you used to be small and cute and climb onto my chest, folding knees and paws inward like trying to disappear into me, head tucked into my neck and nose buried deep under my hair, still, a lovely little package, quiet and peaceful

i knew you were mine, i felt the knowingness deep within my bones and the way my heart beat when i held you and the weight of you, and the smell of you, reminding me of soft dirt just after it has been dug over somehow connecting both you and me to the healing land

i had an instant understanding that first time i held you, that you were going to be my teacher, and i your student, and i had to listen very carefully and by helping you grow i would be healing myself,

how did i know all of this in a millisecond? i cannot tell you how, i just did

i wasn’t looking for a dog, or another pet to care for, in fact, rather the opposite, i was after less responsibility not more, but the universe had other plans and i knew, because i just did, and that was that, it didn't make sense logically but it made perfect soul sense and i listened

you are nearly two years old now, people call you a “medium sized” dog, but in your mind you have never grown and are still less than a kilo as you hurl your 20kg frame onto the bed and sit directly on my chest suffocating my face and trying to squirm your way under my skin still

i love and adore all of you but you have a trauma imprint that i have not been able to break (or heal) yet and i cannot change it and it brings out in me my worst fear but more ugly than that a rage that is as hot as lava and as intense as an eruption possibly matching the level of your fear whenever you see an akubra hat, or a fluro shirt, or anyone comes to visit, and you erupt into a frenzied frothing at the mouth bark and back up struggling to get under my legs, or the chair, or table or anywhere to hide continuing to bark aggressively, with tail tucked so far under your belly its nearly stroking your hairy chin, and yet, although you cower and try to crawl into the belly of the earth, you continue non stop to bark and growl and take no notice at all of my reassurances and platitudes

i think i have tried everything possible even things i am ashamed to say that went against my innate sense of what would be best for you because what do i know, i have let you grow and get to 2 with no change in the behaviour so anything i “sense and feel” is true for you, cannot be right — can it? i doubt myself as a dog parent with you as much as i ever did as a human parent, always second guessing, feeling embarrassed in public settings, judged both by myself and others, and pendulate between empathy, sadness and determination to help you to despair, hopelessness, ineptness and fierce anger when nothing i do calms, and i end up removing you and putting you in my bedroom where you lay on the bed, ears pricked up alert (well only one ear, the kelpie ear, the other ear sticks out sideways like a Labrador) and your front legs are crossed in front of you (another endearing trait) and your golden lion eyes fix on me as i enter the room knowing that we both in that moment are stuck with each other and are not good enough, not by far

so here we are stuck, no solution yet, we have tried Ethan the ex tiger trainer and his vibration collar, we have tried high pitch sound bark collars, we have tried rewarding good behaviours, reassurance, ignoring, punishing with rolled up newspapers, energy code healing, visualising the outcome we want continually — vacillating between different training methods every few weeks confusing ourselves and undoubtedly you, each time starting out with fresh hope and inspiration that we have found the solution, and within a few weeks ending in a heap of tears and frustration with thoughts of euthanasia now cropping up in my head, accompanied by shame and deep self hatred i could even think such a thing but i want friends too — not just you — why can’t you be nice and just relax and be good?

so you are my teacher and i am your student

i know it is about me learning to manage my anger, calm my heart, and release and let go all feelings of caring about what others think, releasing judgment about you “not learning” it is actually not about you at all and your trauma but me healing in myself all my complicated reactions to it, and firstly acknowledging the feelings, then releasing and letting them go like clouds passing above me, and dropping into my heart centre and allowing love for me in all the struggle to flood my being, and love for your flawed perfect life existence that is just as it needs to be for me to heal some deep wounds in me and then maybe, just maybe, you could heal some as well?

guilt drapes around the edges of my heart

like a heavy curtain

keeping the warming rays of forgiveness from penetrating

weighting my heart within my chest

vicelike

preventing the fluttering wings of freedom

until light filled, loving, amazing grace

undeserved, but knowingly invited

enters through heart centre

transmutes stone into feathers

heaven sent pulsating, cellular orbs fluttering

all encompassing

stillness settles

dark void

floating

and i die and

am

reborn

New life emerges

What will the future bring now?

Ends shoot new buds forth

So, Tracy Aston is the new owner of House of Haiku.

Congratulations Tracy!

She has been working tirelessly behind the scenes for quite a while so I am really proud she agreed to take over as owner.

I hope everyone will keep supporting her especially as she finds her sea legs and gets familiar with all the ins and outs of running a publication.

