d’Verse Poets Pub- Haibun Monday- Hear Me Whisper

On 01/30/202301/30/2023 By Susan St.PierreIn Words 'n' such Poetry22 Comments

Let’s write our haibun that references the heart, in whatever context that you conceive. For those new to haibun, the form consists of one to a few paragraphs of prose—usually written in the present tense—that evoke an experience and are often non-fictional/autobiographical. They may be preceded or followed by one or more haiku—nature-based, using a seasonal image—that complement without directly repeating what the prose stated.

When animals hibernate in the winter, their hearts slow to a barest minimum for sustaining life. I often imagine frogs at the bottom of a pond or chipmunks in channels below the ground living life as a faint whisper one soft infrequent heartbeat at a time. In those long pauses is a mysterious hushed eternity that leads to an electrical instant of reclaiming life. Almost dead…ALIVE…almost dead...ALIVE…

Some say winter is a time of silence, of nothingness. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Can you hear it? Winter is a thrumming pause when Mother Nature’s life-pulse is the loudest to those persevering toward the Spring.

“Hush now” winter wind,
Hasten life to fill the void.
Her whispered rhythm.

https://dversepoets.com/2023/01/30/haibun-monday-1-30-23-heart/

d’Verse Haibun Monday- 1-2-23- Birth

On 01/03/2023 By Susan St.PierreIn Words 'n' such Poetry, Writing Prompts12 Comments

This week, I would like you to write about your feelings towards this New Year and/or what you do in the first few days of January. Aim to write no more than three short, tight paragraphs, followed by a traditional haiku that includes reference to the season.
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On New Year’s Day we celebrated my firstborn’s 43rd birthday. She was the New Year’s baby in our area in 1980. What a fine distraction I have had since that wonderous day! The traditional drumbeat of regrets and fearful anticipation that seems to permeate New Year’s Day had always made it my least favorite holiday. A perfect baby girl changed my whole outlook, and, for that, I am eternally grateful.
Any baby’s birth holds endless promise and possibilities and encompasses the true meaning of a beginning. Now, I choose to turn inward embracing gratitude all through the dark cold month of January not the least bit concerned with future ‘what ifs.’. This identical spirit to Christmas continues warming me all through the winter months.

January first
A perfect message of hope
Comes from your own heart

https://dversepoets.com/2023/01/02/fireworks-and-a-dripping-tap/

Haibun Monday-d’Verse Poets Pub- Sharing a Song

On 09/26/202209/26/2022 By Susan St.PierreIn Words 'n' such Poetry16 Comments

Write a haibun about a special moment in September and post it on your blog.
Click on Mr. Linky below to add your name and direct url to your work.
Add a link for dVerse on your page so others can find us as well.
Visit other poets on the list to read their poems and comment.
Visit our virtual pub and say hello.
Have fun!

The most memorable songs that I learned in grade school were about Autumn. I’ve taught my favorite ones to my granddaughters and just this last weekend, a cool breeze accompanied by the sound of migrating geese made us break into song.
“Autumn leaves falling and Autumn birds calling. Nippy cool weather for flying South together.
Leaves of warm orange and leaves of golden yellow, cover the hillsides with colors soft and mellow.”
I cannot find this 1960s children’s song anywhere on the internet. How delightful that I was able to pass it along!

Beyond September
Nature will hearten seedlings
Topped by tattered leaves

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As an afterthought, I looked for an old video of my oldest granddaughter singing our song. I found it!
She was four in the video… just this month she just turned 17. Follow my Facebook link to hear it.
https://www.facebook.com/susan.st.pierre.50/videos/177162813827

