Ronovan challenge – Ontheland

Friends

Life’s song may quiver

Dampened by fear, frost and chill–

A true friend stands by.

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In response to Ronovan Writes Weekly Haiku Poetry Prompt Challenge #90: ‘friend’ & ‘shiver’. (quiver=shiver). To get information about the challenge and simple haiku writing tips, please click the challenge link.

World Water Day 2016

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Rain shower’s caress

Shimmering play of droplets,

Taken for granted.

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Water is a precious commodity used in all aspects of life. The making of everything we touch involves the use of water somewhere along the way. I live in a part of the world where we often take rainfall and clean water for granted. World Water Day is an annual opportunity to consider the importance of water; and to remember that across the world many people live in drought conditions or without clean water nearby. Approximately 10% of the world’s population lives without access to clean water for drinking and washing. Only about one-half of the world has tap water at home.

Every year the United Nation’s World Water Day has a special theme–this year it is water and jobs, highlighting how the livelihood of millions of workers depends on a reliable water supply. For me, the underlying message is constant: our globe’s clean water is a valuable resource to be conserved and protected.

Collecting water at a public well in Nepal

Collecting water in Africa (unknown location)

The introductory haiku was written in response to Ronovan Writes Weekly Haiku Challenge #89 using the prompt words: ‘shower’ and ‘play’.

Sky gazing

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My eyes lift skyward

storm clouds conceal sun designs

trees bask in spring breeze.

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In response to Ronovan Writes Weekly Haiku Challenge #88. The prompt words are ‘lift’ and ‘plan’ (design). Please visit the above prompt post to find out how easy it is to join in. You’ll also find links to a wide variety of haiku using the prompt words.

Signs of spring

Snow is still on the ground and the official first day of Spring is two weeks away, but today I had the first feeling that spring is really on its way. I wrote two haiku–the first, after looking out the window to check the weather. The second continues my thoughts using prompt words from Ronovan Writes Weekly Haiku Challenge #87.

Wet drops drip slowly,
puddles gleam from the driveway,
It’s above zero.

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Above zero days,
March shift, a new weather range,
May this trend stand firm.

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The prompt words used in the second haiku are ‘class’ and ‘firm’ (range=class). The temperature reference is zero degrees Centigrade.

Ladybug wings–Life flashes–haiku

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Sunlight dance
ladybug wings flash
red domes shine

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First cry first step first
word first kiss first love last breath
A flash across time.

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Yesterday I had a brief afternoon nap and woke to sunlight flashing in my eyes–my mind wandered to life flashing by and ladybugs who have taken over our washroom. This week’s Ronovan Writes Haiku challenge words (flash and dance) were apparently still hanging out in my subconscious.

If you would like to try writing haiku, the deadline for this challenge is on Sunday at noon, but you could visit Ronovan Writes on Monday morning to discover fresh words for the new week.

Thanks to Pixabay.com for the ladybug photo and shooting star photo.

Late winter dance at the creek

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Light flashes sparkle,
Rushing creek gurgles break dance!
Cracking ice dissolves.

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In response to Ronovan Writes Weekly Haiku Challenge #86. The prompt words are ‘flash’ and ‘dance’. The challenge is open to everyone who wants to give haiku a try. Simple instructions and links to other haiku responses await you at the prompt site.

Morning sunlight through a window

Wrapped snug in soft fleece,
Golden sunlight warms my view,
chickadees flit by.

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You may notice that the chickadees flitted too quickly to be caught in the photo. The prompt words are ‘tight’ (snug) and ‘warm’. Please visit the prompt post to find out how you can join in and to find links to other responses to Ronovan Writes’ Haiku Poetry Challenge #85.

Even sun stars die

Smooth talkers deny,
Half truths milked to high heaven,
Designed to mislead.

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♦

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We can drain oil wells,
 We can't smooth over this truth,
 Even sun stars die.

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I feel a bit stern after writing these haiku, but these are thoughts, related to a major theme of Ontheland, that came up for me when I considered Ronovan Writes’ prompt words: ‘milk’ and ‘smooth’. In the second haiku, I used ‘drain’ as a synonym for ‘milk’ in its meaning: ‘to deplete or consume’. Please follow the prompt link to discover more responses in the 84th week of RonovanWrites Haiku Prompt Challenge.

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Cocoa gems

White cocoa pod fruit,
Cradles love gems from the Gods,
Flame to perfection.

Cocoa fruit and dried cocoa beans courtesy of pixabay.com

Today’s haiku is about cocoa beans, discovered by Mayans and Aztecs to have aphrodisiac properties, thousands of years ago. The Mayans considered cocoa to be ‘food of the Gods.’ Thirty to fifty cocoa beans are embedded in the white sweet-and-sour fruit pulp of a cocoa pod. After extraction, they are dried and roasted before processing. Today, our favourite cocoa bean product is chocolate.

If you would like a better sense of the white interior of cocoa pods, watch the first part of this video: The Journey from Wild Cacao to Sweet Chocolate.

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Thank you to Ronovan of RonovanWrites for this week’s prompt words: ‘gem’ and ‘flame’. Follow the link to find his Challenge #83 post and other haiku entries. I predict a Valentine’s Day and love trend in our haiku this week.

Wishing upon a star

Do you believe in Walt Disney’s message: ‘When you wish upon a star…anything your heart desires will come to you?’ Using this week’s haiku prompts from RonovanWrites (star & child) I composed two haiku on this theme (the two prompts words are in the second haiku).

Youth’s optimism:
‘If my heart is in my dreams,
they’ll all come true.’

♦ ♦ ♦

As a child I looked
up to the stars for magic–
It was always here.

Listen to this video for a bolt of Disney magic. It features Christina Aguilera–apparently she appeared on Mickey Mouse Club episodes in the 90’s. If you wish, you can follow the tune with the lyrics below. I actually enjoy the words more than any rendition of the song that I’ve found–the words are enticing and for a moment can wrap you into a feeling of magic.

Christina Aguilera sings ‘When you wish upon a star’ live at Disneyland’s 50th Anniversary (May 4, 2005).

When you wish upon a star
Makes no difference who you are
Anything your heart desires
Will come to you.

If your heart is in your dream
No request is too extreme
When you wish upon a star
As dreamers do.

Fate is kind
She brings to those who love
The sweet fulfillment of their secret longing.

Like a bolt out of the blue
Fate steps in and sees you through
When you wish upon a star
Your dreams come true

Fate is kind
She brings to those who love
The sweet fulfillment of their secret longing.

Like a bolt out of the blue
Fate steps in and sees you through
When you wish upon a star
Your dreams come true.

When you wish upon a star
Makes no difference who you are
Your dreams come true

When you wish upon a star was written by Leigh Harline and Ned Washington for Walt Disney’s 1940 adaptation of Pinocchio. The song has since become the Walt Disney Co. theme song.

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