When we were kids, Pluto was a planet.
Arguably our favorite planet because it was relatable:
little, standing on the outskirts of things, named for a Disney character.
(OK, we didn’t exactly understand naming rights…)

Anyway, I know it’s no longer official, but I’m giving it its due here anyway.
I’m nostalgic that way.

Pluto

A failed audition:
Meek, small, not right for the part.
(Has cult following)

#lizsharespoems
#NationalPoetryMonth
#30daysofhaiku

Also, a note: This wraps the first Poetry Month prompt (planets) and tomorrow I move onto Days of the Week. As we’ll be starting on a Sunday we’ll start with Sunday! Join me?

Did you all know that Neptune was discovered via mathematical equation?
Me neither!
But here’s the thing — Neptune lives 2.86 million miles from Earth.
That’s a lot of miles, so no surprise that we can’t exactly see there from here.

Neptune

Unfathomed distance
(location calculation)
Math can make you real

#lizsharespoems
#NationalPoetryMonth
#30daysofhaiku

Miranda, Puck, Titania, Ariel…
How much do you love the names of the Uranian moons?

Uranus is pretty much always the butt of jokes, but it’s actually a pretty spectacular planet.
27 known moons, 13 known rings, named for the Greek god of the sky. Pretty spectacular.

Uranus

You’re well attended:
Shakespearean satellites
Just mooning about

#lizsharespoems
#NationalPoetryMonth
#30daysofhaiku

We could be forgiven for looking at Saturn and seeing all moons (82!) and rings (7), all hydrogen and helium, but scientists think there may well be a solid core in there. Makes you wonder!

Saturn

We all admire
the way you accessorize
but what’s at your core?

#lizsharespoems
#NationalPoetryLevel
#30daysofhaiku

Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system but Venus usually outshines him.

Plus, for part of the year, Jupiter’s barely visible from Earth at all because the sun stands between us.

It’s just now, this April, that he’s re-emerging and will become increasingly brighter and more visible until late September when he’ll be in direct opposition to the sun and will shine like a star for us all night long.

The universe has a way of humbling everyone at least sometimes.

Jupiter

Re-emerge at dawn
from behind the sun’s smug glare.
You’re your own big deal.

#lizsharespoems
#NationalPoetryMonth
#30daysofhaiku

That red planet just drives our earthling imaginations wild, doesn’t it?

Mars

Un-crewed but roving
all over your mysteries.
Your face flushes red.

#lizsharespoems
#NationalPoetryMonth
#30daysofhaiku

Today I am holding Earth as if holding a big blue marble.
A big, blue, perfect, fragile, precious marble.

Playing for keepsies,
knuckles down and aim is true.
The blue one? Is ours.

#lizsharespoems
#NationalPoetryMonth
#30daysofhaiku

Wow, doing research on Venus got me in a certain kind of way.
So, y’all get a triptych today!

Venus

fiery, crushing,
explosive, unbearable!
My own toxic twin.

#lizsharespoems
#NationalPoetryMonth
#30daysofhaiku

Happy National Poetry Month, friends!

This is (I think?) my 13th year of writing daily haiku during the month of April, and I couldn’t be gladder that it’s swung back around to this time of year again. (Also immensely grateful that you’re here, either reading along or writing your own poems!)

As you probably know, haiku is a traditional Japanese form that has been evolved and played with and differently understood over time and across space. I follow the (westernized) 5/7/5 syllabic pattern because I like working within a defined form. There are also other trademarks of the haiku, including the kigo (a word that names, points to, or suggests a season) and the kireji (the turn or surprise part way through the poem). I try to stay mindful but not bound by the rules.

This year, instead of going free-form like I’ve done in the past, I’ve given myself prompts for each day of the month. You’re welcome to them, too, if they feel helpful or fun. The first nine days will be the planets (plus that lowly dwarf planet Pluto), starting closest to the sun. So, without further ado, here’s Mercury.

Mercury

Your dark, cratered crust
writing an oblong orbit
in and out of light

Note: Besides being the closest planet to the sun, one of the things that is cool and unique about Mercury is that scientists believe it’s partly made of graphite. Yep, like pencils! Mercury — forever writing ovals in the notebook of the sky!

#lizsharespoems
#nationalpoetrymonth
#30daysofhaiku

Dodoitsu: A four-line form from Japan with a defined syllabic structure (7/7/7/5) and a focus on work or love. Often funny.

Ekphrasis: Originating from the Greek word for description, ekphrastic poetry engages with or is inspired by a piece of visual art.

This month my pals and I challenged ourselves to write one or more ekphrastic dodoitsu, based on photos we offered up to each other. I really had fun with this prompt, although I left quite a few, well, we’ll call them dodos, on the cutting room floor. Here are the few left standing:

(Photo Credit: Laura Purdie Salas)

APPLE LOVE
Your rootstock grafted to mine
promised sweetness and pink shine
till love turned to vinegar.
You’re just plain rotten.

(Photo Credit: Tanita Davis)

TWO DOLLAR BILL
Oh, look – Thomas Jefferson!
You have been discontinued!
Not up for a hard day’s work,
what is your value?

(Photo Credit: Mary Lee Hahn)

BRICK BY BRICK
The writer stacks word by word,
building beauty out of bricks,
mortar made of metaphor.
And then, she re-reads.

You can read more here:
Andi
Laura
Kelly
Mary Lee
Tanita
Tricia
Sara

And Poetry Friday is at Amy Ludwig VanDerwater’s The Poem Farm!

Next month we’re writing poetry “In the style of…” Taylor Mali! Join us?