Hello All! Welcome to Haibun Monday! This is one of my favorite prompts here at dVerse. We all make plans – plans for our lives, our work, our education, and hopefully for our writing. What I would like you all to do is to write about your plans for your writing. In the last Quadrille Monday, in which the prompted word was “Rock”, I threw out my plans for my writing:
“throwing rocks
A boy with a rock slew a giant years ago.
What is your giant?
What will you slay today?
Intolerance? Racism? Hunger?
Sexual abuse? Animal cruelty?
My poems are my rocks.
I am letting them loose today.
Let loose the brave poems.
*Yūkan’na koto.
*Japanese for: be brave as in bushido”
With that in mind, I have many plans for my writing: I will be working on a book of haibun, I will be brave both in my writing and my comments, I will start using some devices I have not used before – such as metaphors, I will be joining a circle of writers (many of whom are professional or teachers of writing) who give honest critiques (not the polite comments which validate us or worship our worship our writing). I will be visiting other writing sites and not just those “safe” ones. I am going to be very busy. I am also going to be going to Duke Universtiy to get my fourth degree (I have three and I prefer even numbers to odd ones). So I am going to be very very busy!
With that in mind, I am going to be stepping down from being a regular staff member of dVerse. I just won’t have the time. Since my mother died in June of this year from a long and excruciating illness, I have been restless in my soul. In my body as well. I am taking the old Ducati out of storage and getting it road ready. My husband is excited about this because he thinks I will allow him to ride it – hah! And for those of you who are smirking and saying,”thank goodness the picky badering witch will be gone”…well, I am just leaving the staff. I am not leaving dVerse. They are too good in their craft and their attitudes for me to break away from.
As part of my “throwing rocks”, I will have the freedom to actually really comment on poems instead of the polite mouthings we all do. So! And for those of you who like me, I will still be around. I will still be encouraging and supportive of your work.
So: write for me a haibun of one to two tight paragraphs and end it with a senryu, micropoem or haiku (remember, the haiku must have a seasonal reference in it otherwise, it is a senryu or micropoem. Share with us your plans and dreams for your writing. Post it on your blog site and then link the url on Mr. Linky. Also please post the link back to dVerse so others can follow the trail back here and read.
I look forward to seeing you all out on the poetry path, or in my walks in the woods, or roaring down the road on my Ducati, or in my studies at Duke. I wish you all to live long and prosper! and start throwing some of your own rocks. Let’s break a few windows! Be brave. Yūkan’na koto!!!
dVerse 
Hello all! Welcome. So what are your plsns? Do you plan to publish, to ratchet up your writing? To be more political?
I hope to have you back for many visits to the bar…. and there is always a place for you here.
Thank you Bjorn. It has been my pleasure and joy to serve as a staff member.
I wish you all the best to your plans Toni ~
As to my writing plans, no plan is good for me, ha..ha… I write because its a hobby and a fun pastime. Take care ~
And there is nothing wrong with that! there are times when I escape into my writing, just to be not here and in the now. 🙂
Hello! Great prompt. …your 4th degree!? ….amazing😊. My condolences on the passing of your mum. I look forward to reading all the posts and will add mine shortly.
Thank you Vivian for your condolences. I am looking forward to reading the posts as well.
My entry is coming soon… just putting my finishing touches… it will stand as a manifesto…
Can’t wait!
I am looking forward to it!
Hi Toni! I’m so sad that you’re leaving the team and wanted to be first on this evening, but I got caught up doing something and I think that chance has passed. Never mind – at least I’m here this week! However, I will post now and come back later to read as it is icy cold in my study at the moment and I’m trying to keep warm with a rug! I will be back!
I did get in first after all!
Alright!
Don’t be sad! I am just leaving the team, I am NOT leaving dVerse!
🙂
This makes me like you even more:
“I am also going to be going to Duke Univers[ti]y to get my fourth degree (I have three and I prefer even numbers to odd ones).”
I’m a(n even) number junkie too. 🙂
I think it’s healthy for those in leadership to rotate in and out.
