At Word Craft: Prose & Poetry – The Art of Crafting Syllabic Poetry,
this month’s theme is: FIRE & WATER
My syllabic form of choice is Haibun and I’m using
steaming hot soup and fever,
and flurries and hydration
to represent the theme. I hope it’s ok.
It’s a long-held belief that spring is indisputably here when the cherry trees in Tokyo start blooming. Rain is a given in spring, and usually, it’s warm enough for a stroll under the lovely trees. But we got flurries & chill that stopped us in our track.
Snow flurries are caused by isolated patches of clouds where droplets have frozen.
While stratiform, flat clouds produce steady snowfall, cumulus clouds are associated with storms, showers, and flurries.
Snow flurries are difficult to predict, as generally, they don’t show up on weather radar. They’re also usually too short-lived to be noted.
My son witnessed the event and quickly took a snapshot for me.
a flurry of snow cherry blossoms make no fuss Samgyetang warms us
Snow flurries in March take Tokyoites by surprise run to snap a shot
Note: Samgyetang is Korean Ginseng Chicken Soup.
Yummy. It ignites the furnace, perfect for the chill of March.
***
My husband and I got jabbed with our third Pfizer shot on Wednesday.
He scheduled the morning off work and an entire day off on Friday — to go fishing.
On the other hand, fearing I’ll be out convalescing, I conceded and hurriedly scheduled a few blog posts. And wouldn’t you know it: we each manifested what we thought would happen.
Chills, headache, fever, muscle pain for me. It’s Thursday night and I’m still dying, people. And he— not a peep’s worth of complaining or discomfort. Go figure!
the fire inside deprive the furnace hydration is key
World News:
It’s been a whole month since the barbaric war in Ukraine started. Please, make it stop.
North Korea launched another ballistic ICBM missile, it’s 11th this year. The launch today landed in The Sea of Japan, inside its Exclusive Economic Zone. Please, make it stop.
Thanks for reading, dear friends. I wish you miracles and I continue to declare World Peace. (because believing in its impossibility makes it so. Amen)
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Hi Selma, your Haibun is lovely and congrats to your son, the photo is stunning! You are in Tokyo, I didn’t know it snows in March in there, I thought it was a little warmer than in Canada. No blossoms here yet!
Elizabeth, thanks so much. Tokyo boasts perfect weather in March. The drizzles are blessings. Flurries are not normal here.
I hope you get the lovely signs of spring soon. I’m sending you sunshine and blessings. xoxo
Ack! Be well sooooon!! And all wars and sounds of war must cease!! 🕯
Thanks, dear Ruth. I am back to normal now. Thanks for caring. I bless you.
Ahhh!! I wish you the biggest miracle which is health. <3
That’s the biggest of all. That’s why I’m so grateful the moment I wake.
Be well, my sweet. xoxo
A beautiful haibun, Selma: thank you for this snapshot of your world! Get well soon: I add my prayers for peace to yours 🙏
You’re sweet. I feel I had a normal day today, thank you. And I’m glad you read, my friend. XoXo
Glad to hear it 🤗
And already it’s time for bed 🤣…
Hubby and I were down for the count for 24 hrs after our shots. Of course, he recovered faster than I did! 😂 Hope you feel better soon.
Wonderful poetry and pics and great response to the prompt, Selma.
I’m with you on the world and it’s war footing. I’m desperate for it to stop.
Have a wonderful weekend. Hugs 💕🙂🇺🇦
24 hours— I’m sure it was hard.
Today i feel I had a normal day. (And already it’s time for bed already 😂)
Thanks for reading and for your voice: we all want despots to get in the light. Please.
Be well, Harmony. Hugging you back.
💖
Harmony, dear friend, I need to tell you: I’ve tried commenting on your posts, but for a few many weeks now, I get an error message. First noticed it on my phone. And figured the darn phone was creating yet another problem for me. I don’t know why it does it. Anyway, next, I tried on PC and same thing. Error messages. Sorry about that. Just wanted to know I am still reading and still supporting you. Be well, dear one. I bless you.
Thanks so much, Selma. I don’t know why WordPress is locking some people out. There are a few blogs I can’t comment on either. So frustrating! There seems nothing I can change in my settings, as it’s all set as it should be. I’m so sorry you’re having these issues, and I appreciate your support, my friend. Hugs and best wishes 🤗💕🙂
This is truly beautiful Selma, I wish you miracles as well. xoxo
Thanks, Daphny. I appreciate you tons. Last one I read was about that house, wow. But I kinda felt like dejavu. Perhaps I have read similar one from you before? You have that winning touch in this piece. Thanks for sharing it (again)with me. Keep going. xoxo
You’re welcome Selma and thanks so much, I wrote one “The cabin in the woods” that was a poem though. I really appreciate you saying so, means a lot to me. Sending you much love. xoxo
I wish you all the very best too, Selma, and I really enjoyed your sweet haibun.
Sincerely,
David
forgive the late response. Thanks for the well wishes. All the best to you too. Stay sweeet. xo
😘
Lovely haibun, Selma. I hope you are fine now. Joining you in praying for peace. 🙏🏼
Thanks, sweet Punam. I am well now. Thanks. We need peace so desperately. May we get it soon. Thanks for the comment and forgive the late response. xoxo
You are so welcome, Selma. I too am often late in responding, so no worries! 😊
So sorry you’re under the booster weather – I hope it passes quickly!
Lovely thoughts here in your post – and yes, surprise weather when the blossoms are already smiling is stunning, and chilling. Always the wonder whether/how it might affect the show, but more importantly, what comes later. Still, there is something beautiful too, to see the sharp, cracking contrast of spring ruffles and sharp edged flurries. But here’s wishing you warmer and friendly weather.
