HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL!

Preface to my 4th book

Tentative preface to my forthcoming book, Despite my health condition (STROKE), I have labored to compile my 4th book,

STOPS ALONG THE WAY:

HAIBUNIC ANECDOTES AND TRAVEL DIARIES

Victor P. Gendrano

These diaries or short anecdotes are interspersed with poems, generally haiku and tanka, although I use other forms as well. I subtitled this as haibunic anecdotes for lack of a better term eschewing the use of haibun so as not to transgress the sensibilities of haibun purists. Some call this by the way as prose poems. 

Sometimes I even add pictures to them similar to the haiga form. In my long life‘s journey, here are the many stops and varied observations I made along the way which I diligently wrote immediately after or close to their occurrences, akin to the present-day journaling. These are records of my life experiences, observations and reactionsto what I see and feel in my travels, whether just walking in my backyard, nearby park, or going to places far from home. News items too were significant sources of my autobiographical writings.

Their arrangement is purely arbitrary and not chronological; the table of contents and title index will hopefully help the reader easily navigate the volume.

Notice to my readers:

The reason I have not posted here for a while is I had a stroke and up to now, cannot walk without a walker or a wheelchair. My speech is still garbled and am  immobile, but I am looking for slow recovery through the help of God. I'll see you soon...

ICY WINTER DAY

ICY WINTER DAY, a haibun

I experienced winter for the first time in my life in the early sixties when I was studying for my master's degree at Syracuse University in New York.

I eagerly anticipated its arrival having been born in a tropical place. My friends from the same and neighboring countries had a wild celebration of sorts with the first flurry of snow. We gathered in the yard behind our apartments and together jumped with outstretched hands trying to catch the white feathery stuff which melted gradually on our hands. Of course that was only the first half of the story as we later experienced real winter in the succeeding days.

One morning, I knew that it would be slippery that day when I started walking to school. Across the street I saw a car move unsteadily upwards on an incline only to roll down every time it climbed upwards. So on my way to school I was extra careful navigating the sidewalk with other students. Then it happened. 

In front, a few paces ahead of me, a white American student suddenly slipped and fell down on the icy walkway. Without thinking of anything but to help, I rushed to her and offered my hand to aid her up. She started to take it, but immediately withdrew her hand when she saw the brown skin of mine. Surprised, I reluctantly left the scene and did not look back even after I heard a thud again.

icy winter day 

she disdains my brown hand

trying to help her get up

as I turn to leave

she falls down again

MERRY CHRISTMAS

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

To my readers and visitors here, I wish you all Merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year!

Also to my dear family who have been there with me especially after my recent stroke which hospitalized and rendered me immobile though I am gradually and surely getting better. Thanks be to GOD and my haiku way of living.

discharged patient

he kicked the inert get-well balloons

out of his way

WINTER POEMS

WINTER POEMS

TANKA

around

the bonfire

of used Christmas cards

the homeless gather

hugging warmth

HAIKU

Christmas program

the deaf children sing

in sign languagee

day after Christmas

she gives a used card

to her shelter friend

chilly night

under its darkness

hides my loneliness

Tagalog version

gabing malamig

sa iyong dilim nagtatago

aking kalungkutan

Published in my book,

Haiku and Tanka Harvest

https://www.createspace.com/3737478

EIGHTEENTH BIRTHDAY

EIGHTEENTH BIRTHDAY 

by Victor P. Gendrano

      Jasmine dances the waltz with such grace that it aches my heart to watch her in a stranger's arms, she who is my favorite, my first-born granddaughter, bubbly in her recent 18th birthday debut. It doesn't seem that long ago that I was cuddling her to sleep...Tempus fugit! 

growing pains

she dances with strangers

my daughter's daughter

And now, Jasmine is bound for college. She told her grandma that she will also be an elementary schoolteacher like her. Knowing her ability, I know she will turn out to be a good one and her students will have been lucky to have her. 

end of summer

the cocoon rides the wind

her empty room

Published in World Haiku Review

Vol. II, Issue 1, March 2002

POSTSCRIPT:

True to her promise to her grandma that she will be also a schoolteacher, Jasmine has been a successful one for sometime now teaching in a  public elementary school. To top her late grandma's achievements, she is currently finishing her Master's degree in Education. Grandma Lucy and I are indeed very proud of you Jas!