I hope to also submit an occasional haiku at times as a writer!

Thank you as well to all of our other wonderful editors who help out behind the scenes. Without your support, we would not have been able to keep going this past year.

So without further ado, here is my final prompt word submission for you all.

Prompt word: Please write a haiku/tanka using the prompt word “future” (or a derivative).

This flesh enshrouds me

like a shoe that is too tight

never quite at home

I was inspired to write this after watching an interview with Ram Das, where death was likened to “taking off a shoe that is too tight” when the soul eventually leaves the dying body behind. This description resonated.

I have never entirely felt quite at home in my body, despite many sessions of body somatic therapy and meditation sessions. I wonder how many can relate to that feeling? I often still feel like a stranger resident inside of me.

Recently facing some health issues, I am once again taking some time to try and listen to my body. Rather than seeing my body as “the enemy” I am trying to ask questions with curiosity, gentleness, love and wonder — what do you need from me? What do I need to do more? What do I need to do less? And then sit quietly and listen as I meditate on my breath and focus on the stillness for the answers to arise from within.

Wishing good health and continued vitality for all as we near the end of 2020.

NB: Please note that every day we are having to run dozens of poems through a haiku counter (as do our hardworking volunteer editors) and are getting many that are not meeting the correct syllable count of either 5, 7, 5 or 5, 7, 5, 7, 7. If you are unsure can you please check your poem through a haiku counter before you submit. This will make it easier and less stressful and time consuming for the editors.

Here is a link.

Haiku Syllable Counter

Prompt word: Please write a haiku or tanka using the prompt word “home” (or a derivative).

Welcoming contributions from

Cheney Meaghan Dennett Tracy Aston Bart Elbey Irene Brooks Jenny N Olson Anna West Molly Skeen Sundance Kid Whistling woods edh lamport Harper Thorpe Leah J.🕊 Jac Harmony Aline Mitul Bhat Ravi Shankar Rajan Oswald Chen Mariette Hebert Cuthbert Jenkins 🍵 Susan Brearley Gosia Rokicka Leanne Kathleen Daniele Alice Evergreen Shreya Srinivas David S. Giovanni Sonier Chelsea Marie Guérin Asante Kyle Morgan Cyndi Rooney Terry Bain Mary Keating Gilsos Drake Caeneus Carver Bain Nivedita Chandra Andy Smallman Jenise Cook Sarah Book Amy Jo Reynolds Barney Dinosaur Sabina Snow Bonnie Lee Reed Ely Matos Will Schmit Jen Turrell Heidi Franklin JA Wertz Anisesh Regina Fable Matthew Smith Elizabeth Pearson Kind Regards Shringi Kumari vanaja shankar shweta upadhyay Jenny Justice Wendell McQuary