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Some Mornings

 Some mornings out in my backyard, i would sit in silence, in company with sky, sometimes bland, sometimes cloudy, waiting, watching for the sunrise.

There were many mornings the daymoon waited with me. I would look up without my glasses and view the fuzzy daymoon, my faithful companion.

Then a few years ago, i had cataract surgery to both my eyes. Now my daymoon vision is enhanced

without eye glasses -

daymoon in the early sky 

the clear sharp outlines

© gillena cox 2026

Blog Hopping Today With

 Haibun Monday 9-28-26: vision 

REVISIT
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[image from google]

 Here Comes The Bride

Time was when i sang in the senior choir at my church. The choir is still in existence, only i do not sing anymore. 

In those days we had choir practise, at the old church weeknights. And on a Sunday morning we sang at Holy Mass.That was before Covid19.

We sang too, at funerals and at weddings. In those days, i loved weddings. Now too, i still love weddings.

happy bride and groom 

yet some people sniffling -

weddings make me cry

 © gillena cox 2026

Blog Hopping Today With

Haibun Monday: Wedding Bliss

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[AI generated image using Bing]

 Who knows the mind of a melon, sweet or mild or tart? When the storm has spent its fury and the earthquake stops to stare at man's humiliation. When bombs drop no more,  when chatter is not the noise of teeth in a winter's spell. And angels wings fold like a bud unfurled. 

dewdrops on a leaf 

in dawn's silence; earlier

is when it happens

© gillena cox 2026

Blog Hopping Today With

  

Haibun Monday 4-27-26: Silence

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[image courtesy dVerse Poets Pub]

In T&T, March is a cool down after February's carnival madness unless; the carnival is in early March, here then, the madness is in tact.

No tea party here; it's party on the road for two days after the seasonal carnival parties, more commonly refered to as carnival fetes.

Alice's March hare will easily fit in. Carnival is about colour, costume, dance/whine, alcohol, allowed 'misbehaving' within limits. Lots of words chanted in calypso/ kaiso/soca 

musical forms.

children's carnival -

mother push carts her baby

dressed as a bunny

©  gillena cox 2026

BLOG HOPPING TODAY WITH
Haibun Monday 3-30-26: Mad March Hare

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 Goings And Comings

[I looked at the Soaps and enjoyed them so much. I never knew then, i was part of a soap opera, myself]

Last year it was my London uncle, he died, RIP. Then my youngest brother hosted for the first time a Family Get Together. There were folks from New York and Trinidad. We had a fun day in August.

yellow tees bespoke

colour my deceased mother

loved so very much

So that was last year, when i met for the first time a sister, i had heard about, who materialized, wearing red the colour of planet Mars. All the folks associated with only my father wore red.

So this year my Grenada uncle passed. He was the beloved uncle of all his neices and nephews. Would you beleive, no had anything negative to say of him. He was phenomenal.

one more shining star  

has joined the overhead sky -

 for my uncle James

Then in comes a new brother, living in Florida, who was searching for his father, who happened to be also my father. In conversation with a cousin of mine he related his quest. He had gone to the right source. By serendipity his search ended. Except for Rose, who was still in Grenada after the funeral of uncle James. Wednesday gone we brothers and sisters met.

my new found brother 

at last we meet face to face -

celebration time

© gillena cox 2026

BLOG HOPPING TODAY WITH 

  Haibun Monday 3-2-26: A “Life on Mars” Tribute

Challenge: compose a haibun that reflects that resonance, as a tribute to the Pulitzer Prize-winner’s work - Tracy K. Smith, “Life on Mars” Graywolf Press

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[red ixoras from my garden, they luv blazing sunshine]

Happy New Year

The sunlight is really bright. For more than half of the day i stay away from two rooms in the house, even though they have curtained windows.

The sunlight just takes over. Besides being hot the brightness is overwhelming. What the sunlight is really saying is, it's Carnival time. 

