Reproduction
Haiku 12

We are copycats,
remaking our own bright bits
into rising stars

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#nationalpoetrymonth

Metabolism
Haiku 11

Egg, bread, butter, greens
Breakfast converted into
dubious power

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#30daysofhaiku
#nationalpoetrymonth

So, this year we jumped right in with writing haiku — I didn’t carve out the time to prep myself or anyone else!! — but I’ve been meaning to swing back around and talk about the form a little.

Haiku, as you know, is a traditional Japanese form that has been played with and differently understood over time and by different writers and teachers. I follow the (westernized) 5/7/5 syllabic pattern because I like working within a defined form as both a challenge and a freedom. (The freedom being that I don’t have to think about form — it exists already as a container. I just fill it up!)

There are also other distinctive elements 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, for example, I’m trying very much to allow for a turn between line 1 and 2 or line 2 and 3, but I’m not focusing on seasons because I’ve given myself these scientific process prompts.

Anyway, this is the point of a poetic license, I think. To know (and respect) the rules and traditions and then to use them to say what you want to say today….

Sensation
Haiku 10

The body reacts
as if to dots and dashes –
visceral Morse code

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#nationalpoetrymonth

As a reminder, this week’s haikus are processes of the body.
Yesterday, digestion. Today, circulation.
I thought about musing on my raynaud’s syndrome, but it was over 70 degrees here today so that seemed slightly off the mark. Instead I went with a pretty glorious double meaning.

“Check it out…!!”

Circulation
Haiku 9

Blood and oxygen
and stacks of library books:
good circulation

#lizsharespoems
#30daysofhaiku
#nationalpoetrymonth

Digestion
Haiku 8

Teeth, tongue, down the hatch –
and the journey’s just begun.
Chewing this over…

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#nationalpoetrymonth

It’s the grand finale of weather week for me, folks.
Next week I’m moving onto the scientific processes of the body (digestion and reproduction and the like…)
I still feel like I’m getting my haiku feet under me, a week in. Am I wrong that it was easier in years past?
For those of you writing along with me, how are y’all feeling?
If the answer is breezily confident, I promise I won’t be jealous out loud.
Well, anyway. Here’s my haiku on convergence, an answer (sort of) to yesterday’s divergence.
See you tomorrow!

Convergence
Haiku 7

You come breezing in,
the answer to emptiness.
The storms are worth it.

#lizsharespoems
#30daysofhaiku
#nationalpoetrymonth

I’m learning a lot about weather dynamics this week. For example, divergence is a phenomenon that occurs when air is pushed out of an area (by wind), resulting in low atmospheric pressure, aka very little air, aka emptiness, aka a vacuum. And it’s related to tomorrow’s word – convergence – so stay tuned!

Divergence
Haiku 6

Today races by –
nature abhors a vacuum.
What will take its place?

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#nationalpoetrymonth

Spring really keeps a person on her toes, huh?
I love that I’ve chosen to write about weather this week and the weather is being so very… creative!!
Today’s word? Oscillation!

Oscillation
Haiku 5

The temperature swings
like a trapeze, snug to brisk.
Dog wakes, sniffs, flies!

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#nationalpoetrymonth

Hello, friends…

As I mentioned earlier, I’m writing my haiku this year about various scientific processes, beginning with some (lesser known) weather terminology. I promised a whole list, though, in case any of you wanted to use the same (or similar) prompts for your own poems. So, drum roll please, here goes:

WEATHER
1 – Evaporation
2 – Occlusion
3 – Saturation
4 – Combustion
5 – Oscillation
6 – Divergence
7 – Confluence

THE BODY
8 – Digestion
9 – Circulation
10 – Sensation
11 – Metabolism
12 – Reproduction
13 – Excretion
14 – Respiration

GEOLOGY
15 – Erosion
16 – Eruption
17 – Deposition
18 – Glaciation
19 – Liquefaction
20 – Metamorphism
21 – Sedimentation

THE SCIENTIFIC PROCESS ITSELF
22 – Observation
23 – Classification
24 – Measurement
25 – Inference
26 – Prediction
27 – Experimentation
28 – Interpretation

END OF THE MONTH EXTRAS
29 – Purification
30 – Rotation

That’s it, folks. Do with the list what you may!
#lizsharespoems
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#nationalpoetrymonth

My phone sent me two alerts at the same time today, a Red Flag warning (conditions right for fire) and Trump’s arraignment. Talk about weather!

Combustion
Haiku 4

A blustery day,
wind sparking speculation:
This whole thing might blow

#lizsharespoems
#30daysofhaiku
#nationalpoetrymonth