Haiku-A-Day December #12: Christmas Lights

I am joining Elisabeth from The Dirigible Plum in writing a Haiku-A-Day during the month of December. 

Haiku-A-Day December #12: Christmas Lights

Several few evenings ago, following a violin lesson, my daughter and I took an unplanned detour. We ended up exploring a nearby neighborhood decked out in lights. As December is the darkest month of the year - full of early sunsets - I am grateful for the joy that a simple string of Christmas tree lights brings to me and my tween daughter. 

We crave the extra light during December. 

In response, I wrote this Haiku:  

Long December nights,

diminished sunlight, but joy

strings through beams of light. 

Tuesday Slice of Life & Haiku-A-Day December Challenge #11 Mash Up: Break the Fake

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I am joining Elisabeth from The Dirigible Plum in writing a Haiku-A-Day during the month of December. 

Haiku-A-Day December Challenge #11: Break the Fake 

Each of my high school classes begins with at least ten minutes of daily independent reading. Many of my sophomores are currently reading To Kill A Mockingbird as a requirement for their English Language Arts class. Although I encourage students to read a book that they like and want to read, I allow students to read books assigned from another class. 

Yesterday, in between conferring with students in one of my literacy support class hours, I observed one of my students pretending to read To Kill a Mockingbird. 

Yup, fake reading. 

It is December and even after all of the book talks, conferring, and sincere conversations about the purpose of reading, fake reading still happens. This used to bother me a lot, but it just reminds me to not give up on my students. 

Read about fake reading in my double Haiku below: 

She giggles. Page turn

in To Kill A Mockingbird.

Book tilt. Pretend read.

Phone concealed inside

novel. Body shifts when I 

walk by...break the fake. 

Haiku-A-Day December #10: Stories

I am joining Elisabeth from The Dirigible Plum in writing a Haiku-A-Day during the month of December.

Haiku-A-Day #10: Stories

Most nights, just before I retire to bed, you can typically find me either writing or deeply engrossed in a book. I am especially drawn to memoirs. For me, I appreciate when a writer is vulnerable and shares his or her experience of pain or overcoming some sort of obstacle. I certainly don't celebrate that so many others go through pain, but somehow it brings me great comfort knowing that I am not the only one who has gone through something hard - a subtle reminder that life is often messy and can be painful.

Recently, I came across this quote by James Baldwin:

 "You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read." 

This quote is taped inside the cover of my writer's notebook. I have found myself compelled to reread it several times in the past few days.

Today's double Haiku was inspired by my experiences in reading and from James Baldwin's wise quote:

Stories remind me

so many humans struggle - 

pain is not unique.

Where would I be if

no writers chose to show up

brave, vulnerably? 

Haiku-A-Day December #9: Christmas Nostalgia

I am joining Elisabeth from The Dirigible Plum in writing a Haiku-A-Day during the month of December.

Haiku-A-Day December #9: Christmas Nostalgia

Our Christmas tree is not anything to brag about. It would never be highlighted in Better Homes and Gardens or Real Simple. It is a small, artificial tree, bought several years ago on clearance a few weeks following that holiday season. It is, however, the perfect size for our tiny living room. 

Some of our friends or extend family members decorate their trees by theme, creating fancy, elaborate holiday displays. Our Christmas tree is anything but lavish; instead, our tree includes a mashup of ornaments my grandma made for me each year when I was a kid, a few Hallmark ornaments from my husband's childhood, and a bounty of handmade ornaments courtesy of my children. This year our Christmas tree skirt is one my grandma hand-stitched decades ago, comprised of felt, sequins, and embroidery.

Growing up, my family's Christmas tree was similar - donned in mostly handmade or meaningful ornaments. I love remembering this

As I was thinking about passing on this tradition to my children, I penned this Haiku:

Handcrafted Christmas

brings nostalgia - rooted

joyful traditions.  

Haiku-A-Day December Challenge #8: Sanctuary

I am joining Elisabeth from The Dirigible Plum in writing a Haiku-A-Day during the month of December. Please let me know if you are posting a Haiku-A-Day too! I would love to read your work.

Haiku-A-Day December Challenge #8: Sanctuary

Earlier this week I wrote about how my topics, word choices, and audience has been so different in my Haiku-A-Day challenge this year. (You can read that post here.) In a greatly appreciated comment from my friend Elisabeth, I was reminded how my writer's notebook is where I can retreat. My writer's notebook is where I craft poetry, ask myself the most painful and complex questions, explore my thoughts and feelings without fear of judgement. 

As I continue to try to make sense of some really tough, painful things in my life, writing continues to provide an outlet and healing. I am thankful for notebook writing:

Pen, paper, pages-

my sanctuary housing

most intimate thoughts. 

Haiku-A-Day December Challenge #7: Great Horned Owl

I am joining Elisabeth from The Dirigible Plum in writing a Haiku-A-Day during the month of December. Please let me know if you are posting a Haiku-A-Day too! I would love to read your work.

Haiku-A-Day December Challenge #7: Great Horned Owl

As I wrote about in yesterday's post, I have been paying a lot more attention to the every day birds I see in my city and neighborhood. To my delight, we have a Great Horned Owl in our neighborhood. Although I have not had the opportunity to actually see it yet, I hear the owl's calls on most early morning twilight walks with my dogs. I have heard the hoots in different locations through our neighborhood, causing me to wonder if the same owl made a new nest or if there are two different Great Horned Owls.

Here is today's Haiku:

Although I've never 

spied you, I hear your rhythmic

call before dawn. Hoo.

Are you the same Great 

Horned Owl who perched between the

nearby woods and church? 

Haiku-A-Day December Challenge #6: Noticing Birds

I am joining Elisabeth from The Dirigible Plum in writing a Haiku-A-Day during the month of December. Please let me know if you are posting a Haiku-A-Day too! I would love to read your work.

Haiku-A-Day December Challenge #6: Noticing Birds 

Earlier this year I read a beautiful memoir called Birds Art Life: A Year of Observation by Kyo Maclear. Goodreads describes it as, "A writer’s search for inspiration, beauty, and solace leads her to birds in this intimate and exuberant meditation on creativity and life—a field guide to things small and significant." 

Although my dad is an avid bird watcher and photographer, I gained a deeper respect for bird watching as I savored Maclear's work. I adored reading Maclear's memoir, especially in how it reminded me that one does not need to travel or see something exotic in order to write something amazing. Great writing comes from first noticing what's around you. 

I thought of this as I wrote today's double haiku:

I've never recalled

a day without bird sighting- 

no matter weather.

Appreciation

for daily simplicity.

Birds enhance city.