The music on the radio is hotter, saucier. The parang rythms are stored away for another Christmastime

tap tapping

my first haibun for this year

Happy New Year 

© gillena cox 2026

BLOG HOPPING TODAY WITH 

 Haibun Monday 1-5-26: Epiphany inkNight #392 

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Creche 2025 at St Mary's RC Church here in St James, Trinidad 🇹🇹

Fireworks in my neighbourhood 🇹🇹

midnight booming in 2006

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[plastic funnels from google]

 I use my plastic funnel to pour liquid from a jug into a bottle. No fuss no spills. A simple kitchen procedure can turn into a meditation of remberance.

I am smiling to myself. Why ? My granddaughter comes to mind. In her little protective days, when her dad and mum were her world.

"Gramma!" she says to me "my dad does not have strainers like that, i must tell him to get some"

Ah but they just keep growing up, with new challenges for both mum and dad

first by her mum

the teenager is scolded

also by her dad

© gillena cox 2025

BLOG HOPPING TODAY WITH 

 Haibun Monday 11-24-25: Transformation 

REVISIT TO READ

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Here in Trinidad and Tobago🇹🇹 we celebrate 100 days of Christmas starting 23rd Sepember to 25th December; hosted by Sweet 101.1 FM Radio, where our local Christmas music is featured

ENJOY THE MUSIC

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[image composed with a little help from picsart]

My Haloween Haibun( end with 3 haiku)

I aim to write a Haloween story. It must be gruesome and chilling. Nevermore nevermore call me chicken. This is not a travelogue.  This is not a resurrection issue. This writer is evolving. So set your mind to do some reading, some thrilling, chilling reading.

he eats his bride

green monster Frankenstien -

stroke of midnight

headless horseman

to buy a swifter steed -

sells his head

wrapped in linens -

awaked he calls his dad

mummy dearest

© gillena cox 2025

BLOG HOPPING TODAY WITH 

   Haibun Monday 10-27-25: Halloween. 

REVISIT TO READ

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Here in Trinidad and Tobago🇹🇹 we celebrate 100 days of Christmas starting 23rd Sepember to 25th December; hosted by Sweet 101.1 FM Radio, where our local Christmas music is featured

ENJOY THE MUSIC

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[Trinidad and Tobago   Silver]

 Last year, i bought a pair of silver sandals.They glitter in the sunlight. I admire my own feet with toes also painted silver.

 This obsession with silver is not new. I suppose it will carry on long after the pair of sandals are no more wearable.

a long time ago

the pair of silver bracelets -

my husband wore one

© gillena cox 2025

BLOG HOPPING TODAY WITH 

Haibun Monday 8-4-25: Silver

     

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clinging for dear life

a few late pink Poui -

 neighbourhood tree 

Here in T&T 🇹🇹  the Poui trees break out in bloom around the same time that your Cherry is blooming, mid-March to late April. It's a blossoming tree thing, has to be. 

yellow trees nearby

are still showing off their -

golden blossom hues

They are very very distracting, so much so, on my way to the polling station this morning, i had to stop to snap some.

Today is General Elections, here in T&T 🇹🇹  

© gillena cox 2025

BLOG HOPPING TODAY WITH 

Haibun Monday 4-25-25: Late Cherry Blossoms;

REVISIT TO READ

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[Just a mention: today is a public holiday here in Trinidad and Tobago, Shouter Baptist Liberation Day]

Option...

Here is one, here is another. Though they are found some distance apart, the lesisurely walk along Maracas Beach in new flip flops close the distance between finds.

The tiny shells we pick up are halved and empty and halfway buried in the sand. It is a fun pastime, though.

Chip chip is delicious when curried, so i have heard, time and time again, but i have never eaten this much talked about dish.

a nagging hunger

lets go to get bake and shark -

now all of us smile

© gillena cox 2025

BLOG HOPPING TODAY WITH 

Haibun Monday: Let’s Travel Through Time

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[image courtesy dVerse poetry pub]

 Rain and rain and more rain. To round off The Rainy Season, to add a contrast background to Caribbean Christmas trees sparkling and blinking, indoors and outdoors.

