Writing #haikuforhope during December was simply wonderful. Last year, I participated, but on a much more limited basis. I’m not sure if I created a haiku every day this year, but I was darned close! The process focused my attention amidst the blur of holiday activities and helped me tap into the heart of it all. I’m so thankful to have written along with others during the month, and as I’ve said before, reading their haiku was inspiring and educational. I learned so much from these fellow writers and mentors!
Along with writing haiku, another one of my favorite things about December was having break and more time to explore and take photographs. This was doubly rewarding, as getting out and about with my camera fuels my writing. My early mornings at the river inspired two of my final haiku and have sparked another poem that’s still in pieces but feels like it has potential. I also wrote a haibun with one of these haiku for this week’s Slice of Life. Finally, I took a field trip to Portland, ME to visit the “celebrity” Great Black Hawk who’s taken up residence in an urban park. There’s quite a story to go with this bird (here), but I was struck by the difference in how we treat this avian immigrant versus human ones. Another haiku was born.
Here are my final three #haikuforhope from December:
December 29th:
morning fog
drenches rising sun
watercolor world
December 30th:
bird immigrant
celebrated arrival
modern day irony
December 31st:
bald eagle and I
patiently await the dawn
morning communion
(If you’re interested, here’s the link to the haibun I wrote with this haiku for this week’s Slice of Life (here). )
All haiku ©Molly Hogan, 2018
This week’s Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted by Sylvia Vardell at her blog, Poetry For Children. She is sharing an impressive and exciting list of poetry titles expected to be published in 2019. Talk about anticipation! Go take a look, recognize some familiar names (Yay!) and be sure to plan your yearly budget accordingly!
Nix the comfort zone 
You are my go to haiku master. Perhaps, it’s time for me to haiku.
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Go for it, Dan, and make sure to share! 🙂
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Love the 3rd photograph, it’s so beautiful.
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Thanks. I love having time to go watch the sunrise and this particular one was truly spectacular!
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I’m sad to see this haiku month end, especially because of the sharing in a writing community. Your pictures are inspiring. Love “watercolor world” and the irony of the avian immigrant. Writing haiku helps us see more clearly where we are and to live in the present moment.
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ending the year
seeking clarity through haiku
sharing the journey
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Your watercolour world is out of this world – almost post-apocalyptic. We learn so much writing haiku and I suspect there will always be a haiku-imprint on your writing, now.
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Thanks, Kat! I really like the idea of a “haiku-imprint” in my writing.
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I love the haikus inspired from your photography…gorgeous photos! 🙂
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Thanks! It’s kind of like the chicken and the egg–I’m not always sure which came first!
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Ooh, that orange sky! I love that your camera helps inspire your writing. I feel the same way about my cello. Art inspires art… Thank you for your words and photos! xo
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I love reading your posts when you talk about your cello, Irene!
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Your visits to the river have made me want a river close, too. And the capturing of each day’s marvels is something to hold close in the coming months, too. Love your ‘modern day irony’, somehow missed that one. Happy New Year!
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With our nest empty, we talk about selling our big, old, rambling house. I’m not sure I could bear to be too far from that wonderful river though! It’s become so important to me over the past few years. Happy New Year to you, too!
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These are breathtaking! It wold have been very difficult for me to leave that spot by the river, so enchanting.
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That lovely spot is close to home and I visit it whenever I have a free morning. It’s hard to resist the allure even when I don’t have the time! This morning it almost pulled me off course from my morning commute!
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Your photographs are stunning, and so are the haiku to go along with them.
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Thanks, Kay. Photography and writing are really intertwined for me!
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A tremendous month of writing indeed. I’m especially taken with December 29th. It’s so beautiful. I love it when you get out with your camera too! I find your pic very inspirational.
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Thanks, Linda! I love when you’re inspired by one of my photos!
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December 29 was my favorite, too! Happy 2019!
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Happy New Year to you as well, Diane!
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Gorgeous haiku especially the one about the eagle and communion.
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Thanks, Jone. There is something special about watching the sunrise with an eagle.
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These are all stunning, Molly, but I especially love “watercolor world.” I always look forward to your photos and the poems they inspire. They are highlights or my week! Happy New Year!
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What a nice thing to say, Catherine! Thanks and Happy New Year to you, too!
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Too bad my brother and his wife recently moved out of the Portland area, and won’t be able to see that beautiful bird. I read the backstory thanks for the link, it was very interesting. I love all of your haiku’s, and your photography is stunning!
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Thanks! The Great Black Hawk really is gorgeous. If your brother and sister aren’t too far away, it’s worth a road trip! No guarantees though–we tried again this weekend, but didn’t see him.
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Unfortunately they moved to Washington State. I however try to get up to Great Pond once a year, so maybe if he hangs around I can try and see him!
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Lovely collection of haiku Molly, and I’m very taken by the subtleness of color and selection of words in your firs, “watercolor world” haiku
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Thanks, Michelle!
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I need to remember this (and practice it): “getting out and about with my camera fuels my writing”
Your words and images are so inspiring!
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Mary Lee, I know I’ve already said it, but thanks again for the invitation to write haiku in December. What a wonderful experience! That nudge was just what I needed!
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Molly, the camera lens is such a wonderful tool to bring perspective. Morning fog and communion are stunning photos with wonderful haikus. Would you like them included in my winter gallery? If so, please send them to me.
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Thanks, Carol. I’d love to have them included in your winter gallery. I just e-mailed them to you!
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Oh, these are all gorgeous–photos and haiku alike!
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Thank you! I’m lucky to live in a beautiful part of our world!
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Terrific shots, Molly! I am especially a fan of your Dec 31st pairing. Are you planning on continuing your photo/haiku habit in 2019?
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Thanks, Tabatha. I’ve really enjoyed pairing haiku with photos. I’m not sure if I’ll continue the regular practice or not. Maybe on a weekly basis…something to think about!
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I love your haiku and the fact that you’re waking up to share the dawn with an eagle! How surreal! Thanks for sharing! My photography often fuels my wiring too!
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I love seeing eagles, even though they are a common sight. That broad wing span and the glint of confirming white on head or tail never fails to thrill me!
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