Justcallmejillybean Ashwini Dodani Pratik Routray Anne Sipos Francine Fallara Vaishali Paliwal Kamga Tchassa J.D. Harms Kathryn Stumpf Sola Rae SusanFarmer ShaRhonda Justin Deming Caitlin O’Halloran Attie Bill DuBay Jr. ⚡️ Elizabeth Keyes Chris Drew Kitty Hannah Eden J.W. Parr Kenneth Muir Sonam Arora Zarina Dara 🥀💃🏻 Christina Ward 🌼 Alma Awakened (fka Niña Traviesa) Cynthia Marinakos Kerri McNees ZUVA Namdi Harris Tapan Avasthi G.R. MELVIN Megan Tee Matthew Klope Priyanka Srivastava Sonal Sidhwani Jo Cohen Jonica Bradley Alexander Terrell Lisa Tomey Sarah Simon Yoahann Banaji Ayushi Goel Josie Elbiry Unique Writer Alan Asnen Nyaalo Mia Armando Batista Nathan Boyett Lahiriarjyama Ty Alexander Isaac Winters Matt McGee Kerim A. Altuncu Aurangazeeb A K Jim Mcaulay Philip Valenta, MSF :: [mezcalindo] Glenda Thompson E.M Pauling Sonal Sidhwani JJ West Blithe Anderson Sydney Duke Richey RyanR Gordon McFarland Carter Tinsley Bhupesh Gupta Deborah Horton Joshua Eddens Anupama A Lora K Lucente Destiny Miller Jansen Tang Linda A Robinson, PhD Kathryn Jean Elise Bebbington Anna Rozwadowska Tally David Petri Craig Randall Radames Vargas Heidi Chase Beverly Annette Little Zoe Yu Livia Thomas Anthony Hinko Siddharth Murali Oak dayton O’KONNOR Lisa Bolin Emily Daly Norma Martiri Ed Springer Srinath S. Janis Cox Pierre Trudel Greg Rosenthal Lakshya Malik Josie Kirkwood Sherrye Richardson Caran Jantzen Bryony L’eau Catrina Daimon Lee Rodney Frazier Barry Rosenthal Annelise Lords Linda Armstrong Tasha Lane Jane Woodman Lisa Johnny Bukwyrm Vishie Martin Rushton Ravyne Hawke Mary-Elizabeth PH Dilpreet Kaur Virk Aimée Gramblin David Hope Hung Phung Anita Nahal Reba Marg Eashan Reddy Kotha Vivienne Teh Mark James Richard L. Boyer Audrey Himantono Athina Bikaki JMontes Kat Magik Eddie Becker Shoreditchpoet Carole Tansley Suryatapa GK caroline lodge Vivi Ambelioti Antony Terence James G Brennan Ibrahim Alkuraya Swati Suman J M Mantium Bavesh Rajaraman Emma Laver-Scott Manisha Gupta Jessica Lee McMillan Desiree Driesenaar Eric Overby Lynne Nardizzi Kevin J Ferris Stephen Dalton Joseph W Crystalclearcandace Joseph W Scott Edgar Edris Quinn C. Apollonia Torres Geetika Sethi Adhiraj Arora Vinitha Dileep Zoe Lee Lubna Yusuf Yusra Dahri Muhammad Zunair Charlotte Kingsbury- Fink Marco Gilioli Bob James Goldfolk Mutasim Billah Victor Sarkin Zoe DeTrani Charlene Shelmire Jenine Bsharah Baines KM Kit Liew Rachel Reid r.j. quirk Galit Birk, PhD Sanjit Sengupta Emily Shulkin Tree Langdon, CPA, CGA Kevin Aaron Quist Marcelino Granda K. O. Pinlac Kim McKinney Tooth Truth Roopa Vikesh Sneha Mankar Denise Larkin Patience Marshall Alison Acheson Arron Fornasetti Sean Zhai Joy Scrogum Andrew Wlos Cara J. Stevens Ali Fathiyah Zb by Nycol Roy Reichle Daisygwoods (Cocoa Griot) Josef Keller