The choice to be festive like the Christmas trees transfering your hope into the radiance of lights, or go for the gloom the misty grey clouded mornings, seeping depressed days into the soul.

rainy season ending

with 9misty morning clouds -

Christmas trees blinking

© gillena cox 2025

BLOG HOPPING TODAY WITH 

Dverse – Haibun Monday — Making Way”

REVISIT TO READ

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October 31st will be a public holiday here in Trinidad and Tobago for the observance of Divali (also spelt Diwali). On the street where i live there, a family hosts this festival every year and people from all over the country and also foreigners come to see the lights.Food is served freely on this night. The block which spans about four buildings, that part of the street is closed to traffic and bamboo sculptures are put in the street, deyas are mounted and lit on the holiday night. The festival is still popular but over recent years, the crowd has dwindled.

the smell of ghee

deyas on bamboo frames lit -

who can stay indoors

© gillena cox 2024

CLICK HERE TO VIEW MY 2008 Stellarenga 

A Stellarenga is a seven-link poem containing only one-liners. The first and last links mention a cosmic body, e.g., a planet, a star or one of the luminaries. Renga style linkage means that each link stands separately yet relates to the preceding and following ku either by theme, wordplay, or twist of idea. A line-space is generally placed between each ku; a stellarenga is really a set of poems. As in all renga poems a straight or tell-all narrative should be avoided. A Stellarenga can be done solo or partnered.The Stellarenga was created by Alexis K. Rotella in March 1997)

SOME HINTS OF DIVALI PAST ON THE STREET WHERE I LIVE (first posted at my blog Lunch Break)

BLOG HOPPING TODAY WITH 

Poetics: Satiating the Soul

OCTOBER IS CALYPSO HISTORY MONTH IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGOENJOY SINGERDRUPATEE

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[image from the internet]

 My son is in the driver seat. We are going towards the Oueens Park Savannah. Once there the Botanical Gardens is on our left and The Savannah on our right. It's the month of June, so the  Poui lining the perimeter are hushed in green, Oh,but Flamboyants  also called Gulmohar, wow!  these trees are showing off so much.

blossoming in flames

red/orange of Flamboyants

for miles around

© gillena cox 2024

BLOG HOPPING TODAY WITH

Haibun Monday 10-21-24: Fall foliage or Spring blossoms

REVISIT TO READ

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OCTOBER IS CALYPSO HISTORY MONTH IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
ENJOY THIS CALYPSO BY Mighty Sniper

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[image courtesy dVerse poetry pub]

What do i know of equinoxes. I live in a clime where seasons are Dry (January to May)

 then Wet (June to December) But strange overlaps occur. Days thunders into Dry, and drought-like

days seep into Wet. But we, here in Trinidad and Tobago, are not the only ones marking these topsy turvy days.

I suppose equinoxes will remain stable, even though the scientist and climate observers question, will there be clear delineated seasons in the future?

Meanwhile i sit in my backyard at dawn; once there is no rain, and watch the stars, (before day saunters in) some twinkle, some don't.

The bold-facedness of a cat!  stalking through my back yard and slinking through the gate.I have no pets..

twenty-one stars counted -

the way Vivaldi knew it

seasons are destined

© gillena cox 2024

BLOG HOPPING TODAY WITH

Haibun Monday 9-25-23: Equinox

THIS IS MONDAY WRITES 447

REVISIT TO READ

Monday WRites 446

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equinox: derived from the Latin aequinoctium
the phenomenon of equinox

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[image from google]

 It's here again. Another four year span culminating in Olympics. This year Paris hosts after 100 years since serving as host country.

A novelty opening has competing countries sailing around the Seine. Flags waving cheering to onlookers

It is the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago's nineteenth appearance at the Summer Olympics (although the Trinidad and Tobago athletes previously attended four other editions under the British colony and under the West Indies Federation)

The summer Olympics presents the best of the best to a worldwide audience. Every athlete doing his or her best for their countries.

