NaHaiWriMo

The challenge was made...National Haiku Writing Month.

"Write one haiku a day, inspired by daily prompts, in February, which is National Haiku Writing Month—the shortest month for the shortest genre of poetry.
(Administered by www.NaHaiWriMo.com )"

I made a good start with two on the first day!  The prompts were challenging; often I felt they were close to impossible, but I managed to write something each day...some are more senryu than haiku, I've included one-line haiku and, overall, some work better than others. But...I did it.  

Writing prompt word for February 1: NOW

in the quietness
dull Sunday afternoon
eyelids droop


Andy Murray
loses to Djokovic
in Melbourne

Writing prompt word for February 2: NOISILY

Monday morning
the city comes alive
rush hour

Writing prompt word for February 3:  NERVOUSLY

a large black tom-cat
pads along the sideboard
she eyes the glass vase


Writing prompt word for February 4: NAKEDLY

stripped ~
a leafless tree
faces winter

Writing prompt word for February 5:  NON STOP

February
a haiku a day
keep going

Writing prompt word for February  6 - NONCHALANTLY

rejection
she appeared not to care
but was heartbroken

Writing prompt word for February 7: NEAREST.

nearest and dearest
it is her birthday today
our loving daughter

Writing prompt word for February  8:  NATIVE

how many are left
in their native lands?
world melting pot

Writing prompt word for February  9: NUCLEAR.

core of the matter
exploding outward
passionate fusion

Writing prompt word for February  10 : NOVEL (as an adjective, not a noun).

a novel idea?
nothing new under the sun
parallels in time

Writing prompt word for February 11: NORTHWEST

Arctic ice melts ~
opens up Northwest Passage
climate change

Writing prompt word for February 12: NUMERIC.

counts baby’s fingers
then she counts her baby’s toes
all add up - she smiles

Writing prompt word for February  13:  NEWFANGLED

five, seven, five - or
try newfangled notions
English haiku

Writing prompt word for February 14:  NEUTER

for many - Valentine’s Day is ineffective

Writing prompt word for February 15:  NEST

cosy place
for comfort and security
nest

Writing prompt word for February 16: NICKEL.

a nickel is worth five cents
melted down - just three
richer than he thought


Writing prompt word for February 17: NOSEBLEED

at sunset
waterfall flows from jutting cliff
nosebleed

Writing prompt word for February 18: NEON

orange-red glow
in high-voltage electric field
colourless gas

Writing prompt word for February 19: NUANCE.

same words
can have many meanings
said by different people

Writing prompt word for February 20: NOTEBOOK.

before
they disappear
thoughts captured

Writing prompt word for February 21: NEWLYWED

wedding ~ apple blossom confetti

Writing prompt word for February 22: NUDGE

a gentle reminder encourages without blame


Writing prompt word for February 23: NAME (or NICKNAME).

fad among the young
ZZ replaced the end of names
Mum became Muzz

Writing prompt word for February 24: NAG.

Conscience - the constant nag

Writing prompt word for February 25: NAVIGATE.

migrating birds
fly thousands of miles
how do they know the route?

 Writing prompt word for February 26: NARROW.

if life seems narrow - expand your horizons

Writing prompt word for February 27: NOMINATE.

I nominate
NaHaiWriMo
for motivation

Writing prompt word for February 28: NEGLECT.

old ideas grow rusty
old poems grow dusty
time to face new dawn


That's all, folks!


Note: These poems were also posted in the Haiku Forum at www.writersdock.com

First book

Whenever I see Montmédy Citadel, I remember a fairy-story book I had as a child.  I could only think there must have been an illustration in that book which the Citadel, on its high hill, reminded me of.



Today, I pulled the book from a shelf…

 

...and there it is!

This must have been my first book - I was all of five-and-a-half months old that Christmas and it became a much-loved companion throughout my childhood together with another given to me by my grandmother on my fifth birthday...

It was good to see these old friends again.

Going, going, gone!

At the end of January and into February we had snow.  Now, just a couple of weeks later, it is hard to imagine as we enjoy more sunshine and small signs that Spring is on its way.

On February 5th I took these photos on the way back from Verdun.  Up on the ridge of the Meuse Heights, the snow was very evident but as we got closer to home the snow was rapidly disappearing…

The hills of home

On Sunday I took a short stroll to collect our bread.  The boulangerie was packed and I wonder if any ‘flu bugs were hovering, but everybody in the queue looked healthy!

Yesterday, Tuesday, we drove to the lake - no people but fresh air and a little exercise in the sun was welcome.

Wednesday.  A bright day with lots of sunshine after a sharp, overnight frost and the town is clear of snow and ice.

Our enforced hibernation is over so we drove to Rodange, which is just in Luxembourg, touching both the Belgium and French borders.

There was far more snow in Luxembourg and its nearest part of France.

On the way back, at Telancourt (in France) I took some photos from the moving car.

The snapper snapped!

When we were in sight of the “hills of home” it was obvious that the snow is quickly disappearing...

The forecast is for several days of sunshine - a wonderful outlook.  But it is only early February and I doubt winter has done with us just yet.  In the meantime, we'll just enjoy the sun while it IS here!