Coloured ring circling darkness

Pupil is the gate

Iris dancing with the light

Light and dark have always danced together.

We cannot have one without the other.

Each on its own is useless. Without light, there would be no shadow.

The inky darkness of the night is important to reduce exposure to stimuli and allow all to rest properly and recuperate.

The stark light of the sun is beautiful as it illuminates and energises everything it shines upon.

Within our eye, our iris expands and contracts to allow light to go through the pupil.

The pupil always looks dark due to the light being absorbed by the eyeball.

Regulation of light is needed for our eye to be able to see properly.

A harmonious continuous dance.

If the balance is wrong everything is out of kilter.

I pray we can all find that balance within ourselves moving forward.

Let’s dance.

Prompt Word: Please write a haiku or tanka using the prompt word “colour” (or a derivative).

NB: Please note colour is spelt the way it is written here in most countries around the world (including Australia, Canada, UK and Europe) but we do know it is written without “u” in the USA (color). Write it whichever way it is spelled in your country. That is fine. The meaning is the same.

Welcoming contributions from

Cheney Meaghan Dennett Tracy Aston Bart Elbey Irene Brooks Jenny N Olson Anna West Molly Skeen Sundance Kid Whistling woods edh lamport Harper Thorpe Leah J.🕊 Jac Harmony Aline Mitul Bhat Ravi Shankar Rajan Oswald Chen Mariette Hebert Cuthbert Jenkins 🍵 Susan Brearley Gosia Rokicka Leanne Kathleen Daniele Alice Evergreen Shreya Srinivas David S. Giovanni Sonier Chelsea Marie Guérin Asante Kyle Morgan Cyndi Rooney Terry Bain Mary Keating Gilsos Drake Caeneus Carver Bain Nivedita Chandra Andy Smallman Jenise Cook Sarah Book Amy Jo Reynolds Barney Dinosaur Sabina Snow Bonnie Lee Reed Ely Matos Will Schmit Jen Turrell Heidi Franklin JA Wertz Anisesh Regina Fable Matthew Smith Elizabeth Pearson Kind Regards Shringi Kumari vanaja shankar shweta upadhyay Jenny Justice Wendell McQuary Justcallmejillybean Ashwini Dodani Pratik Routray Anne Sipos Francine Fallara Vaishali Paliwal Kamga Tchassa J.D. Harms Kathryn Stumpf Sola Rae SusanFarmer ShaRhonda Justin Deming Caitlin O’Halloran Attie Bill DuBay Jr. ⚡️ Elizabeth Keyes Chris Drew Kitty Hannah Eden J.W. Parr Kenneth Muir Sonam Arora Zarina Dara 🥀💃🏻 Christina Ward 🌼 Alma Awakened (fka Niña Traviesa) Cynthia Marinakos Kerri McNees ZUVA Namdi Harris Tapan Avasthi G.R. MELVIN Megan Tee Matthew Klope Priyanka Srivastava Sonal Sidhwani Jo Cohen Jonica Bradley Alexander Terrell Lisa Tomey Sarah Simon Yoahann Banaji Ayushi Goel Josie Elbiry Unique Writer Alan Asnen Nyaalo Mia Armando Batista Nathan Boyett Lahiriarjyama Ty Alexander Isaac Winters Matt McGee Kerim A. Altuncu Aurangazeeb A K Jim Mcaulay Philip Valenta, MSF :: [mezcalindo] Glenda Thompson E.M Pauling Sonal Sidhwani JJ West Blithe Anderson Sydney Duke Richey RyanR Gordon McFarland Carter Tinsley Bhupesh Gupta Deborah Horton Joshua Eddens Anupama A Lora K Lucente Destiny Miller Jansen Tang Linda A Robinson, PhD Kathryn Jean Elise Bebbington Anna Rozwadowska Tally David Petri Craig Randall Radames Vargas Heidi Chase Beverly Annette Little Zoe Yu Livia Thomas Anthony Hinko Siddharth Murali Oak dayton O’KONNOR Lisa Bolin Emily Daly Norma Martiri Ed Springer Srinath S. Janis Cox Pierre Trudel Greg Rosenthal Lakshya Malik Josie Kirkwood Sherrye Richardson Caran Jantzen Bryony L’eau Catrina Daimon Lee Rodney Frazier Barry Rosenthal Annelise Lords Linda Armstrong Tasha Lane Jane Woodman Lisa Johnny Bukwyrm Vishie Martin Rushton Ravyne Hawke Mary-Elizabeth PH Dilpreet Kaur Virk Aimée Gramblin David Hope Hung Phung Anita Nahal Reba Marg Eashan Reddy Kotha Vivienne Teh Mark James Richard L. Boyer Audrey Himantono Athina Bikaki JMontes Kat Magik Eddie Becker Shoreditchpoet Carole Tansley Suryatapa GK caroline lodge Vivi Ambelioti Antony Terence James G Brennan Ibrahim Alkuraya Swati Suman J M Mantium Bavesh Rajaraman Emma Laver-Scott Manisha Gupta Jessica Lee McMillan Desiree Driesenaar Eric Overby Lynne Nardizzi Kevin J Ferris Stephen Dalton Joseph W Crystalclearcandace Joseph W Scott Edgar Edris Quinn C. Apollonia Torres Geetika Sethi Adhiraj Arora Vinitha Dileep Zoe Lee Lubna Yusuf Yusra Dahri Muhammad Zunair Charlotte Kingsbury- Fink Marco Gilioli Bob James Goldfolk Mutasim Billah Victor Sarkin Zoe DeTrani Charlene Shelmire Jenine Bsharah Baines KM Kit Liew Rachel Reid r.j. quirk Galit Birk, PhD Sanjit Sengupta Emily Shulkin Tree Langdon, CPA, CGA Kevin Aaron Quist Marcelino Granda K. O. Pinlac Kim McKinney Tooth Truth Roopa Vikesh Sneha Mankar Denise Larkin Patience Marshall Alison Acheson Arron Fornasetti Sean Zhai Joy Scrogum Andrew Wlos Cara J. Stevens Ali Fathiyah Zb by Nycol Roy Reichle Daisygwoods (Cocoa Griot) Josef Keller

Being clear about
what we will and will not do
means others relax
no need for resentments now
our heart can remain open

Prompt Word: Please submit a haiku or tanka using the prompt word “no” (or a derivative).