Cheers to many joyful road trips on your D machine, Toni.
I agree. It is good to be in and out as you say. We need new blood, new ideas, old ideas, and more writers who are willing to take the hours involved to write the prompts, read the poems and to comment. Lots of work involved.
Even just to be on a rotation — six months on, three off. Something like that. Catch a little breather. It seems like hard work and major commitment.
I think people don’t realize the work involved. the research, the writing. It can be stressful to be sure all the poems are read and commented upon when it is ones turn to prompt. Major commitment.
Thanks! It is an old 916 and goes like greased lightening.
That makes me want to watch Grease again. Let’s have a movie night. 🙂
Grease!!!! Yes!!!!!
Shawna, are you going to be writing for this prompt? I promise not to hold you and a couple of others to the haibun form….badgering bitch that I am! I will be glad, as always to read your work.
LOL … You crazy-ass bitch. 😉 Well, I tried, and I have my “haibun” how I want it, but it doesn’t meet the requirements … true haiku with season word, realistic “true” paragraph. It’s a metaphor, and the three lines that follow fit on syllable count only. But I think it’s entertaining. So you can link it for me if you see fit, or you can just come read it. OR, I can just give you the link right here and you decide:
https://headjellie.blogspot.com/2017/11/talking-my-way-in-to-revolving.html
I do respect you and the love for Japanese form you have embedded so deeply in your heart. So I understand you wanting to be firm with the rules. Still, I hate the idea of good poetry not being linked because it deviates (not that mine is good; but others …). To me, some of the most impressive artists are also extreme rule-breakers. But it’s really just your call.
This is true. But a form calls for following forms. They can’t all be “free verse” or things get boring. good poetry can be written with another form, at another time. And some of the good poets are rule breakers – just not all of them any more than those who follow the forms. There are prompts for a reason – to expand our knowledge and appreciation of poetry. I do not like fussy forms where it has to have so many feet and a rhyme scheme. but writing it flexes my poetry muscles. We grow slack if we only write one type of poetry. Because I like you so very much and because I appreciate your writing and admire it, I am letting the haibun form go this time. Please put in on Mr. Linky so others can read. Please Shawna. for me?
I read it. It follows the form. And it is so much fun and so very brave! I love it.
I was mainly concerned because the mini-poem at the end doesn’t have a season word — unless you assume rides are summery.
Oh my yes! I think of rides for this summer. I’d rather ride a roller coaster in the summer than when it is snowing! 🙂
And in my prompt, I did say senryu, micropoem, or haiku – opening it up for all concerned. LOL I may be a crazy ass bitch but I am a happy one. and when I get my Duc on the road, I am going to be a wild crazy ass bitch. I’m 66 years old. I am not an old lady yet! My husband is 10 years younger than me. So….I just don’t like it when people ignore a prompt I have worked so hard on. It doesn’t show respect for the form or the prompter. But you followed the form beautifully. Truly you did. I would not say it if you didn’t.
I definitely read and enjoyed the prompt. You did a wonderful job.
XXX000…I know you do dear heart.
I linked you!!!!!
Your plans sound very interesting, and you are very brave now and in the future. Wishing you the very best of luck with your plans.
Thank you Annell. It is going to be the start of a new adventure for me. I am excited. I needed a good shaking up. My mother wanted me to expand my horizons and education. so this is for her.
Who was it that said, man poses and God disposes? I forget but your haibun puts me in mind of that.
“Homo proponit, sed Deus disponit” Thomas a’Kempis. Thank goodness for Google!!! And for the aged librarian, closing down the librarian.
The library!!!
I love Thomas á Kempis! I don’t know if I’ll be able to get to this prompt because, well, just yesterday my post was all about not having anything (well maybe One thing) figured out. I’m sorry to hear of the loss of your mother, but best wishes for what is to come! (And that’s funny about even numbers. I’m the opposite. In my family of five (including the dog) we were all born on odd dates and 4/5 born on prime numbers. Hoping this one due in April will stick to my PLAN. Ha!)
