Saturday 10 April 2021

Haiku - Japanese Poetry

 The snow disappeared as quickly as it came, several times.  More is forecast for over the weekend but it isn't likely to last long thankfully.  Nothing stops Mother Nature so even this terrible cold snap and the intermittent snow has not stopped the unfurling of the rhubarb and the growth of the mint starting back on its journey.  Daffodils are also starting to show their beautiful trumpets.  It has been a slow start but Spring is beginning  to make an appearance, teasing us with a promise of so much to come.  I have finally made a start on some seeds.  I love this time of year when our little cottage is filled with seed trays on every window surface, giving us hope of some tasty salads for the Summer and dried herbs and sauces for the Winter.

I celebrated my birthday yesterday, such a wonderful day where I was spoilt.  We did manage to go to town and had lunch at the Crown Hotel, it was such a treat to be able to eat out and enjoy food that I had not had to cook.  We had a family gathering via the computer and once again I am so thankful for this amazing technology.  I was also blessed with lots of cards and gifts and was thoroughly spoilt.  I just love the handmade cards the Grandchildren make and the progress they have made each year with there drawing and writing skills.

Gerard and I have had so much with Haiku, a form of Japanese poetry consisting of 3 short lines that do not rhyme using 5/7/5 syllables, 17 syllables in total.  When we first started this little adventure together we had remembered it wrong and was writing the poem using 5/7/5 words not syllables.  I had started to record some of them and had fun with watercolours.  





An artist I am not but I have enjoyed the process.  These are some of the poems written wrongly using the word format not syllables but I decided to keep them as they are part of the journey.  The fun is in the journey taken and not necessarily the end result.  It has been an unusual adventure, playing with words but one that I have enjoyed and will continue.

My daughter has just started a blog recording some of her travels, it does make for a good read.  Here is the link should you want to visit www.thatmumtravellife.com let her know I sent you.  She calls herself Tor but she will always be Victoria to us.  Its a nice way to record some of the amazing days out they have with those gorgeous boys and is an honest review regarding finances too.

Hope all is well with you and that you are safe, well and enjoying life.  There are times when this pandemic and the restrictions imposed have been tedious to say the least but the separation from family has been so hard to bear.  I yearn to be able to plan a trip to catch up with them all and whilst I am so thankful for technology and the joys its brings its not quite the same as seeing them in person.  The sad death of Prince Philip and the wonderful tributes made to him highlighted how short our lives are.  Such a special man that will not get  the state funeral that he so richly deserves.  We need to remember to make every minute count and enjoy what we have making as many memories as we can along the way.

See you soon.


29 comments:

  1. I think he refused a state funeral but such a shame that it will be a small affair. I am always amazed that rhubarb leaves can be so tightly furled inside their pods.

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  2. Your form of Haiku is just as compelling, maybe even more so.

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  3. Belated very Happy 🎂Birthday wishes to you, Lorraine. Nice to read that you had virtual family visits and a nice dinner out. Yikes on that snow as hopefully we are all done with that weather here in New England. The Haiku poems were lovely to read and see. As sad as it was to read of Prince Phillip's passing, and so many other these past many months, too many have also gone without any special celebrations of lives well lived and cherished.

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  4. Such a sad time for the Royal Family. According to the news here Prince Philip expressed a preference for a funeral with "no Fuss" so I imagine that and the Covid restrictions is why the Royal Family decide on a small affair. I was delighted to read in one of your daughter's posts about her holiday in Minehead coincidentally my home town. I remember Butlins being built back in the 60s :-) How I long to go home to see my family and friends! Sweet verses and lovely combine with your watercolours too. A very happy Birthday for yesterday so glad you were able to get out and celebrate it. Keep well Amanda x

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  5. Me encantó el post, gracias por compartirlo.
    Besos.

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  6. Happy birthday! I'm a regular reader but I don't think I've commented before, I always enjoy reading your posts. I'll pop over to read your daughter's blog.

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  7. Your poetry and painting are beautiful. Hope you can see your family soon. I will have a look at your daughter's blog. I do love travelling and miss my days out.

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  8. Happy Birthday! I'm sure your daughter will love looking back at her travels on her blog. I find it so useful these days when I can't remember when we went somewhere and can look back at the blog.