Those fans not so lucky to be in the Paris stands view their TV screens and other devices.

a medal winner

smothered in hugs and kisses -

wears her country flag

© gillena cox 2024

BLOG HOPPING TODAY WITH

Haibun Monday 7-29-24: Summer Olympics 2024

THIS IS MONDAY WRITES 441

Hope you had a happy and safe July 

REVISIT TO READ

Monday WRites 440

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Do you have a Monday WRITE to share? Join my linky

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[image from google]

Haibun - My Train Days

The Trinidad Government Railway existed between 1876 and 28 December 1968. Originally built to connect Port of Spain with Arima, the railway was extended to Couva in 1880, San Fernando in 1882, Cunapo (now Sangre Grande) in 1897, Tabaquite in 1898, Siparia in 1913 and Rio Claro in 1914.

MORE HERE

During my high school years, there was a phase in my transportation where i travelled from Chaguanas to San Juan by train. Those were for the most, for school children passengers, days of flirting and naughtiness.

The boys did what we called 'hopping the train' that is they waited until the train started moving, then they would jump aboard. (very dangerous i remember one boy of Chaguanas whom i knew got both his legs crushed) There was also those boys who would not spend money on a train ticket and dodged the 

inspectors from carriage to carriage. Then there was the 'throwing of powder' boys would buy small tins

of white talc - (thank god they were fragrant scented talc) and sometimes

baby powder; and they would go through the carriages sprinkling on any unsuspecting girls. Some girls giggled and flirted others who didn't would 'cut eyes' at such behaviour. Strange to say though i do not remember getting powdered. 

Those were just some of the behaviours on board. But that was not all; there was the scenery

which at that age i really did not ogle. But there it was, nevertheless, cane fields, rice fields, country houses. bison grazing etc etc. The poet in me i think, was sleepy in those days.

hoot hoot all aboard 

chug a chug clackety clack -

 mischief plays itself

 Haibun - My Train Days © gillena cox 2024

BLOG HOPPING TODAY WITH

Poetics: Travelling by train

challenge:  write a poem sharing with us your train travel experience.

REVISIT TO READ

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[sun art from Pinterest]

Haibun - solstice

The sun rises, the sun sets. An everyday occurrence. A breath of morning to the awakened soul. Another day of magical mystical naturalness.We expect to see the sky, the clouds the birds and trees perform their natural tasks. 

However, above and beyond this simple naturalness; stars shine, planets orbit and a gazillion other occurences purpose the universe. 

Those to whom these mysteries are solvable physics, will watch wait and relay to others of us more mundane in our knowledge. Like the forthcoming solstice of this month of June.Yet these occurences are already destined and planned according to thewill of the universal creator.

clouds shape their colour

according to the suns will -

another day's magic

© gillenacox2024

BLOG HOPPING TODAY WITH

Haibun Monday 6-17-24: Solstice

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THIS IS MONDAY WRITES 437

June is here our Rainy Season 

REVISIT TO READ

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IMAGE COURTESY de Verse poetry pub

 Earth We 

Technology rewards us with conversations and closeness. We share like and subscribe. We zoom, link up and link in. 

little square boxes

of people chatting online -

a live meeting

But what about our natural environment. The destruction is overwhelming. Building crumble like the tossed paper balls of am irate writer.  Machine guns and tankers deface the landscape. Where are the trees? The earth cries as blood is spilt.

TV screen shots -

the anguish of a mother

as her child goes limp

The fishes in the sea;  who cares about them as trash finds its way from rivers and streams to its depths annoying sea animal and plant life. Fishes must be crying too.

feet along the sand

plastic bottle clean up -

here's a garbage bag

© gillena cox 2024

BLOG HOPPING TODAY WITH

Haibun Monday 4/22/24: Earth Day

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THIS IS MONDAY WRITES 430

REVISIT TO READ

Monday WRites 429

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