Welcoming contributions from:

Cheney Meaghan Dennett Tracy Aston Bart Elbey Irene Brooks Jenny N Olson Anna West Molly Skeen Sundance Kid Whistling woods edh lamport Harper Thorpe Leah J.🕊 Jac Harmony Aline Mitul Bhat Ravi Shankar Rajan Oswald Chen Mariette Hebert Cuthbert Jenkins 🍵 Susan Brearley Gosia Rokicka Leanne Kathleen Daniele Alice Evergreen Shreya Srinivas David S. Giovanni Sonier Chelsea Marie Guérin Asante Kyle Morgan Cyndi Rooney Terry Bain Mary Keating Gilsos Drake Caeneus Carver Bain Nivedita Chandra Andy Smallman Jenise Cook Sarah Book Amy Jo Reynolds Barney Dinosaur Sabina Snow Bonnie Lee Reed Ely Matos Will Schmit Jen Turrell Heidi Franklin JA Wertz Anisesh Regina Fable Matthew Smith Elizabeth Pearson Kind Regards Shringi Kumari vanaja shankar shweta upadhyay Jenny Justice Wendell McQuary Justcallmejillybean Ashwini Dodani Pratik Routray Anne Sipos Francine Fallara Vaishali Paliwal Kamga Tchassa J.D. Harms Kathryn Stumpf Sola Rae SusanFarmer ShaRhonda Justin Deming Caitlin O’Halloran Attie Bill DuBay Jr. ⚡️ Elizabeth Keyes Chris Drew Kitty Hannah Eden J.W. Parr Kenneth Muir Sonam Arora Zarina Dara 🥀💃🏻 Christina Ward 🌼 Alma Awakened (fka Niña Traviesa) Cynthia Marinakos Kerri McNees ZUVA Namdi Harris Tapan Avasthi G.R. MELVIN Megan Tee Matthew Klope Priyanka Srivastava Sonal Sidhwani Jo Cohen Jonica Bradley Alexander Terrell Lisa Tomey Sarah Simon Yoahann Banaji Ayushi Goel Josie Elbiry Unique Writer Alan Asnen Nyaalo Mia Armando Batista Nathan Boyett Lahiriarjyama Ty Alexander Isaac Winters Matt McGee Kerim A. Altuncu Aurangazeeb A K Jim Mcaulay Philip Valenta, MSF :: [mezcalindo] Glenda Thompson E.M Pauling Sonal Sidhwani JJ West Blithe Anderson Sydney Duke Richey RyanR Gordon McFarland Carter Tinsley Bhupesh Gupta Deborah Horton Joshua Eddens Anupama A Lora K Lucente Destiny Miller Jansen Tang Linda A Robinson, PhD Kathryn Jean Elise Bebbington Anna Rozwadowska Tally David Petri Craig Randall Radames Vargas Heidi Chase Beverly Annette Little Zoe Yu Livia Thomas Anthony Hinko Siddharth Murali Oak dayton O’KONNOR Lisa Bolin Emily Daly Norma Martiri Ed Springer Srinath S. Janis Cox Pierre Trudel Greg Rosenthal Lakshya Malik Josie Kirkwood Sherrye Richardson Caran Jantzen Bryony L’eau Catrina Daimon Lee Rodney Frazier Barry Rosenthal Annelise Lords Linda Armstrong Tasha Lane Jane Woodman Lisa Johnny Bukwyrm Vishie Martin Rushton Ravyne Hawke Mary-Elizabeth PH Dilpreet Kaur Virk Aimée Gramblin David Hope Hung Phung Anita Nahal Reba Marg Eashan Reddy Kotha Vivienne Teh Mark James Richard L. Boyer Audrey Himantono Athina Bikaki JMontes Kat Magik Eddie Becker Shoreditchpoet Carole Tansley Suryatapa GK caroline lodge Vivi Ambelioti Antony Terence James G Brennan Ibrahim Alkuraya Swati Suman J M Mantium Bavesh Rajaraman Emma Laver-Scott Manisha Gupta Jessica Lee McMillan Desiree Driesenaar Eric Overby Lynne Nardizzi Kevin J Ferris Stephen Dalton Joseph W Crystalclearcandace Joseph W Scott Edgar Edris Quinn C. Apollonia Torres Geetika Sethi Adhiraj Arora Vinitha Dileep Zoe Lee Lubna Yusuf Yusra Dahri Muhammad Zunair Charlotte Kingsbury- Fink Marco Gilioli Bob James Goldfolk Mutasim Billah Victor Sarkin Zoe DeTrani Charlene Shelmire Jenine Bsharah Baines KM Kit Liew Rachel Reid r.j. quirk Galit Birk, PhD Sanjit Sengupta Emily Shulkin Tree Langdon, CPA, CGA Kevin Aaron Quist Marcelino Granda K. O. Pinlac Kim McKinney Tooth Truth Roopa Vikesh Sneha Mankar Denise Larkin Patience Marshall Alison Acheson Arron Fornasetti Sean Zhai Joy Scrogum Andrew Wlos Cara J. Stevens Ali Fathiyah Zb by Nycol

Bobbing up and down

Long legs prance, wings billow white

Dance to mate for life

How many of us love to dance?

