Childhood Wishes

Lighthouse Dandelions by Jamie Wyeth
Courtesy of pic prompt, The Mag 169

Pollyanna had a thing for sun-

shine, alacrity enough

to ward off any storm.

 

I cried when she fell

from the tree,

 

hung my head

in yellow walls

 

wishing for

something cheery

in my life.

 

~~

Also shared with Poets United: Poetry Pantry 150

Terri L. French



Terri L. French

Today I'd like to share this interview with a dear friend of mine, Terri L. French. We met back in 2008 over at Robert Brewer's Poetic Asides and together with 11 others from all over the world, formed a private group we coined the Baker's Dozen. It's how most of us started through brainstorming of ideas, daily writing, sharing of poems, and critiquing with one another.

Terri is the SE Coordinator of the Haiku Society of America and new editor of the senryu journal Prune Juice.

Recently, I had some questions about haiku, which is much more difficult to write than one might think, and she graciously offered me some pointers. I asked if I could share them with my readers and she said, "Of course!"

full moon--
most of my days spent
only half there

-Terri L. French

*How long have you been writing haiku and what drew you to that particular form?

I guess I have been writing haiku seriously for about 7 years. I don't really remember when I was introduced to the form, probably in school. I googled "haiku" and found out more about the form, discovering it did not have to be in the traditionally taught 5-7-5 syllable form. I emailed back and forth with Michael Dylan Welch, former President of the Haiku Society of America and a fine haiku poet. He critiqued some of my "haiku" (they weren't very good!) and gave me some links and book suggestions.

*What is the biggest misconception about haiku?

The biggest misconception is that haiku must be written as a 5-7-5 poem. Japanese "syllables" are actually sounds called "on." The Japanese wrote in 5-7-5 "on." But "on" can be much shorter than our syllable, so a haiku written in 5-7-5 syllables is actually a long haiku. So it is best to say haiku are usually 17 syllables or less and usually written in three lines. I say "usually" because haiku have many guidelines though few of these are carved in stone. It is essential that haiku have a "kigo" or seasonal word and good haiku usually have a "kireji" or cut that divides the haiku (notice the plural of haiku is haiku!) into two parts. But I am getting a little too in-depth here!

 

 

bare birch limbs

 

the burled knuckles

of an old crone's hands

-Terri L. French

*What other forms of poetry do you write?

Besides haiku, I write other Japanese forms - haibun, haiga, tanka, renga, senryu. I particularly enjoy haibun because it combines prose with haiku. I write some prose and creative non-fiction. I'm afraid my attempt at fiction have not been very successful. My degree was in journalism. I think my degree has helped me with the concrete imagery in haiku.

People can always go to the Haiku Society of America website or email Terri at terri.l.french@gmail.com if they would like to find out more.

Now go write some haiku!



– Terri L. French, The Mulling Muse, first published Contemporary Haibun, Volume 12,
and Red Dragonfly

A Preference for Color

Harsh winds blew
artistic hodgepodge
on the back patio.

A mural of leaf debris
decorated the picnic table
where you sit and wait,
a vigilant squirrel.

Flower calligraphy
adorned the footpath
where you trample,
the crystal petals
prismatic,

an invitation
to step into spring's
eclectic museum,

storm away
from winter’s
helpless predicament
lacking color

like you. 


~~

Prompted by:
Poetry Jam-- Crystal
3WW-- helpless, trample, vigilant

When "Just Thinking About" Becomes "Real"

My lanky body a pretzel
as I wait for school's end,
windows rolled down, doors open
enough to feel the subtle breeze.

On my mind, this poem and bees-

the time I attracted them

during field day, my perfume

I thought strong enough

to cover up sweaty skin

a mere allure;

from peace to chaos,

destruction.

A silly scene unfolded

as my students watched

their teacher

FrEaK oUt.

Fast forward: now.
A wasp inside the car;
dare I grab my camera,
a fleeting thought
as I stiffen up, jump out,
an ultimatum on my mind-
the wasp or me?

I won.

~~

Prompt Inspirations:
Poetry Jam- The Buzz on Bees
3WW- destruction, lanky, ultimatum

Dandelion Dreams

Young Woman Picking the Fruit of Knowledge, 1892 by Mary Cassatt
Picture prompt courtesy of The Mag167

Wasted, the years

counting on a dream,

a wish to blow away

her life,

as if

 change came

through osmosis.

 

 

~~

 

Also shared with Imaginary Gardens with Real Toads Open Link Monday 

My Mantra

Soak in God's sun, believe in the power of prayer,
pay tribute to each new day, find out why you're here.

A mantra that I live by now; it's not all about me.
I don't run the show, a path of pain made me see

if I live right, seek God's will daily,
I need not feel penitent or worry constantly.

Instead, a life of faith~ God will work things out.
As long as I soak in his love, I'll never live in doubt.

~~~
Poetry Inspirations-
Poetry Jam- Soak
PU Verse First: Authentic Life
3WW- believe, penitent, tribute

Pulitzer Remix by the Day

As most of you know, I'm participating in The Found Poetry Review's Pulitzer Remix in honor of National Poetry month. All of my poems are from John Updike's Rabbit at Rest... every word, different theme (can you figure it out?). I had big plans at the beginning of the month to take part in other activities around the web, too. Well, it's not happening and I'm sorry. I just can't keep up with it all along with my personal life and goals. I have decided to make this a running post for the rest of the month. Each day I will add my remix poem for you to read if you'd like. I hope you enjoy!

My wordpress blog, Bird's-Eye Gemini, contains all my other poems from April.

PULITZER REMIXes

1- Same Subject, Different Story
2- Anything But a Dream
3- The Façade
4- In His Eyes
5- When He Cries
6- Errors in the Morning Paper
7- War Cry
8- Floating
9- The Edge of Death
10- Ten
11- While Reading a Book, His Mind Drifts
12- Post-Electrical Buzz
13- Unaskable Question
14- What is Enough?
15- OD
16- Emptiness in a Crowd
17- Mental Obsession
18- Reunion with an Aging Mother
19- Coming Out of the Red Haze
20- Forgiveness
21- Collapsed Secrets
22- The Gasp
23- Clarity
24- Awakening
25- Stepping Forward
26- Things Are Much Better Sober
27- Glowing Grace
28- haiku
29- Inside (to) Out Happiness
30- Echoes

Taking it Slow

Three days a week,
a gradual conditioning
to get in shape
the right way.

Week one-
walk six minutes,
 jog one
repeat five times.

Week two-
walk five minutes,
jog two
repeat five times.

And so on…
until week eight’s goal
of jogging thirty minutes
nonstop. Alleluia!

Versus my usual-
walk awhile and get bored
start jogging, reach the high
endurance still remains
by week three, it’s three miles
nonstop, but with pain.

A stress on weak ankles,
Achilles tendons scream and shout
a twist and turn, my muscles pout
not my breath, but my body
getting older, resisting wear
and tear from running; but I
love it still the same.

Will I be able to adhere
to this strict regimen,
a gradual progression
in comparison
to my impatient obsession
of reaching five miles
in two weeks
like I did when I
was younger?

With my daughter
by my side,
I'd say
probably.

(I'll keep you posted).

~~~

Prompt inspirations:
NaPoWriMo- A walk
PA- Comparison

What's In My Pocket? A Poem, Of Course!

~~~
Peaceful Release

Bask in the sunlight of words

Raise your hands and sway

To their melodious charm

Purge emotions like smoke rings

Watch them drift away

With all your pain and grief

Suffer no more, just write

~~~

 

Prompt inspirations:

Poetry Jam

Poetic Asides

3WW

Get ready! April 18 is Poem-In-Your-Pocket Day!

Hunting Medals

We staked our claim in the parking lot
A yellow school bus with hormonal kids
Waiting to embark on chances sought
In formulas and scientific grids

Hunting for a placement in the state
Competing computations set in time
Against the brightest whizzes, fate
Depending on the nature of the crime

How hard the tests would be that day
How stiff the competition ‘tween their peers
“Get Smart” a squinting scope amid the splay
Strategic fundamentals based in fear

All these needless worries as the pupils sat
Calmly playing games, waiting for their turn
Nervousness a passing-thought caveat
Rewarded efforts solved, experiences earned

~~

You can read more on this event here.

EXCITING NEWS! My mini-chapbook, With TLC, is now published over at Poetic Bloomings.

For the latest Pulitzer Remix poem, please look at the top of the right side-bar where I update daily.

 

~~

Poetic Asides, Day 9- Hunter/hunted
NaPoWriMo- Mystery

Galactic Explosion

You said the moon
didn’t taste of cheese,
instead, a dip of Cool Whip
on your tongue, a tease

sliding down your throat
like a sweet milk shake
lighting up your insides,
a firecracker quake.

I said I wanted some
but I only got the sun,
a bitter tangy shock
that made me come undone

and when it all ended
the earth exploded from afar,
I knew at once we were complete
making love, a shining star.

~~

Poetic Asides PAD, Day 2- A bright poem/ dark poem
NaPoWriMo- A lie

~~

*Here is my Day 2 Remix poem*

~~

Welcome April, Welcome All!

Happy National Poetry month! I'm going to be pretty busy writing lots of poems... I love it. Please check out my poems for the Pulitzer Remix. I have the book Rabbit at Rest by John Updike. Every single word for all 30 poems has been taken from the text. Here is my offering for Day 1. I will put a direct link on my sidebar and also on my FB page and Twitter. You can subscribe to daily updates if you'd like. I also plan on linking to my usual sites and offering poems from both the Poetic Asides PAD challenge and NaPoWriMo prompts. Hope to see you there.

What will you be doing this month to honor poetry?