Monday is Quadrille Monday at dVerse Poets Pub. Lillian is our pubtender and has given us the prompt of writing our autobiography – in exactly 44 words. This time there is no prompt word, just us in 44 words. I cheated a bit and used some words that I hyphenated. Hey! Exactly 44 words to say who you are? Yeah, right. So come to dVerse Poets Pub and find out about some of your favorite poets. Pub opens at 3:00 pm EST Monday.
Kanzen44
South meets East –
Loyal loving daughter-wife-friend
Respecter of ancient tradition
disdainful of Americanized-haiku-tanka-haibun
Tree climber and observer of nature
Swimmer in Amanogawa*
Weaver of words and food
Protector-feeder of innocent and helpless
Follows 10 Commandments and bushido
Lover of cold red sunrises and snow
*Japanese for River of Heaven/Milky Way
copyright kanzensakura
Kanzen in the snow 1957
kanzen sakura 
Jul 31, 2016 @ 14:44:20
Yes, that is what I know of you. It’s hard enough to really know ourselves but to write about it in 44 words. You have written part one!
Jul 31, 2016 @ 15:35:18
Lovely as a Japanese zen garden!
Jul 31, 2016 @ 19:49:47
Thank you Victoria! As Popeye used to say, I yam what I yam….
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Jul 31, 2016 @ 19:50:41
That’s a good place to be 🙂
Jul 31, 2016 @ 15:59:22
How beautiful. I especially like the last two lines.
Aug 01, 2016 @ 15:13:18
Me too! thank you.
Jul 31, 2016 @ 22:22:00
You covered a lot of territory with those few words. Yours seems like rich life, full and meaningful, Toni.
Aug 01, 2016 @ 15:11:09
It’s an ordinary life Gayle. We all do special things in our own ways.
Aug 01, 2016 @ 23:56:43
Well, that may be true but I do love when people share their good works…and hearts. 🙂
Aug 04, 2016 @ 10:29:49
*hugs*
Aug 04, 2016 @ 17:51:19
I meant to comment on the cute little girl in the photo also. What was going through her mind then that helped create the woman today. (((Hugs))) 🙂
Aug 04, 2016 @ 19:38:34
I know exactly what was going through my mind….pay attention to things around you. It will come in handy one day when you write haiku….LOL *hugs back at you*
Aug 01, 2016 @ 15:03:34
Hyphenated words allowed! 🙂 LOVE this photo, my friend. And wow — this is a mural you’ve painted for us. So nice to meet you here today! 🙂
Aug 01, 2016 @ 15:08:41
Thank you Lillian for allowing the hyphenated words!
Aug 01, 2016 @ 15:17:10
Such a cute picture of you Toni! I smiled at this part:
Respecter of ancient tradition
disdainful of Americanized-haiku-tanka-haibun
An amazing character sketch; so glad to have crossed path with you in this wide world of blogging.
Aug 01, 2016 @ 15:18:46
Thank you Grace. LOL, I am not a nice person when it comes to the haiku etc but otherwise, I do play well with others. I am grateful to have met you.
Aug 01, 2016 @ 15:43:24
nice to meet you! 🙂
Aug 04, 2016 @ 10:41:01
and you as well! 🙂
Aug 01, 2016 @ 15:56:13
The last two lines closes the poem well. Red sunsets on snow. To live such an image!
Aug 01, 2016 @ 16:50:16
I love your blend of traditions. I have really enjoyed learning more about haiku from you over the last few weeks, feel I know you a little better now. Enjoy your swimming!
Aug 04, 2016 @ 10:40:36
Thank you so very much. I am humbled.
Aug 01, 2016 @ 17:28:56
You have always been supportive of my senryu attempts; just another aspect of being an outlaw poet, an ersatz beat, a Zen wannabe–yes, you are the river & I am the waves. I think of those posters I sent that simply called your name; so cool.
Aug 04, 2016 @ 10:38:58
You are not a wannabe. Mensch, yes! The posters make me smile muchly. I think we are both a couple of Dharma Bums. went on the road in the truest sense of the words years ago, picking up bits of myself like small stones, shells, petrified wood, flowers. Sleeping under the stars in the desert or curled up on the sand at Big Sur or eating a taco in Noodle Texas, it changes one, helps to bring one home. Crossing the Mississippi, “walking in Memphis”, pulling cotton in Alabama or waiting in a small café in Brooklyn – it all brings one home.
Aug 04, 2016 @ 10:39:48
PS and even when I frown at micropoems or senryu instead of the haiku, I still look for the wisdom in them and find it.