The dance rituals of birds can be fascinating, beautiful and inspirational.

Brolga birds are actually part of the crane family and are prolific in the outback desert town in the middle of Australia where I currently am working and living.

Brolga birds —

• mate for life
• engage in majestic dances every mating season (both sexes)
• are omnivorous
• usually, lay 2 eggs at a time
• build their nest in grasslands using sticks, grass and mud
• live in the tropical and eastern parts of Australia and up into Papua New Guinea.

Outside the breeding season, they can congregate in large family groups of up to 100 birds which is when they choose their mate.

The brolga bird dance is imitated in some aboriginal traditional dance moves.

Watch the Brolgas beautiful dance performed after the rains captured in the video embedded above.

PROMPT WORD: Write a haiku/tanka this week using the prompt word “dance” (or a derivative) or on this theme.

Welcoming contributions from:

Cheney Meaghan Dennett Tracy Aston Bart Elbey Irene Brooks Jenny N Olson Anna West Molly Skeen Sundance Kid Whistling woods edh lamport Harper Thorpe Leah J.🕊 Jac Harmony Aline Mitul Bhat Ravi Shankar Rajan Oswald Chen Mariette Hebert Cuthbert Jenkins 🍵 Susan Brearley Gosia Rokicka Leanne Kathleen Daniele Alice Evergreen Shreya Srinivas David S. Giovanni Sonier Chelsea Marie Guérin Asante Kyle Morgan Cyndi Rooney Terry Bain Mary Keating Gilsos Drake Caeneus Carver Bain Nivedita Chandra Andy Smallman Jenise Cook Sarah Book Amy Jo Reynolds Barney Dinosaur Sabina Snow Bonnie Lee Reed Ely Matos Will Schmit Jen Turrell Heidi Franklin JA Wertz Anisesh Regina Fable Matthew Smith Elizabeth Pearson Kind Regards Shringi Kumari vanaja shankar shweta upadhyay Jenny Justice Wendell McQuary Justcallmejillybean Ashwini Dodani Pratik Routray Anne Sipos Francine Fallara Vaishali Paliwal Kamga Tchassa J.D. Harms Kathryn Stumpf Sola Rae SusanFarmer ShaRhonda Justin Deming Caitlin O’Halloran Attie Bill DuBay Jr. ⚡️ Elizabeth Keyes Chris Drew Kitty Hannah Eden J.W. Parr Kenneth Muir Sonam Arora Zarina Dara 🥀💃🏻 Christina Ward 🌼 Alma Awakened (fka Niña Traviesa) Cynthia Marinakos Kerri McNees ZUVA Namdi Harris Tapan Avasthi G.R. MELVIN Megan Tee Matthew Klope Priyanka Srivastava Sonal Sidhwani Jo Cohen Jonica Bradley Alexander Terrell Lisa Tomey Sarah Simon Yoahann Banaji Ayushi Goel Josie Elbiry Unique Writer Alan Asnen Nyaalo Mia Armando Batista Nathan Boyett Lahiriarjyama Ty Alexander Isaac Winters Matt McGee Kerim A. Altuncu Aurangazeeb A K Jim Mcaulay Philip Valenta, MSF :: [mezcalindo] Glenda Thompson E.M Pauling Sonal Sidhwani JJ West Blithe Anderson Sydney Duke Richey RyanR Gordon McFarland Carter Tinsley Bhupesh Gupta Deborah Horton Joshua Eddens Anupama A Lora K Lucente Destiny Miller Jansen Tang Linda A Robinson, PhD Kathryn Jean Elise Bebbington Anna Rozwadowska Tally David Petri Craig Randall Radames Vargas Heidi Chase Beverly Annette Little Zoe Yu Livia Thomas Anthony Hinko Siddharth Murali Oak dayton O’KONNOR Lisa Bolin Emily Daly Norma Martiri Ed Springer Srinath S. Janis Cox Pierre Trudel Greg Rosenthal Lakshya Malik Josie Kirkwood Sherrye Richardson Caran Jantzen Bryony L’eau Catrina Daimon Lee Rodney Frazier Barry Rosenthal Annelise Lords Linda Armstrong Tasha Lane Jane Woodman Lisa Johnny Bukwyrm Vishie Martin Rushton Ravyne Hawke Mary-Elizabeth PH Dilpreet Kaur Virk Aimée Gramblin David Hope Hung Phung Anita Nahal Reba Marg Eashan Reddy Kotha Vivienne Teh Mark James Richard L. Boyer Audrey Himantono Athina Bikaki JMontes Kat Magik Eddie Becker Shoreditchpoet Carole Tansley Suryatapa GK caroline lodge Vivi Ambelioti Antony Terence James G Brennan Ibrahim Alkuraya Swati Suman J M Mantium Bavesh Rajaraman Emma Laver-Scott Manisha Gupta Jessica Lee McMillan Desiree Driesenaar Eric Overby Lynne Nardizzi Kevin J Ferris Stephen Dalton Joseph W Crystalclearcandace Joseph W Scott Edgar Edris Quinn C. Apollonia Torres Geetika Sethi Adhiraj Arora Vinitha Dileep Zoe Lee Lubna Yusuf Yusra Dahri Muhammad Zunair Charlotte Kingsbury- Fink Marco Gilioli Bob James Goldfolk Mutasim Billah Victor Sarkin Zoe DeTrani Charlene Shelmire Jenine Bsharah Baines KM Kit Liew Rachel Reid r.j. quirk Galit Birk, PhD Sanjit Sengupta

