During this time of staying at home, The Highlights Foundation has been providing some amazing free webinar sessions. Earlier this week, the fabulous Leslea Newman presented "Poetry to Soothe the Soul." Leslea shared insight into her writing process and tips for writing poetry. She also shared her Pandemic Haiku and assigned attendees to write a series of their own. I had fun with it!
A daily delight—
robins outside my window
morning serenade
Old-fashioned breakfast,
French toast like I made before
life got too busy.
Senior citizens
masked, gloved, social distancing,
swarm grocery aisles.
Soapy hands sing
two rounds of “Happy Birthday”
twenty looong seconds!
Today’s agenda:
admire robins, trees, sky—
Write a poem.
Outside for a walk,
neighbors on porches greet me
from across the street.
Streaming old Sci-Fi—
I wonder. Are we living
in The Twilight Zone?
©Linda Kulp Trout
Thank you to Christie at Wondering and Wandering for hosting today's Poetry Friday!
"twenty LONG seconds" - it does seem to be getting longer, doesn't it? Enjoyed these reflections - stay healthy and safe!
ReplyDeleteTwenty seconds never seemed so long! Thank you, Robyn. You stay healthy and safe too. : )
DeleteHow clever Linda - each stands alone but as a suite, says so much more. I especially love your closing lines - it really does feel like a Twilight Zone.
ReplyDeleteSally, I keep thinking this would make a great episode if only we weren't really living it!
DeleteThese are great, Linda. I hope you keep going, like a diary! My daughter isn't going poetry, but keeping notes every day about what's happened, at home, the nation, the world. I hope we can look back & wonder if we learned anything? Have a nice weekend coming up. And yes, I know about the Highlights things, just have been too busy. I'm glad you've liked them!
ReplyDeleteLinda, I know what you mean. There are so many great offerings right now, I can't keep up. I'm hoping they will be available for a while so I can catch up! Take care and stay well.
DeleteGreat haiku series that pretty much sums the "Twilight Zone" we are all experiencing. Your line: "twenty LONG seconds!" is spot on as well. Crazy how perceptions change.
ReplyDeleteI was supposed to 'attend' that HF workshop but the time difference was too much. Must watch the replay. :)
Thank you, Bridget. Yes, watch the replays if you have time. There are some wonderful sessions with guest writers. Well worth the time.
DeleteLinda, thanks for sharing information on the free webinars. Your Pandemic series flowed nicely. I am wondering if you would like to write an image poem using your first haiku for my #NatureNurtures2020 Gallery?
ReplyDeleteCarol, I would like to do that. I'm not sure how to do an image poem. Maybe I can figure it out. Thanks!
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ReplyDeleteI attended the workshop too...and loved it. What a treat to listen to Leslea Newman. And, what delightful responses to her "homework" assignment. I love the breakfast like I used to make before I got busy.
ReplyDeleteLinda, it was nice to see you and other PF folks there. Yes, it has been really nice to have time to have a cooked breakfast for a change! : )
ReplyDeleteThis series should be put in a time capsule!
ReplyDeleteThose twenty looong seconds - I feel ya there! And yes, this is CLEARLY the Twilight Zone...
ReplyDeleteGreat last line! I agree. I'd much rather spend my time admiring the trees, robins, and sky.
ReplyDeleteThese are great! At the first of the year I started writing a haiku each day. I should get back in the habit to document these pandemic times. My favorite is the last one -- it does feel like an episode of The Twilight Zone.
ReplyDeleteI signed up for that webinar, but haven't viewed it yet. Thanks for the encouragement to do so! And nice haiku--I particularly like Today's agenda.
ReplyDeleteThese are great! I wish I'd made it to the webinar and have absolutely no excuse for not doing so. Ugh. I think daily haiku writing is such a powerful practice. Your first haiku with that robin serenade is my favorite.
ReplyDeleteI said awhile back that I felt like we are living a Neal Shusterman novel, if you have ever read him. I heard about this webinar over at Margaret's blog. Sounds like it was a wonderful experience.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed these haiku very much. Yes, it is indeed a strange time. Let's hope to recover soon.
ReplyDeleteI love these - thanks!
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