Month: February 2017

Said the Waves to the Moon

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waning and waxing ~

inconsistently passing ~

dark, then light, my night ~

though I touch your face or not ~

my tides, you’re ever moving

~

Words and Photography ©2017 Tanya Cliff ~ to contact me

Entry posted in tanka & poetry. Bookmark the permalink.

~

Dedicated to my dad, who holds the record for the worst Valentine’s Day present ever given to me – a stiff, ugly stuffed bear with blood-red, coarse hair – a gift that inexplicably made his little girl’s heart beat faster. I haven’t felt his arms around me or heard his voice since I was a teenager. I still have that bear hidden away in a box, and I still feel his love moving my tides, encouraging me daily to keep going.

#1 Debut

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A Haiku for Ricky Baker has debuted at #1 in Asian poetry on Amazon and has a 5-star overall review. All proceeds from the sales of this book go to fund art and writing programs for youth in juvenile detention. It’s a great cause. Please pass the word.

For more information:

A Haiku for Ricky Baker

 

Violating Haiku

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an oily gold rush ~

flows out from the frack-raped earth ~

Mother’s black-inked tears

~

boys rush the Bakken ~

covet all precious treasure ~

shatter the girls’ gems

~

when Females are raped ~

shouldn’t all be shocked and wonder ~

what through pipeline flows?

~

#noDAPL

(Rape and sexual assault against women and girls have skyrocketed in the communities surrounding the Bakken Oil Fields since fracking began, increasing by some estimates more than 160%. These crimes have disproportionately impacted Indigenous females who live on the area’s reservation.)

Words and Photography ©2017 Tanya Cliff ~ to contact me

Posted in haiku & poetry. Bookmark the permalink.

Returning

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as a child
through woodland wandered
touched the roots
with gentle feet
heard the rumble
wisdom ancient
patience
tapping
riches
deep

grown I walk
through concrete wasteland
trip on cracks
with tired toes
hear the grumbles
people modern
hurried
rushing
vacant
flows

return me now
to verdant fields
surrounding me
the soft wind thrills
heaven pressed
the air’s alluring
nature
soothing
my soul
stills

~

Words and Photography ©2017 Tanya Cliff ~ to contact me

Posted in poetry & free verse. Bookmark the permalink.

U.S. Army Corps To Grant Final Permit for the Dakota Access Pipeline: Court Filing

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The treatment of this country toward our Indigenous brothers and sisters continues to be appalling. Every time we discover a resource or use for their treaty negotiated lands, we take them. My heart goes out to all those who have bravely fought this battle. We must continue to fight. #noDAPL

RED POWER MEDIA

A North Dakota National Guard vehicle idles on the outskirts of the Dakota Access oil pipeline protest camp near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, U.S., January 29, 2017. REUTERS/Terray Sylvester A North Dakota National Guard vehicle idles on the outskirts of the Dakota Access oil pipeline protest camp near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, U.S., January 29, 2017. REUTERS/Terray Sylvester

Reuters | Feb 7, 2017 

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will grant the final easement needed to finish the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline, according to a court filing Tuesday.

The line had been delayed for several months after protests from Native American tribes and climate activists. The $3.8 billion line, which is being built by Energy Transfer Partners (ETP.N), needed a final permit to tunnel under Lake Oahe, a reservoir that is part of the Missouri River.

The Standing Rock Sioux tribe, whose reservation is adjacent to the line’s route, has said it will fight the decision. The Army Corps had previously stated that it would undertake further environmental review of the project. The tribe was not immediately…

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A Wall Built High

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how can we build a wall high enough to keep “evil” out?

with children’s buckets of sand
stolen by the kindergarten bully,
a molded garrison
wet with their tears –
youth’s hording
mockeries

or

with sticks and stones
and mountains of bones
of broken bodies
decayed on the ground –
states’ colonizing
batteries

with bricks and mortar
mixed with the ashes
of cremated remains
from gas-filled
sorting-house
factories

it sounds simple
like child’s play –
steal from one
allow another to
horde
colonize
sort

and

construct

a wall built high

I think when he says, “keep ‘evil’ out”,
he really means,
fence
it
all
in

~

Words and Photography ©2017 Tanya Cliff ~ to contact me.

Posted in poetry & free verse. Bookmark the permalink.

A Ticking Haiku

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minutes are passing ~

shattered the glass to buy more ~

purchased sandy floor

~

(Inspired by my son, who seems to have grown inches overnight and now towers over me. I remember when…)

~

Words and Photography ©2017 Tanya Cliff ~ to contact me

Posted in haiku & poetry. Bookmark the permalink.

time3

On Sale Now

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roots of child neglect ~

contort Ricky Baker’s feet ~

strong hands cut safe paths.

(selection from A Haiku for Ricky Baker)

~

A Haiku for Ricky Baker, a book of poetry inspired by the 2016 Taika Waititi film, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, and my experience of the positive influence of selections of my work on the life of one girl transitioning out of detention and into foster care is now available in eBook. ALL PROCEEDS, including 70% of each eBook sale, go to fund art projects for children in juvenile detention centers. Please consider purchasing the book and reviewing it on Amazon. Every sale of A Haiku for Ricky Baker helps to put paintbrushes and pens into the hands of at-risk youth in the hope that they will find creative paths for healing and growth. For more information or to sign up for newsletter updates, visit my page at Haiku for Ricky.

Words and photography©2017 Tanya Cliff

Posted in haiku & poetry. Bookmark the permalink.