Fragile, all in white

Can you see me standing here?

Aware of my heart

One definition of strength relates purely to physical factors such as

• relative size
• muscle mass
• weight

whilst another definition of strength refers to internal traits like

• resilience
• inner peace
• determination
• and persistence

which allow one to move forward and make calm measured decisions even in the presence of fear.

PROMPT: Please write a haiku or tanka this week using the prompt word “strength” or “strong” (or a derivative) or on the theme of strength.

Inviting contributions from the following writers/poets:

Cheney Meaghan Dennett Tracy Aston Bart Elbey Irene Brooks Jenny N Olson Anna West Molly Skeen Sundance Kid Whistling woods edh lamport Harper Thorpe Leah J.🕊 Jac Harmony Aline Mitul Bhat Ravi Shankar Rajan Oswald Chen Mariette Hebert Cuthbert Jenkins 🍵 Susan Brearley Gosia Rokicka Leanne Kathleen Daniele Alice Evergreen Shreya Srinivas David S. Giovanni Sonier Chelsea Marie Guérin Asante Kyle Morgan Cyndi Rooney Terry Bain Mary Keating Gilsos Drake Caeneus Carver Bain Nivedita Chandra Andy Smallman Jenise Cook Sarah Book Amy Jo Reynolds Barney Dinosaur Sabina Snow Bonnie Lee Reed Ely Matos Will Schmit Jen Turrell Heidi Franklin JA Wertz Anisesh Regina Fable Matthew Smith Elizabeth Pearson Kind Regards Shringi Kumari vanaja shankar shweta upadhyay Jenny Justice Wendell McQuary Justcallmejillybean Ashwini Dodani Pratik Routray Anne Sipos Francine Fallara Vaishali Paliwal Kamga Tchassa J.D. Harms Kathryn Stumpf Sola Rae SusanFarmer ShaRhonda Justin Deming Caitlin O’Halloran Attie Bill DuBay Jr. ⚡️ Elizabeth Keyes Chris Drew Kitty Hannah Eden J.W. Parr Kenneth Muir Sonam Arora Zarina Dara 🥀💃🏻 Christina Ward 🌼 Alma Awakened (fka Niña Traviesa) Cynthia Marinakos Kerri McNees ZUVA Namdi Harris Tapan Avasthi G.R. MELVIN Megan Tee Matthew Klope Priyanka Srivastava Sonal Sidhwani Jo Cohen Jonica Bradley Alexander Terrell Lisa Tomey Sarah Simon Yoahann Banaji Ayushi Goel Josie Elbiry Unique Writer Alan Asnen Nyaalo Mia Armando Batista Nathan Boyett Lahiriarjyama Ty Alexander Isaac Winters Matt McGee Kerim A. Altuncu Aurangazeeb A K Jim Mcaulay Philip Valenta, MSF :: [mezcalindo] Glenda Thompson E.M Pauling Sonal Sidhwani JJ West Blithe Anderson Sydney Duke Richey RyanR Gordon McFarland Carter Tinsley Bhupesh Gupta Deborah Horton Joshua Eddens Anupama A Lora K Lucente Destiny Miller Jansen Tang Linda A Robinson, PhD Kathryn Jean Elise Bebbington Anna Rozwadowska Tally David Petri Craig Randall Radames Vargas Heidi Chase Beverly Annette Little Zoe Yu Livia Thomas Anthony Hinko Siddharth Murali Oak dayton O’KONNOR Lisa Bolin Emily Daly Norma Martiri Ed Springer Srinath S. Janis Cox Pierre Trudel Greg Rosenthal Lakshya Malik Josie Kirkwood Sherrye Richardson Caran Jantzen Bryony L’eau Catrina Daimon Lee Rodney Frazier Barry Rosenthal Annelise Lords Linda Armstrong Tasha Lane Jane Woodman Lisa Johnny Bukwyrm Vishie Martin Rushton Ravyne Hawke Mary-Elizabeth PH Dilpreet Kaur Virk Aimée Gramblin David Hope Hung Phung Anita Nahal Reba Marg Eashan Reddy Kotha Vivienne Teh Mark James Richard L. Boyer Audrey Himantono Athina Bikaki JMontes Kat Magik Eddie Becker Shoreditchpoet Carole Tansley Suryatapa GK caroline lodge Vivi Ambelioti Antony Terence James G Brennan Ibrahim Alkuraya Swati Suman J M Mantium Bavesh Rajaraman Emma Laver-Scott Manisha Gupta Jessica Lee McMillan Desiree Driesenaar Eric Overby Lynne Nardizzi Kevin J Ferris Stephen Dalton Joseph W Crystalclearcandace Joseph W Scott Edgar Edris Quinn C. Apollonia Torres Geetika Sethi Adhiraj Arora Vinitha Dileep Zoe Lee Lubna Yusuf Yusra Dahri Muhammad Zunair Charlotte Kingsbury- Fink Marco Gilioli Bob James Goldfolk Mutasim Billah Victor Sarkin Zoe DeTrani Charlene Shelmire Jenine Bsharah Baines KM Kit Liew Rachel Reid r.j. quirk Galit Birk, PhD

Inward calming births intent, gifting lightness, easing heart burden

aura of luminance pulsates warmth, love envelopes intermingled breaths

no reason needed for embracing eternity, inviting hands to touch, connecting…

This is my response to the poetry prompt “reason” found on Chalkboard and written by poet Suryatapa. Thank you for the inspiration and enticing me a bit more out of Medium hibernation.

Proofs Of Love

Why do I breathe? was originally published in Chalkboard on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The Australian National Bird — Haiku prompt “bird”

Our national big bird

Flightless, can’t walk backwards — tall

Ee-mew is my name!

24.9 million Australians have apparently been saying the name of their national bird (The Emu) wrong according to the US National Public Radio (NPR) this week — who argued it as being “Ee — moo” to the laughter of Aussies in Australia and all around the world!

The emu is an “Ee-mew” and has always been that way until the NPR said differently.

A twitter frenzy then erupted.

Hilarious.

Ee-moo?! NPR's 'absurd' pronunciation starts new emu war in Australia

I have no hesitation in declaring that no Australian is ever going to start calling an emu “ee-moo” without falling over backwards from laughing.

Our iconic Australian national bird is pictured on our 50c coin as well as postage stamps.

They walk freely around the desert town I live in (Longreach). The females lay the eggs and the males then brood them and raise the young up until they are about 18 months old.

Every time I walk or drive past one now I know I won’t be able to stop myself saying “ee-moo” in my mind and grinning from ear to ear.

Two naughty “ee-moos” even walked into the public bar at Yaraka pub causing themselves to be banned for bad behaviour, with the publican now putting a rope across the doorway to stop them entering.

Yaraka is three hours from my home town.

Emus banned from outback Queensland pub

An international incident created by the NPR declaration has been apparently averted due to the majority of Aussie’s laughing too hard to do anything about the matter!

It is so good to have something to laugh over and be diverted away from the more serious and crazily scary things going on in our world at the moment.

PROMPT: Write a haiku or tanka using the prompt word “bird” (or a derivative).

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