Notes About The Poem

Ikigai
Petals in Stillness

Daniel Henry Rodgers

-----------

“As the garden turns petal to pine
mist to morning light....
we walk the cool quiet arc of purpose
where life flow meets ritual
time becomes meaning.”

- Poet

==================

 

Ikigai: Petals in Stillness

Spring — Passion

Kintsugi dawn—
white plum scents night air
tea rises in stillness.

Cranes cross pale sky;
child laughter drifts on moss.
A garden remembers.

Summer — Vocation

Tatami breathes—
cicada shells cling
reborn softly.

Koi flicker below
ripples fade in quiet hands.
Evening thunder calls—

incense drifts
forms bow.

Autumn — Mission

Fox lanterns kindle
shoji float through silver mist—
ancestral spirits stir.

Stray dog nestles
by the gate;
even strays seek warmth.

Tea vapor
recalls morning.

Winter — Profession

Snow settles
on stone lanterns
pine needles in palm.

Cold brushes fingertips.
Crane arcs slowly—
silhouette lingers on old walls.

Work kneaded
with laughter;
fire clothes darkness.

Completion — All Seasons as One

Sakura scatter—
petals dance
mirror tea vapor.

Breath holds the garden.
Circle closes
opens anew.

Tea cools,
reflects sky—
time folds gently.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2025


Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Date: 8/27/2025 10:10:00 AM
Daniel , I was enveloped in the nuanced magic of your beautiful descriptions and emotions of the seasons. I took a ride through space and time to eavesdrop and welcome the passage of revealed details. Many beautiful lines. I especially liked fox lanterns kindle - shoji float through silver mist-ancestral spirits stir . Thank you Hugs, Susan :)
Login to Reply
Rodgers Avatar
Daniel Henry Rodgers
Date: 9/2/2025 10:45:00 AM
Dear Susan, Reading your lovely words felt like a gentle echo of the very poem you embraced. I love that you “took a ride through space and time” with it and your attention to the lanterns, shoji, and ancestral stirrings makes me feel seen. Truly grateful for your warmth, your insight, and your hugs, they carry the same quiet magic. Blessings, Susan, Daniel
Date: 8/21/2025 4:27:00 AM
Daniel you are one clever man and l can see why you are one of the most popular poets on P.S…..an amazing poem my friend! Debx
Login to Reply
Rodgers Avatar
Daniel Henry Rodgers
Date: 9/2/2025 10:43:00 AM
Dear Deb, I am so appreciative of your wonderful thoughts that bring me great joy. Blessings, Deb, Daniel
Date: 8/20/2025 12:04:00 PM
Wow, very impressive work here. Love this kind of series with short verses and how everything came together to fit the theme.
Login to Reply
Rodgers Avatar
Daniel Henry Rodgers
Date: 9/2/2025 10:42:00 AM
Dear Andrea. How uplifting and sweet is your note. I am glad you are a great friend and I feel blessed. Blessings, Andrea, Daniel
Date: 8/20/2025 12:01:00 PM
I love your descriptions of the four seasons along with the titles each has. They create a familiar picture in my mind.
Login to Reply
Rodgers Avatar
Daniel Henry Rodgers
Date: 9/2/2025 10:41:00 AM
Dear Hilda, I really wanted to capture the four seasons of this valley. It is such a beautiful landscape in our world. Thank you so much for your gracious note. Blessings, Hilda, Daniel
Date: 8/19/2025 7:19:00 PM
Daniel, your precise, descriptive words linger in the mind and heart.The succinct cadence is provocative; following the pattern of haiku, as its beauty unfolds like a delicate flower. Lovely! :)
Login to Reply
Rodgers Avatar
Daniel Henry Rodgers
Date: 9/2/2025 10:40:00 AM
Dear Laura, I am very grateful for your visit and wonderful uplifting note. Blessings, Laura, Daniel
Date: 8/19/2025 5:41:00 PM
"Circle closes opens anew." I am in awe of that concept, it's so simple and real, the whole poem is - a loveliness to read
Login to Reply
Rodgers Avatar
Daniel Henry Rodgers
Date: 9/2/2025 10:39:00 AM
Dear Paige, what a lovely note and filled me up today. Thank you!! Blessings, Paige, Daniel
Date: 8/19/2025 3:39:00 PM
An invigorating walk through the seasons of a year, images painting picture of the gentle metamorphism of nature through each. It was pleasant to travel with your poetry through the year only to find a summation in Completion - All Seasons as One. Thank you for sharing the meaningful details we often miss as we human rush through each season looking to the next by the mid-point of each. Your insights and the way your poetry flows from your poet's hearth is soothing, my dear friend. Bill
Login to Reply
Rodgers Avatar
Daniel Henry Rodgers
Date: 9/2/2025 10:38:00 AM
Hello Bill, your note warms me deeply. I love how you saw the journey through the seasons and the quiet revelations each holds. Your reflections, always thoughtful and heartfelt, feel like a companion’s hand on the shoulder, and is why sharing these poems is such a joy. Blessings, Bill, Daniel
Date: 8/18/2025 3:03:00 PM
WOW!! What a wonderful set of Haiku writes. I like how you walked the read through the seasons. Great picture and great quote... Have A Blessed Day Writing Away............
Login to Reply
Rodgers Avatar
Daniel Henry Rodgers
Date: 8/19/2025 2:26:00 PM
Dear Paula, you are one of my inspirations and I am always thankful and appreciative of all your comments. Blessings, My Dear Paula, Daniel
Date: 8/18/2025 7:30:00 AM
My friend, I wish I could write such brilliant haikus. Each season is special. each with its particular imagery and the finale is simply brilliant.
Login to Reply
Rodgers Avatar
Daniel Henry Rodgers
Date: 8/19/2025 2:25:00 PM
Dear Victor, I fell in love with Haiku's 51 years ago and they still burst forth from time to time. I am thankful for your friendship and your comments. Blessings, My Dear Victor, Daniel
Date: 8/18/2025 7:08:00 AM
Dearest Daniel, the way you've connected the garden's rhythms to the passage of time, purpose, and meaning is truly remarkable. Each stanza is a masterful blend of sensory detail and emotional resonance, inviting the reader to slow down, breathe deeply, and appreciate the beauty in every moment. This poem is a treasure, a celebration of life's preciousness and the interconnectedness of all things. Your poem has essence of japanese literature, my dearest friend. With love and respect always, Anne
Login to Reply
Rodgers Avatar
Daniel Henry Rodgers
Date: 8/19/2025 2:24:00 PM
Dearest Anne, I am glad to see you still here and commenting. I know that college is starting and the next phase of your life is underway. This poem hopefully will inspire you to seek your ikigai (Passion and Purpose). I am one of your biggest cheerleaders. Blessings, My Dear Anne, Daniel
Date: 8/18/2025 5:33:00 AM
John Fleming will love these. He's been experimenting with Asian poetry. You seem to have a clear grasp of Asian culture. It really shines through your series of haikus/lyrics Daniel. You must have a fondness for the eclectic nature of mankind
Login to Reply
Rodgers Avatar
Daniel Henry Rodgers
Date: 8/19/2025 2:22:00 PM
Hello Tom, I will have to go and check out some of John's poems. I have always loved various Asian cultures and have studied several, including Japanese, Chinese, and Korean. I do have a fondness for various forms of knowledge and wisdom. When writing poetry, it is difficult to focus only on one aspect. I guess I have loved so many varied styles that I am constantly exploring and integrating. Thanks as always for your visit and comments. Blessings, My Friend, Daniel
Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Reflection on the Important Things

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter