Haiku Heights, "Pine"

Another week has gone by. Today's prompt from Haiku Heights is pine. I was inspired by a haibun by Matsuo Basho (1644-1694) titled "The Narrow Road to the Deep North". In this haibun somewhere he writes about the twin pine and is anxious to see it, but the twin pine is cut and used for a bridge. Basho's "Narrow Road" is a classical piece of literature and for sure worth reading. Click on the above link and you can read the whole version of his "Narrow Road".

anxious to see

the twin pine of the stories

once told

once told

a tale on pine trees

bonsai like

bonsai like

the islands of Matsushima

covered with pines

covered with pines

but the wondrous twin pine

I have never seen

Credits: pine tree bonzai

Tackle It Tuesday, day 2 "Magnolia"

Dear Haijin, thank you all for being part of the first episode of "Tackle It Tuesday". I was surprised that I had so many Haijin (haiku poets) visiting my new haiku challenge.

This weeks prompt is "Magnolia". You may write a haiku in every style, the only rule ... three sentences. This prompt will stay on 'till May 21th 2012.

Enjoy the fun and be creative!! Please write a comment after linking your entry for this weeks "Tackle It Tuesday".

Magnolia

Haiku Heights, "mask"

This week was very busy. I had to work several late night shifts and I started "Tackle It Tuesday" with the first prompt raindrops. And now another Haiku Heights saturday is on. This weeks prompt mask I enjoyed very much. I have written a new cascading haiku. (Since Ramesh introduced that form I am addicted to it :-) ).

painted face

hides his sad life -

merry-andrew

merry-andrew

every day again

wearing his mask

Credits: merry-andrew

wearing his mask

the surgeon enters the O.R. -

woman in labour

woman in labour

after her caesarean

painted face

Well .... see you next week.

Tackle It Tuesday

Hello visitors,

I was searching for a Tuesday challenge, but couldn't find one. So I made my own, using Mister Linky. I introduce to you Tackle It Tuesday.

Tackle It Tuesday is meant to be for writing haiku with a given prompt. Maybe you know Haiku Heights, well Tackle It Tuesday is just like that. Maybe it will not be a success, but I love to try.

The prompt for today is: RAINDROPS.

You can contribute your haiku in the classical- or Kanshicho-style 'till Monday May 14th midnight hour. Be part of it ...

Have fun!

Chèvrefeuille

Haiku Heights, prompt "hour"

Also published for:

Hello to you all,

After our April Challenge we start with new weekly prompts. This week's prompt is hour not so easy to write a haiku about, but I should try ...

in the rush hour

standing in a full train

reading the newspaper

reading the newspaper

another day of 24 hours

caught in black ink

caught in black ink

stories on war and hunger

all around the world

all around the world

people reading the newspaper

in the rush hour

See you next week.

Haiku Heights April Challenge, day 30 "zest"

We have come at the end of our April Challenge. Today day 30, the last day. I am glad to have participated in this Haiku Heights April Challenge and I loved to be a part of it.

I have read wonderful haiku during this month and really ... it was a challenge. Thank you all for participating and for your nice contributions to it. 

Today the prompt is zest I didn't know the meaning of it so (again) I had to do some research on it. I ran into the following meaning and synonyms:

the basic meaning of it is enthusiasm and I have found a few synonyms for it. For example: sparkle, yearning, devotion, energy and liveliness. This will not be an easy one, but I have to do it to enclose this April Challenge of Haiku Heights. Thank you Leo for giving me (us) the opportunity to be part of it.

with enthusiasm

I started writing for this

haiku challenge

haiku challenge

brought me some new insights

sparkling eyes

Sparkling Eyes (steady shot from War Horse the movie

sparkling eyes

as I read the haiku of our friends

my heart is yearning

my heart is yearning

for another challenge of haiku

feeling sad right now

feeling sad right now

but with devotion I write on

with enthusiasm

Well ... our Haiku Heights April Challenge ends today ... it was a tough ride, but I have enjoyed it very much. See you again ... in another haiku challenge.

Haiku Heights April Challenge, day 29 "Poet's Choice"

Day 29 Poet's Choice, nice to see you all again here. Maybe some of you have read the haiku which I contribute for today's Poet's Choice, but the most of you I don't think have read this one.
I have contributed it to The Lenten Haiku Journey of Terri/Cloaked Monk and love to share it here with you all. Today is day 29 we have still one day to go and than this Haiku Heights April Challenge will end.
So see you all next day ... the last day of our April Challenge.


dark wintertime
searching for new life
snowdrops bloom


snowdrops bloom
no one can see them right now
a dark winter day


a dark winter day
finally regaining sight
I can see snowdrops


I can see snowdrops
finally spring has come -
dark wintertime

Haiku Heights April Challenge, day 28 "clarity"

Also published for: Poets United's The Poetry Pantry

There we are again for a new day in our April Challenge of Haiku Heights. This day it's all on clarity, the prompt given by Becca Givens, clarity (in dutch helderheid) has a few synonyms for example brightness, purity and serenity. All words which I can use for today's haiku. So lets start.

bright sunlight

reflects on the white wall

shadows moving

shadows moving

making my kids anxious

I caress them

I caress them

in their purity and serenity

my adult kids

my adult kids

standing in our garden

bright sunlight

Haiku Heights April Challenge, day 27 "temptation"

Hello to you all dear Haiku Heights April Challengers. Another day in our challenge. Today the prompt is temptation not an easy one I think, but I have never missed a prompt (here on Haiku Heights or on other sites) so here we go for another challenging day.

what a temptation

all the wonderful people

in the mall

in the mall

gold and diamonds scintillate 

screaming "buy me, buy me"

screaming "buy me, buy me"

time of christmas shopping

what a temptation

See you next day.

Haiku Heights April Challenge, day 25 & 26, "kismet" & "melody"

Hello fellow challengers, as earlier this week I have to write contributions for two days together. So here we go to catch up.

Today's prompts "kismet" and "melody" are the themes. First I didn't know "kismet" I had never heard of it, so I had to search for the meaning. As I found "kismet" derives from Turkish and Hindu-Urdu and means fate or destiny. So I will use these for my haiku.

Day 25: "kismet" (meaning: fate or destiny)

was it my fate?

when I ran into my destiny

as a nurse

as a nurse

I am used to sadness

but at home?

but at home

I am the father of two

that's my destiny

that's my destiny

caring for the ill and my kids

was it my fate?

Day 26: "melody"

in the spring breeze

the wind chime sounds 

with every step

with every step

the melody of spring rain

follows me

follows me

the melody of a Buddhist chant

Om Mani Padme Hum

Om Mani Padme Hum

resonates in my heart and soul

in the spring breeze

Credits: Om Mani Padme Hum

I think Day 25 "kismet" isn't really a good one, but it came right from my heart. See you all tomorrow again (I hope).