A Poem a Day #13

My haikus today were written for Cloudscome at A Wrung Sponge. Cloudscome has posted more than fifty original haiku poems at her blog. She writes her poems to accompany photographs she takes of flowers in her garden, of blossoming cherry trees, of a children’s book worn by loving hands, of a tricycle outside in the yard, of a monarch butterfly looking for nectar. Both her poems and her photographs are exceptional in their beauty.

I was inspired to write my haiku poems in response to some of Cloudscome’s lovely photographs. Cloudscome, thanks so much for the fine poetry you have brought to the world of kidlit bloggers. (Photographs used with permission of Cloudscome.)

HAIKU GARDEN

Look! A starting line
of crocuses ready
to sprint into spring

Sun rubs resting earth
with warm yellow hands…coaxes
forth petals of gold

Celebrating spring
cherry trees don party clothes…
look pretty in pink!

On petal wings,
monarch floats in air…like a
blossom in the breeze

Black-eyed-Susans
sunbathing in summer
staring at the sky

FOR TEACHERS
Check out the following website:

In the Moonlight A Worm

Quoting from the website: “This website offers teachers and students an introduction to writing haiku poems, a chance to study the history and nature of haiku poetry and an introduction to the fundamental principles of creative writing.” The website is supported by the National Lottery through the Arts Council of England.


BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

CRICKET NEVER DOES: A COLLECTION OF HAIKU AND TANKA
Written by Myra Cohn Livingston
Illustrations by Kees de Kiefte
Margaret k. McElderry
1997

This collection of poems written by Myra Cohn Livingston, a recipient of the NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children, has a variety of haiku for each season of the year. The book is now out of print—but used copies can be purchased from online booksellers.


HAIKU: ONE BREATH POETRY
Written & illustrated by Naomi Wakan
Heian
First American Edition 1997

This is a good resource book for teachers or anyone who is interested in the haiku and its history. It includes sections on Japanese Haiku and Haiku in English.

AT BLUE ROSE GIRLS
Check out my Poetry Friday Potpourri #2 post at Blue Rose Girls. I have The Joy of Writing, a poem written by Nobel Prize winning poet, Wislawa Szymborska.