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  9. Happy Birthday mama. Your enjoyment of selecting words really shines through in your journal. Jo x

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  10. Belated happy birthday. It's nice that you had a pleasant day out.
    I like your Haiku so well illustrated. I think the 5 word style should be called Haiku plus.

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  11. "We need to remember to make every minute count and enjoy what we have making as many memories as we can along the way."
    I couldn't agree more with these words.

    Belated Happy Birthday Wishes to you.
    I will have a look at your daughter's blog.

    All the best Jan

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  12. *H*A*P*P*Y* * *B*I*R*T*H*D*A*Y*!*!*!* Lorraine! Your daughters blog is great! I hope your cold weather goes away and the warm spring arrives. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  13. I enjoyed your post.
    The poetry was lovely:
    Beauty from error.

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  14. Haiku is beautiful! I love your poetry!

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  15. Happy belated birthday, I'm glad you were able to celebrate with a nice lunch at a hotel.

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  16. A very Happy belated Birthday to you !
    Little pleasures are sometimes the betters !
    Have a shinny week !
    Anna

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  17. Happy belayed birthday !! You are a lucky girl that you could eat in a restaurant ! Here everything is still closed and that really upsets me. I don't know why, because I only go occasionally to a restaurant but what I miss the most are sitting on a terracee have drink and watch people !! Our weather seems to be like yours I feared for the beautiful cherry tree in front on our balcony but it survived the snow !

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  18. Happy Belated Birthday! How wonderful that you could eat at a restaurant. Hubby and I have been vaccinated, but just aren't comfortable with indoor dining yet. I like your "haiku" pages. It is wonderful that you are celebrating the journey and not worried about the perfection. I hope you can visit with your family soon.

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  19. Belated Happy Birthday, Lorraine. Going out to eat these days is such a treat! I like your watercolours and haiku very much. We're hoping for a sunny and warm week here - spring has been cold with a chilly wind so far.

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  20. H*a*p*p*y B*i*r*t*h*d*a*y* a *day *late, but *thankful *you *had *a *good *birth*day *dinner *out *in *a *restaurant. :^] I like your haiku poems. It is good. I've written the syllables but it's been a few years since I have dont that! I should do some again! Our weather is warmer and hope it stays that way. I do have to get flowers watered nearly every day as we haven't had any rain lately. I hope you get to meet with your family in person soon. We will meet ours in a couple weeks. Finally! We'll be outdoors at a park. It will be fun and hopefully weather will be beautiful! Have a good week! :'}

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  21. Belated Happy Birthday to you. I am glad you got spoiled.

    Love the Haiku and your watercolours are lovely.

    God bless.

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  22. Hello my dear Lorraine and Gerard! And a wonderfully "late" Happy Birthday to you! I so enjoyed reading your form of Haiku and I think it's as lovely as the original form. Maybe you invented something new. :-) It sounds like a wonderful day out full of good things and new memories.
    I'm sorry that you are not able to be with family yet. Believe me, I understand! When I saw Piper in person and got my first hug from her my heart melted. It's been such a job to see them often this week.
    I'm going to go over and check out your daughter's blog. If she's anything like her Mum, it's bound to be wonderful and full of good things.
    Blessings and hugs,
    Betsy

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  23. my sister and I wrote haikus daily in February and March in journal books she made with multimedia paper. It was fun!! I am now doing a sketch a day and taking a break from haiku writing.

    Happy BIRTHDAY!

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  24. Happy belated birthday to you. You deserve to be spoiled on your birthday.

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  25. Happy belated birthday. A wonderful way to journal with your paintings as a base for the writing. That is so creative. I will definitely look up your daughters blog. I am going to this minute. Happy week ahead to you, Betsy

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  26. Happy Birthday! I loved your Haiku, I love the way it brings together order and creativity, such an elegant use of words.
    Amalia
    xo

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  27. Belated birthday greetings - snap, you and I share the same birthday! I have delayed my Birthday Outing until the places I would like to visit are open.

    It sounds like you had a lovely day, and how fulfilling to write the Haiku and paint. It's a long time since I wrote any Haiki. . . Good that you could get to the Hotel and be taken out for lunch.

    Off to check your daughter's blog now.

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  28. Belated Happy birthday! Thank you so much for sharing this blog.

    Regards,
    Online Thesis Help

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  29. Hope you and Gerald are well.

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