Ripon Falls – Source of Nile

Carpe Diem # 808 Ripon Falls Source of Nile?
Today is the end of our journey down the Nile River to find it’s source. The Ripon Falls use to flow into Lake Victoria but in 1954 the falls were covered over by the building of a dam that made Lake Victoria large.

Ripon Falls
the source of the Nile
submerged

Source – Wikimedia

Carpe Diem Time Machine #15 Jade

Carpe Diem Time Machine #15 Jade

at the foot
of the jade Buddha
a bowl of rice

~~

her eyes
piercing my memory
with their jade stare

~~

colored elephant
glistens in the moonlight
where it fell

Murchison Falls Uganda

Carpe Diem #807 Murchison Falls Uganda

Credit: Rod Waddington

Murchision Falls
waters rage and swirl
immersing  my regret

~~~

white foaming waters
at the foot of the falls
stirring the nile

~~~

water
in the cool of the falls
bathing my heart</h4

Lake Victoria

Carpe Diem #806 Lake Victoria

As we continue to the source of the Nile we visit the beautiful Lake Victoria.  Unfortunately man has introduced non native -fish and water hyacinth that are causing lots of problems.  Raw sewage spews in to the lake from various countries and I’m sure industrial wast is dumped as well.  Their use to be over 300 different kinds of  cichlids in the lake that were endemic to this lake.  Most are now gone.

The health of this lake is important to so many who live of the land and waters around this lake.  Action needs to be taken to save this glorious lake before it is too late.

Credit

Lake Victoria
ecological wonder

gathering rain
lifeblood of the nile
being ravaged by man

White Nile

Carpe Diem #805 White Nile

Aerial view of the ‘Gunga’ Rapid on the White Nile. (By adrift.ug)

from it’s source
the White Nile churns
past Mount Kikizi

~~~

White Nile flows
sending nourishing downstream
baptizing the land

Dodoitsu

Carpe Diem Tokubetsudesu #58 Dodoitsu

A little known Japanese poetry form used mostly for songs handed down orally.  Dodoitsu poems consist of four lines with the syllabic structure 7-7-7-5 and no rhyme or metre.  I gave it a try and wrote two.

in the light of the full moon
a moonflower opens up
her star shaped face now full
one night for glory

~~~

a cool breath of autumn air
slips in through hidden crevice
caressing your bare shoulders
hints of summers end

~~~

Autumn – Summer Kisses Fade

Troiku for   B&P Shadorma and Beyond – The Troiku

Inspiration: Autumn Leaves by Nat King Cole

in autumns glow
summer kisses fade
in silent whispers

~~~

in autumns glow
your upturned face
haunts my dreams

~~~

summer kisses fade
as autumn leaves fall
loneliness settles in

~~~

in silent whispers
I cry your name
dry leaves rustle

Peony

In response a  Troiku and a Tanka for Carpe Diem Special #163 Lolly’s fifth a peony bush (tanka)

 

laden with tears
the peony blossom
bows to the ground

laden with tears
the peony begins to blossom
drinking in joy

~~~

the peony blossom
spills it’s fragrance
into the dawn

~~~

bowing to the ground
peony bush abounding with flowers
quivers in moonlight

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

trembling in the dawn
peony bush spills her beauty
onto the terrace
twilight falls on soft pink petals
waltzing into night

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From the Embassy to Silla of 736

Carpe Diem Utabukuro #8
All of the poems in this part of A Waka Anthology volume one: The Gem-Glistening Cup “From the Embassy to Silla of 736” are anonymous.

(MYS XV:3602/3580)

THE HUSBAND AND WIFE ROCKS OF FUTAMI — “Meoto Iwa” in Old Japa

~~~

If on your way
Where you lodge along the sea
The mist should rise,
Please know it is my breath
Sighed as I stand here waiting.

~~~

my attempt

On your journey
When you stay by the seaside
Be aware that my breath
Will be the surrounding mist
Exhaled as I long for you