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Welcome to Haibun Monday folks ! If this is your first time to read about haibun, you can refer back to our past Haibun Monday articles so you are acquainted with the form. Here is short description of the form:

Haibun prose is composed of terse, descriptive paragraphs, written in the first person singular. The text unfolds in the present moment, as though the experience is occurring now rather than yesterday or some time ago. In keeping with the simplicity of the accompanying haiku, all excessive words should be pared down or deleted. Nothing must ever be overstated.

The haiku or poetry never attempts to repeat, quote or explain the prose. Instead, the poetry reflects some aspect of the prose by introducing a different step in the narrative through a microburst of detail. Thus the poetry is a sort of juxtaposition – seemingly different yet somehow connected. It is the discovery of this link between the prose and the poetry that offers one of the great delights of the haibun form.

For this week’s prompt, think about a moment of your typical day (first person singular). This can be your morning routine, commute, day in the office, a walk in the afternoon, household chores, grocery shopping, gardening etc. Here’s the challenge: write and find the “extra” in your ordinary day. The following are some suggestions (pick one scenario or create one that suites you):

* imagine this day to be your first day you’re given new organ like new heart or eyes or lungs or kidney
* imagine yourself explaining or showing how this is done to a foreigner or a group of students or before a crowd in a poetry slam contest
* imagine this day is your last day in this city or place, as you are going away on another journey

For inspiration, here are some quotes about seeing the beauty and extra in ordinary days:

“I built my home in the feeling of waking up at dawn in a new city, where every road is the right road because there is no ordinary. Everything is as profound as you make it.”
― Charlotte Eriksson

“Falling in love is easy. Falling in love with the same person repeatedly is extraordinary.”
― Crystal Woods, Write like no one is reading

“We have one precious life: do something extraordinary today, even if it’s tiny. A pebble starts the avalanche.”
― K.A. Laity

“Extraordinary magic is woven through ordinary life. Look around!”
― Amy Leigh Mercree

Like in the past sessions, we will focus on the basic unit of composition– one paragraph and one nature-based haiku. Some examples of the 3 line haiku can refer to the changing seasons, smell of rain, scents of flowers, moon, sounds of the night creatures, etc.   I look forward to reading your extra-ordinary haibun.

If you are new to dVerse or even if not, please:
– Write your haibun and link it to dVerse.
– Post it to Mr. Linky which is found at the bottom of this post. Please link your poem’s URL instead of your blog name.
– Visit each other, read, and comment on other writers. This is how we enjoy each other and grow our poetic community.

Have fun and see you at the poetry trail! Grace