she tucked us at night. Recently, I found out that my bear belongs to a rare breed highly sought after by the collectors. Even if I had the money I would not buy a bear that looks like mine. It will never replace my bear, the bear that heard me laugh in my sleep. I stopped when they threw it away.
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(all rights reserved © Natalia L. Rudychev 2006)
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2006-04-30T23:19:00.000-07:00

Egg Fight

In Russia there is an old tradition to boil eggs in onion peel in order to color them for Easter. When the eggs are colored and chilled adversaries pick their eggs and hit them against each other. The goal is to break the shell of your opponent's egg without breaking your own. If you succeed you can make a wish.
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egg fight
your wish
under my shell
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(all rights reserved © Natalia L. Rudychev)
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http://worldkigodatabase.blogspot.com/2005/05/easter.html

2006-04-28T10:23:00.000-07:00

2006-04-28T03:55:00.000-07:00

............................Listen,
............................if stars are lit
............................it means - there is someone who needs it ...
...............................................V. Mayakovsky

Black Holes

stars are lit

it is crystal clear

the poet-dreamer

who's truly mad

rushed to heaven

and begged in fear

light the stars

take my daily bread

just imagine

an empty soul

lifeless stones

instead of eyes

who could take on

the cruel role

asking God

to wipe out starrise?

who brought up

truculent piranhas

eating out

my heart at night?

who gave push

to the wheels of partings

laid cold rails

of endless ride?

who could make it

before the poet

put black holes

in place of stars?

there's no answer

apart from echo

scorching voice

of mirror glass

V. Mayakovsky Listen! http://mayakovsky.com/listen-en.htm

2006-04-27T04:28:00.000-07:00

2006-04-26T07:39:00.000-07:00

2006-04-25T01:40:00.000-07:00

2006-04-24T08:22:00.000-07:00

2006-04-21T14:11:00.000-07:00

in disguise

do you hear
the poems are dying
every step
....................every breath
...........................................every beat?

do you see
autumn clouds erazing
in my eyes
...................sky and earth
............................................blue and green?

do you feel
I am walking on water
not like Saviour did
like a goose
chasing shadows of airborne brothers
flapping wings
that will never cut loose?

do you know
the circle of winter
...............................drawn by wind
.......................................................in a piling snow?

do you sense
I am freezing alive...
in a puddle
....................of empty apartment
down
below
the monitor's ice?

don't be bothered
(the poems are dying)
grab pink glasses
put death in disguise
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(all rights reserved © Natalia L. Rudychev 2006)

2006-04-20T21:39:00.000-07:00

blossoms, fireflies,

leaves, snowflakes

come and go

under the moon

I come to you

2006-04-20T09:05:00.000-07:00

a swan in the garden of the Byodo-In temple in Hawaii and a swan in the Botanical garden in Chicago met somewhere in me and ... haiku happened

2006-04-10T11:58:00.000-07:00

2006-04-09T13:53:00.000-07:00

in the lake
raindrops
change the view

2006-04-09T13:33:00.000-07:00

after the call
I light up
the wrong way around
there's no right way
to let go

2006-04-09T13:11:00.000-07:00

out-migrant seagulls
outcry
no passage geese

2006-04-09T11:51:00.000-07:00

Early spring. Nothing but pussy willows blooms in Chicago. Two weeks ago I brought in several branches. The branches produced roots and I planted them in a large clay pot on the window-sill. Their delicate shoots reach for the sun which is still too cold for the willows outside.

muddy boots
next to slippers
of indoor spring