Thank you. the prompt is up all week and not having plans is the same as having plans. A baby on the way….We were all odd numbered people in my family. I feel if something is an odd number, there is more yet to come! Congrats on the baby! I’ve never had children but I understand it is quite an event! A lot of happiness in store for you. I too play the violin, BTW. I often go out in the woods and climb a certain old oak and sit there an play for the critters. Rain, sleet, snow….it doesn’t matter. Nice that you already have a music system built in for your baby to listen to before it is born.
Well, Toni, I hope you have an amazing time! I will miss your prompts. I have learned so much from you. The haiku is a poorly understood form, much debased, and I feel I have had a glimpse of what it should be here. Condolences on the death of your mother. I understand that these major life events can be an opportunity for re-evaluation of our lives and habits. It sounds as if you need to take a different road for a while. I do wish you well. Thank you for some wonderful prompts, and some great glass polishing behind that bar!
Thank you Sarah. I will still be doing a guest prompt or two. Thank you for what you said about haiku. I agree. It is debased. Anything short is now called haiku…I have learned much from those who post, including you.
Thanks to you, the kigu list comes up as an automatic suggestion!!!
Hurray!!!!
I think when we stop growing as writers, that we die inside. that when all we look for is the accolades of others, the sycophantic comments, the polite mouthings, that we turn into dust.
Looking forward to your book of haibun. Thanks for hosting, Toni!
Thank you Frank!
Hayes… I keep trying to retire to have time to write. My knowledge of poetry is gleaned at the feet of the great Rudberg. My plans are to learn, be inspired, and gather courage to poetically attempt some of these challenges and crazy styles of poetry. Here’s one I wrote for you… if you don’t like it, it’s all Björn’s fault.
Good luck at Duke U,
be careful not to fall off,
your bad-ass Ducati.
You go, Girl!
😎
I am going away until later to get dinner ready for my hubs and to finish up cooking him a batch of Russian tea cakes….I will be back later to read and to comment.
Thanks for the compelling prompt, Toni. I’m sorry to see you departing as a dVerse staff member, but I’m happy for you! I, too, look forward to seeing your first book of haibun! Write well, haijin, and I look forward to your guest prompts! 🙂
Thank you Frank! Actually I am more of an onnabugeisha than a haijin. I look forward to seeing you out on the poetry trail. I think there is much potential for a book or three of haibun! Basho did it!
Thanks, Toni! 😀
And for those of you professionals staying away because I am doing the prompt tonight – thank you!!! Hugs!!!
I will miss your prompts, but taking a break is always helpful to clear your vision. I hope to see your posts here, and look forward to your book! Stay free.
Thank you Sara!
I accidently linked my post to the last prompt not this one. I reposted it. Now there is two and I do not know how to undo the first one..
Dwight
I do not know either. I will look and see if I can delete one. It’s okay if there is a duplicate. I’ll just read the first and ignore the second.
The second one is the Haibun! The rules said if the post does not meet the asking it will be deleted, so I figured someone knew how to do that? Thanks Dwight
Ah, I see. I read the poem and found it acceptable! It was very moving to me, reminding me of her last days in the SNF. I see no need to delete it.
Thank you! I am glad you enjoy it,
Late to the prompt but that was always the plan 😉
warmest wishes for your new adventures Toni, sounds a lot of fun
Good luck!
Late to the pub, my dear friend. But….rock on! You have been an absolute inspiration for me and for so many, VERY excitig that you will be taking a class at Duke…and yes, that will surely keep you busy. But I’ve always found that becoming the student is refreshing…and so I wish you well in all of your endeavors. Selfishly, I do hope you’ll continue to post here at dVerse and to honestly assess my posts….as I’ve said, I learn so much from you. 🙂 Hugs to you across this cyber space!
I’ve said a lot to you already, Toni. I’m excited for you, especially as you return to a learning environment. I am late in joining, but couldn’t miss this one. Love to you, my friend.