Jone has the roundup over at Check it Out . She invites us to participate in a New Year Post Card Exchange!
Our local daily newspaper features a haiku poem inspired by current news. Sometimes I succumb to the challenge. Ordinarily, I write haiku with the "less is more" attitude and don't count out syllables totaling seventeen. But I adhere to the "rule" for these newspaper submissions. Perhaps the editor won't count it as a haiku if it doesn't fit the formula, I reason.
Here are some I have submitted, the last just this week. The first haiku was accepted last year.
life vests flung
on shore
they step into
Europe’s arms -
perilous journey
wave-tossed to Lesbos
blistered steps through Vienna -
flight to a future
America's bridge
to be closed to immigrants
exit lane open
On a different note, these haiku reflect our current New England landscape.
moon on snow
branches in silhouette
lacemaker
genuflect to winter–
dormant green power
And one for the Christmas season paired with a painting by artist Harold Copping.
angels speak
stars quiver, mortals quake
hope births
Copyright Joyce Ray. All rights reserved.
Very sobering, but so true.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Myra!
DeleteJoyce, these are really wonderful, and heartbreaking, too. I posted today too about refugees... that this should be happening NOW is just awful. Your poems are important. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteIrene, thank you for your comments. It's important to publicize immigrant stories as you are doing.
DeleteThose are beautiful. The english rules for haiku far exceed the syllable count and contradict each other gleefully. I like yours, regardless of syllable count.
ReplyDeleteHi, Brenda. Thank you!
DeleteMoving... heart-wrenching... Thankful for "hope." It keeps my heart.
ReplyDeleteAlice, as Emily said, "hope is the thing with feathers...". Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteEvery time I have a little gripe, and I do not often do this, then I think of the plight of those refugees, and even arriving on short, still have your "perilous journey". Well done. I enjoyed each of your haiku, especially that "lace". I love evening shadows in all seasons. Thanks, Joyce.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your comments, Linda. I find that haiku are all I can manage right now. The well is very dry. May they will help prime the pump.
DeleteLove these! Check out #haikuforhealing if you're a Twitter user, and add some of yours to our growing community!
ReplyDeleteI agree -- when the well is dry, write small!!
Thank you, Mary Lee, for the invitation. I am still not on Twitter (dare I admit it!), but it seems a perfect venue for haiku. I'm glad you stopped by!
DeleteJoyce, I especially enjoy the ones that describe your New England landscape. So very different than my East Texas home. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Keisha. I have never visited Texas. You'd be as amazed at our winter wonderland as I'd be at your landscape! Thank you for stopping by.
DeleteThis:
ReplyDeleteAmerica's bridge
to be closed to immigrants
exit lane open
Such sadness about this and I pray it doesn't happen.