Haiku for Two at the Julian Branch Library

Susan J. Farese of SJF Communications taught her 2 hour SJF Communications “Capturing Your Creativity with Haiku” workshop on May 24th at the Julian Branch Library. Many thanks to Josh Mitchell, Branch Manager and Friends of the Julian Library for hosting the workshop.

Mark was a solo attendee that day, and we made the best of it!

We began with an interactive fun ice breaker. After introductions and a review of her published work (with Haiku and other forms of poetry), Susan taught her Power Point presentation about writing Haiku and shared nature photography, including several photos of roses and flowers, plus other nature photos as prompts to encourage Haiku writing. We practiced writing Haiku and had the opportunity to share our work. It was a great discussion and we equally had so much to say about the creative process and the parallels with Haiku poetry and visual arts.

Here is a glimpse of us, along with the photo prompts and written Haiku for the afternoon.

Moon Rise and Yellow Traffic Light
(Photo by Susan J. Farese)

Rings of Gold 

electric yellow

round, in a black box says slow

in sunlit moonrise

– Mark

Moonrise/Yellow Light

Moon rose to the east

Yellow traffic light appeared

Serendipity

-Susan

Pacific Highlands Ranch Trail
(Photo by Susan J. Farese)

Earth and Sky

dusty clay stretches

around a corner….fading

cool clouds pressing down

-Mark

Mysterious Orange Flower
(Photo by Susan J. Farese)

Mysterious Orange Flower

Orange yellow hues

Veinlike markings encircle

A bursting flower

-Susan

Bench at Santee Lakes
(Photo by Susan J. Farese)

Bench at Santee Lakes

Bench solitude

Lonely, uninhabited

Summer pause, sit down!

-Susan

Blooming Jacarandas in May
(Photo by Susan J. Farese)

Blooming Jacarandas in May

Hues of violet

Lilac-blue and trumpet-shaped

Jacaranda tree!

A late Spring bloomer

Colorful, urban flower

Bravely blooms with awe

-Susan

For more information about attending our

Capturing Your Creativity With Haiku Workshop, click below!:

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We Captured Our Creativity With Haiku!

By

Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications

Eight women attended our 2 hour SJF Communications Haiku workshop ‘Capturing Your Creativity With Haiku’ on January 18th, 2020 at the Poway Community Library.

We began with an interactive fun ‘ice-breaker’ – getting to know each other a bit more. Next, after introductions and a review of my work with poetry, I taught my Power Point presentation about writing Haiku and shared several of my nature photography and other photos as prompts to encourage Haiku writing. Everyone practiced writing Haiku and finally we had the opportunity to share our work. It was a delightful time with such a lovely group of creative empowered women!

Here’s a glimpse of our enlightened attendees along with photo prompts and written Haiku from that day! I also contributed a few!

Workshop leader/presenter Susan J. Farese with attendees
(Back Row): Grace, Karen, Karla, Ninon, Laurie and Cheran; (Front Row): Kathy and Xochih.
1. Tahquitz Canyon Waterfall
Photo by Susan J. Farese

Water tumbles down

forest leaves reach for the ground

a cool pool, respite.

-Karen


Waterfall rushing

thundering sound breaks silence

in awe of nature

-Cheran


2. Bench at Santee Lakes
Photo by Susan J. Farese

A bench welcomes me-

have a seat and rest yourself

just breathe in and out

-Cheran


A bench beckons you

verdant grass and flowing

rest and contemplate

-Karen


Our summer is gone

and no one is sitting here

on the lonely bench

And in Japanese:

私たちの夏は去りました

そして誰もここに座っていません

孤独なベンチで

Watashitachi no natsu wa sarimashita soshite dare mo koko ni suwatte imasen kodokuna benchi de

-Grace


3. Moon Rise and Yellow Traffic Light
Photo by Susan J. Farese

A long day has passed

amidst the busy hustle

the bright moon greets me

-Karen


When I’m coming home

showing the same shape as moon

the yellow signal!

And in Japanese

家に帰るとき

月と同じ形を示す

黄色の信号!

Ie ni kaeru toki tsuki to onaji katachi o shimesu kiiro no shingō!

-Grace


All of a sudden

moon rose, traffic light yellow-

serendipity!

-Susan


4. Anna’s Hummingbird Feasting
Photo by Susan J. Farese

Little hummer sits

head bent prayerfully drinking-

a blessed moment!

-Cheran


5. Torrey Pines State Beach
Photo by Susan J. Farese

Earth and ocean meet

waves crash and rocks tumble down

the clouds bear witness

-Karen


6. Great White Egret at Santee Lakes
Photo by Susan J. Farese

The water glistened

fanned plumage captivating!

Great White Egret soared!

-Susan


Legs stretched, beak pointed

wings forming mushroom bellows

ready to take flight

-Cheran


Very beautiful

the open wings are such fun

The Great White Egret

And in Japanese:

非常に美しい

開いた翼はとても楽しい

白eg鳥

Hijō ni utsukushī aita tsubasa wa totemo tanoshī shiro eg tori

-Grace


7. Autumn
Photo Credit: Unknown

Crimson foliage

flutters from the azure sky

float on silent lakes.

-Karen


Beautiful red leaves

showing us their reflection

on an Autumn lake

And in Japanese:

美しい紅葉

彼らの反射を見せて

秋の湖で

Utsukushī kōyō karera no hansha o misete akinoumi de

-Grace


8. Two Egrets at Torrey Pines State Beach
Photo by Susan J. Farese

Birds stop for a chat

beaks greeting in warm friendship

Oh glorious morn!


9. Trail at Pacific Highlands Ranch, Carmel Valley, San Diego
Photo by Susan J. Farese

Beginning right now

feeling earth beneath my feet

starting my journey

-Karla


10. Sunset Cliffs
Photo by Susan J. Farese

Jagged rocky edge

salty waves roll in and out

cares ride on the waves

-Karla


The waves foaming white

rocks sure of their position

jutting out to sea

-Cheran


The Oceans spirit

awakens my soul and heart-

quiets my deep pain

-Laurie


Rigid and solid

stone is no match for water-

time transforms all things

-Ninon


11. Joshua Tree Flowers
photo by Susan J. Farese

Purple flowers stand

along the desert valley

embracing simple

-Karla


Fields of purple blooms

swaying gently in the breeze

Mother Earth awakes!

-Ninon


12. Snow!
Photo credit: Unknown

Snow, ice and water

winter chill invigorates

the body and soul

-Ninon


13. Coachella Valley Preserve – Thousand Palms Oasis McCallum Pond
Photo by Susan J. Farese

A Spring desert hike

path, date palms, oasis pond

delightful surprise!

-Susan

Upcoming Haiku Workshops

To schedule a Haiku Workshop, please contact SJF Communications at:

408-398-5940

sjfcommunications@gmail.com

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SJF Communications – ‘Creative Ideas | Dynamic Results’!

Art in Nature on a Sunday…

It was a beautiful Sunday and as usual I had my camera with me!

Snapped some photos at Liberty Station as well as on Manzanita Trail at Pacific Highlands Ranch (Carmel Valley),  San Diego. Feel free to click on each photo for more detail…

This was my view of downtown San Diego looking south from Liberty Station

Looking South from Liberty Station Photo by SJF Communications

 

Loved this Coral Tree at Liberty Station!

I was captivated watching these great blue herons at Liberty Station!

 

Saw (and definitely HEARD) several airplanes taking off above Liberty Station

At Liberty Station – Photo by SJF Communications

 

And again witnessed the lantana’s #artinnature and #natureasart (Liberty Station)

Lantanas – Photo by SJF Communications

 

Loved the  color combination here!

Kanaka Canoe Landing – Photo by SJF Communications

Then ventured out for a walk on the Manzanita Trail at Pacific Highlands Ranch

Manzanita Trail at Pacific Highlands Ranch – Carmel Valley – San Diego Photo by SJF Communications

A beautiful white-crowned sparrow (Manzanita Trail, Carmel Valley, San Diego) !

White-Crowned Sparrow Photo by SJF Communications

Saw (and heard) this lovely Song Sparrow  (Manzanita Trail, Carmel Valley, San Diego) !

Song Sparrow Photo by SJF Communications

Blue Lupine Perennials (Manzanita Trail Carmel Valley San Diego)!

Blue Lupine Perennials (Manzanita Trail Carmel Valley San Diego)! Photo by SJF Communications

A Black Phoebe – (Manzanita Trail – Carmel Valley, San Diego)

Black Phoebe – Manzanita Trail – Carmel Valley, San Diego Photo by SJF Communications

 

Finally, an Allen’s Hummingbird (Manzanita Trail – Carmel Valley, San Diego)!

Allen’s Hummingbird (Manzanita Trail – Carmel Valley, San Diego)! Photo by SJF Communications

All in all, a wonderful day!

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