As for the other “monkeys” (not trying to be derogatory, perhaps I should use mice?) at play = another missile launch?! I read multiple accounts of it – I’d like to ask him and Putin up front and personal – “what bragging rights does this honestly give you, as you stand there thumping your chests?!” Gosh – what I mean is, yeah, sure, why one part of the world is under siege, the other lunatics decide to ramp up their agendas, first rather quietly, because hey, who’s noticing, then demanding attention, boldly. So they venture. Ugh.
Please, stop the merry-go-round, I want off. Sickening.
Let’s pray for peace – world peace. ✌🌏✌🌈
Monkeys, Mice, Copy-cats, spoiled brats, bigots: all good descriptors, I think. The one in N. Korea has ways that mimic the heavy-handed ones. And with everyone now tuned in to what’s happening in Ukraine, he’s probably feeling emboldened (liked you pointed out), or perhaps forgotten.
Make all the madness stop, pretty please. Sickening indeed.
Thanks for commenting. I feel your heart, always. And your comments always make me feel less alone. I send you blessings and wish you miracles, xoxo
Feel better my friend …. I hope the booster effects are lessening … but still take it easy and as always, stay safe and blessings …. and prayers for peace. 💕🌈✌
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Oh, and thanks for the sweet comment about my lethargic reaction to the booster. Happy to announce I’ve bounced back. Thanks so much. xoxo
😁
Oh I feel you, Selma, I wish it would stop too. I declare world peace with you. It must be a lovely spring where you are. Hot soup and snow flurries are the perfect combination 🙂
Sunra, my sweet. We need to declare peace so it reaches those places where peace needs to arrive and stay. Thanks for joining me in doing that. Thanks for reading and appreciating my soup and flurries combi. You rock. Thanks. xoxo
You are most welcome, Selma. I am in sympathy with you, and I love your soup and flurries. <3
Excellent poetry and I hope you are feeling better, Selma. That third shot knocked me for a loop too! Your Korean soup sounds delightful. I love Kimchee! Stay warm and feel better. <3
I felt lethargic for much too long after that, but now I’m fine. Thanks for the lovely comment. Hope April has brought spring to your area. I mean, real spring. Enjoy. I wish you miracles. Stay sweet.
BTW, it was you who introduced me to NaPo last year. That is why I joined last year. This year, I felt empowered (one full year of practice under my belt) and so I’m participating again. Yay! So, I want to say THANK YOU. You’re the best. Sending you sunshine. xoxo
Thanks so much, Selma. I’ve got so much going on this year that I’ll try to post my poetry as often as I can. I’m glad you’re on the mend. We’re still stuck in the cold here in Michigan. It’s like spring just won’t take hold. I’m looking for those miracles. <3
They’re on their way, I know. Look in the mirror— you’ll see one 😉
You are so sweet. Thank you, Selma. <3
Your poetry is always beautiful, Selma! When I lived up north, I experienced flurries and always enjoyed them because they were different and unexpected. Glad to hear you are feeling better! 🙂
Yes, the surprise factor makes it special. I’m feeling better, yes, thanks for checking in on me. xoxo
I’m hoping you are feeling better now, Selma. You are a blessing, so please hold on to health. Like you I worry about our precious planet. And once upon a time, I lived in Japan (for 5 years). I remember the cherry blossoms and rare flurries. Your poems are beautiful. 💗
Gwen, sweetie, yes. I am. And I make every effort to be in good health always. My work is not done yet, I’m sure you and I feel the same — for the planet.
Once upon a time, you did? Wow. I hope you took back some good memories of this place that I call my home for 30+ years now. I’m fully adopted (as in adoption) to this place. The people I love most in the world live here. Five years must have given you lots. The younger of my two sons lives in Tokyo; he shot that photo and sent. We live one station after Kamakura (where the Great Budha lives) I figure you’d know. Thanks most sweetly for your kindness. I love kind people and appreciate your visits and comments. Thanks so very much. Be well. I wish you miracles. xoxo
We have some ornimental cherry trees in our neighborhood – not yet blossomed. I’m afraid the high winds and snow squall predicted for today might leave them barren if they were out. Yesterday though we saw a dwarf weeping cherry outside an eatary that we had lunch at. I didn’t have my camera though. I do have several close ups of previous years of cherry blossoms 🙂
Yes! Make all warring stop!! 🙁
Chicken soup of any kind is good for the soul! I hope you are feeling better. We’ve had our two shots and boosters and didn’t have any problems. Think positive and healthy!! 🙂
Squalls, wow. Well, that tomboy that is April will pull out her lasso and do what she does well. Poor March she could only get us this far. But look at what she had to put up with. Anyway. soon.
War! What is it good for, absolutely nothing!
Good that you didn’t feel any differently after your third one. So glad. People have different reactions, that’s for sure. You too, stay positive and healthy. I wish you miracles, Jules. xoxo
Now, here there is a 4th booster… for those over 65 or over 50 with medical need.
Might end up being like the yearly flu shots.
Be well and keep positive thoughts out in the atmosphere 🙂
Yes to positive thoughts. I do this always. We need to have the positive thoughts out there to balance the imbalance. We do it for everyone. Thanks for your positive words, always, Jules. I bless you.
Life has ups and downs. The rollercoaster is real – I do believe though it is better to be on the positive outlook side. The dark cold shadows can be a very lonely place.
I remember reading that several people have been uplifted just by a stranger smiling at them and saying a few positive words. 😀