Aug 01, 2016 @ 18:15:12
I love the picture you paint!
Aug 04, 2016 @ 10:33:45
Thank you!
Aug 01, 2016 @ 18:44:02
Cold red sunrises – such wonderful imagery! Love the picture, too 🙂
Aug 04, 2016 @ 10:33:29
Thank you!
Aug 01, 2016 @ 19:48:35
Sounds like a person who is living an interesting life.
Aug 04, 2016 @ 10:32:40
I don’t know about interesting but it is my life!
Aug 01, 2016 @ 21:03:13
Superb, Toni! I can see it!
Aug 04, 2016 @ 10:32:03
🙂
Aug 01, 2016 @ 21:07:26
Not surprised you got snow in there! Love this well-rounded portrait.
Aug 04, 2016 @ 10:31:45
You know me and snow!
Aug 01, 2016 @ 21:33:36
Love your photo! Swimmer in Amanogawa … wonderful line, and it’s meaning! 🙂
Aug 04, 2016 @ 10:31:08
Thank you. Just a fancy name for stargazer and star dreamer. It does have a lovely meaning, doesn’t it? It truly enchants me.
Aug 01, 2016 @ 23:17:41
That last line could melt a heart. Beautiful, Toni!
Aug 04, 2016 @ 10:30:18
Thank you! Those cold sunrises and especially snow always melt mine.
Aug 02, 2016 @ 00:18:52
I enjoyed this, Toni! Especially
Respecter of ancient tradition
disdainful of Americanized-haiku-tanka-haibun
–me, too, which is why I don’t often write them!
Aug 04, 2016 @ 10:27:17
Thank you Dr. Howe. I’ve been writing them for 40+ years and still trying to get them right. I suppose that is why I get so annoyed at newbies who just throw out a micropoem and ignore the rules and traditions around them without respect.
Aug 02, 2016 @ 00:40:51
I could see you there in your lines & “Lover of cold red sunrises and snow”, is a keeper…and what a cutie pie you were! most beautiful…
Aug 04, 2016 @ 10:29:19
Thank you Sumana. I was truly a cute kid but mouthy, LOL. I always get up super early in winter to watch the sunrises. I especially love the reflections of them when there is snow on the ground.
Aug 02, 2016 @ 00:46:57
This is like a treasure box of you. I did smile about the haiku….and I love that you are so passionate about that.
Aug 04, 2016 @ 10:25:56
Thank you Mish. Yes, I am VERY passionate about it….
Aug 02, 2016 @ 03:47:15
I love that last line, Toni, and the ‘weaver of words and food’ – I have a wonderful image of you weaving bread plaits in a warm kitchen with cats and books around you.
Aug 04, 2016 @ 10:24:24
Thank you Kim. I wish I did still have my cat. I had to have him euthanized last October due to a large tumor on his heart. It is still hard without him. but books and cooking….love it!
Aug 02, 2016 @ 07:06:21
“Follows 10 Commandments and bushido” I was really drawn to that, hmmmm. I like
Aug 04, 2016 @ 10:25:20
They both instill my life with honor, honesty, respect….
Aug 02, 2016 @ 08:41:48
A great snapshot here! Love the boot about “tree climber” – and based on previous poems of yours, I believe it!
Aug 04, 2016 @ 10:23:20
Yes I am an avid tree climber and sitter. I’ll be turning 65 in November and I hope will be climbing until I’m 165.
Aug 02, 2016 @ 08:57:30
What a fascinating person! 🙂
Aug 04, 2016 @ 10:22:16
Yeppers…I guess I am… 🙂
Aug 02, 2016 @ 12:57:29
I did notice from your haibun prompts that you stick to the traditional haiku. 🙂 Thanks for adding to the picture f you.
Aug 02, 2016 @ 13:31:00
That is because a classical haiku is used for the haibun rather than senryu or micropoem, Glad you enjoyed. 🙂
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Aug 02, 2016 @ 14:55:54
A heady mix of cultures! I love your photo 🙂
Aug 04, 2016 @ 10:21:45
Thank you on both counts!
Aug 02, 2016 @ 15:19:45
The little girl in the picture is still present and full of life.
Aug 04, 2016 @ 10:21:18
🙂 Yes she is!
Aug 05, 2016 @ 01:06:26
🙂
Aug 05, 2016 @ 08:43:56
Oh goodness, I guess I’ve tortured you with my haiku and haibun in the past (without knowing)!