https://dversepoets.com/2022/09/26/haibun-monday-september-song/

Haibun Monday: Look up!- An Imagined Storm

On 08/01/202208/06/2022 By Susan St.PierreIn Words 'n' such Poetry28 Comments

Today I want you to write about a time you looked up and saw. . .something. If nothing comes to mind, then look up now. What do you see? Write a haibun about it.
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“BOOM!”
Out of nowhere, an extremely close clap of thunder shook my bones. It was the kind that crackled as it dissipated.
Four pairs of bewildered, less than 5-year-old, eyes looked up examining my face for my reaction. Keenly aware of my role as an interpreter and guardian, I smiled and said, “Whoa guy! What do you think those angels dropped this time?”.
A cacophony, almost as intense as the thunder, surrounded me with suggestions:
“A bowling ball!”
“I think it’s a statue that gots tipped over!”
“It’s a bookcase one of them was climbing on! I heard papers falling like when I did that!”
“Oh no it’s not. It sounds just like my Daddy’s hammer smashing a window when Mommy locks him out!”
Luckily, not a moment later, a series of quick flashes changed the subject until the same child, who was just exposing sensitive family business, spoke again,
“Yep. I was right! There’s Mommy’s shooting our fireworks back at Daddy!”

Seedlings grow on a promise
Spring’s hopeful bounty
Fated to weather some storms

[The fireworks and hammer are fictitious but the reaction of children when startled and their humorous tendency to expose and embellish stories about their parents during my family daycare years, are quite true.]

https://dversepoets.com/2022/08/01/haibun-monday-look-up/

d’Verse Haibun Monday- 3-28-22 Cherry Blossoms

On 03/28/202203/28/2022 By Susan St.PierreIn Words 'n' such Poetry21 Comments

New to haibun? The form consists of one to a few paragraphs of prose—usually written in the present tense—that evoke an experience and are often non-fictional/autobiographical. They may be preceded or followed by one or more haiku—nature-based, using a seasonal image—that complement without directly repeating what the prose stated.

Cherry trees struggle around my New England home as dynamic weather fronts roll in and out. Last week, we enjoyed 70 degrees F and today a bitter wind blows arctic temperatures around. A ‘wicked’ development according to local slang. So, to those plants and people not yet acclimated to our “on again, off again” ‘teasery’, there’s a danger of overcommitment and casual disregard for “what ifs”. A ‘shock and awe’ challenge to their comfortable existence often arises to their peril. Only the steady and sturdy can prevail in such uncertain weather. People would be wise to claim those same attributes in our uncertain world.

Cynical blossom
Springs from exile cautiously
A fruitful future

https://dversepoets.com/2022/03/28/haibun-monday-3-28-22-cherry-blossoms/

Haibun Monday 1/31/22 Harbingers of Hope

On 01/31/202201/31/2022 By Susan St.PierreIn Words 'n' such Poetry, Writing Prompts33 Comments

For those new to haibun, the form consists of one to a few paragraphs of prose—usually written in the present tense—that evoke an experience and are often non-fictional/autobiographical. They may be preceded or followed by one or more haiku—nature-based, using a seasonal image—that complement without directly repeating what the prose stated.

In winter, moments before Spring’s advent, I listen. Male Northern Cardinals are poised to start singing their ‘welcome song’. They are the first creatures who set their sights on longer, and warmer, days in New England. Do they speak for us or to each other?
My ears have an instinct born from years of paying attention to the ‘little things’. It’s time. And when I’m granted witness, I’ll pause lifting my smiling face toward the sun, presently connected to the natural world’s harbingers of hope.

Birds aren’t vain nor proud.
Voices raised toward heaven,
Life professing joy.

Haibun Monday 1/31/22: Winter

Haibun Monday 6-21-21 Solstice – Git ‘er Done

On 06/21/202106/21/2021 By Susan St.PierreIn Words 'n' such Poetry, Writing Prompts29 Comments

There’s something about early daylight that pokes me awake only to bury my head with an extra pillow. The morning must be paused if I’m to go the distance. Drawing shades helps but I know it’s there pressing on my window.
It’s too early to mow. Let’s face it, mowing can be done at an hour that six months earlier would have found me wearing slippers and fluffing bed pillows.
The dogs don’t forget those ‘calling it a day’ hours, though. Seven-thirty pm and they’re asking to go to bed even before waning daylight insists that it’s time to rest.
But, the summer solstice somehow exerts extra pressures on humans to deny sleepiness and ‘git ‘er done’.

Farmers, so hardy.
Endless chores while daylight burns.
In winter, they’ll sleep.

Haibun Monday 6-21-21: Solstice I | dVerse (dversepoets.com)