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Robyn Hood Black - children's author, poet, artist

Life on the Deckle Edge

Poetry Friday - Now That You Have Time to Read and Write... David G. Lanoue's HAIKU GUY OMNIBUS (& More!)

March 19, 2020
Tags: Poetry Friday, Poetry, haiku, David G. Lanoue, artsyletters, spring haiku, Haiku Guy

Greetings, Poetry Lovers!

 

Happy Spring!  It's a comfort that the seasons still appear in turn.  

 

"Surreal" is definitely the word which keeps popping up like the daffodils.  I hope you and yours are well. 

 

If you're shuttered and going a little stir-crazy, maybe you're tackling that big pile of books on the bedroom nightstand?  Or ordering new books?  You might recall being curious about David G. Lanoue's HAIKU GUY series, after reading about it here somewhere, or maybe even half a dozen years ago in a column I wrote on Janice Hardy's Fiction University blog.  Well, good news!  To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the series, David has JUST released the HAIKU GUY OMNIBUS!  

 

This hefty, handy paperback features HAIKU GUY, LAUGHING BUDDHA, HAIKU WARS, FROG POET, and DEWDROP WORLD, all in one place. 

 

The back cover copy explains it well:

 

Five interconnected narratives explore the art of haiku by following the adventures of Buck-Teeth, a fictional student of haiku master Cup-of-Tea (the historical Issa).  Sliding easily back and forth between Old Japan and contemporary New Orleans, between the unfolding stories and the author's writing group commenting on those stories, the five meandering narratives reflect on the meaning of life, the purpose of poetry, and the search for enlightenment.  Though each little novel stands alone, together they form parts of a greater whole that, author David G. Lanoue suggests, can be discovered in the same way that one finds shapes in midsummer clouds - hence his advice to the reader with which he ends his Preface, "Squint hard."

 

These stories are both entertaining and inspiring, and unlike anything you've read before!  If you haven't read them, I know you'll enjoy the journey. 

 

Many of you know David through his "Daily Issa" contributions to your inbox. I don't know about you, but in these more-than-challenging times, I lap these up like a hummingbird at a trumpet flower. Kobayashi Issa (1763-1827) is beloved as one of the early haiku masters who found beauty in and connection with all living things despite a life full of hardships. (Here is info about David's Issa books.) 

 

David teaches English and world literature at Xavier College in New Orleans and is a translator of Japanese haiku as well as a writer. He was president of the Haiku Society of America from 2013 to 2015.  In addition to poetry and these unique haiku/fiction combinations, his books also include scholarly criticism, and the wonderful WRITE LIKE ISSA how-to guide, which I'm thrilled to have a poem in. 

 

Thursday's "Daily Issa" haiku was perfect for the first day of Spring:

 

 

at my dinner tray

a sparrow chirps...

spring rain

 

 

I featured a few of David's Issa haiku on some seasonal business-card-sized poem cards in my Etsy shop, including this one for Spring:

 

 

the mountain sunset

within my grasp...

spring butterfly

 

 

(I've also featured this particular card in a Send Spring Cheer pack I've just come up with. My idea is to encourage folks to send notes to those who might be feeling especially isolated right now.  The pack includes my wren and book note cards, eight first-class flower Forever stamps, eight spring Issa cards, and a sheet of sparkly red heart stickers.  It's listed at just a feather above my cost with free shipping, ready-made with all that's needed for sending, except the writer's personal note and the walk to the mailbox.)

 

Many thanks, and hearty congratulations, to David for the new book!  And much appreciation for the beauty and kindness added to the world through so many works. 

 

Sending love to all in these trying days.  I hope the chatter of birds and the surprise of new blooms can cheer your heart as you venture out for some fresh air and Vitamin D each day.  (And for those of you in snow, I hope Spring arrives soon!)

 

For more poetry (and art!) to help you through, please visit the lovely and talented Michelle Kogan for this week's Roundup.

 

All in this together. XO

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Poetry Friday - Haiku from my Friends for the Times We're In....

March 12, 2020
Tags: Poetry Friday, Poetry, haiku, calendar haiku
Nature Conservancy calendar.

 

Greetings, Poetry Lovers - Happy Friday the 13th!

 

Much on our collective minds this week, I know.  I so enjoyed a recent email exchange with my St. Augustine area haiku peeps (they kindly adopted me a couple-few years ago, and I'm just a few hours up the coast!).

 

I thought others might also appreciate the haiku that these talented folks tucked at the end of their messages.

 

Time, the calendar, seasons – this current time we're in.  All of these things are on my mind, often, and are folded into these gems of poems below.  Enjoy!

 

 

 

Leap Year

two free cups of

morning coffee 

 

Paula Moore

 

 

 

 

daylight savings

what was never

ours to keep

 

Michael Henry Lee

 

 First appeared in Tiny Words Issue 15.1 March 2015

 

 

 

 

flu avoidance…

a bow at a katana's

distance

 

Dennis (gobou) Holmes

 

 

(*Note from Robyn – a katana is a Japanese samurai sword.)

 

 

 

daylight savings

my dog still knows

what time it is

 

Antoinette Libro

 

 

 

Okay, and one from me for today, about the current state of affairs:

 

 

Friday the 13th

too many cracks

in the sidewalk

 

Robyn Hood Black

 

 

All poems are ©copyright their respecive authors, all rights reserved. Shared with permission of the poets.

 

Wishing safety and good health all around.  At least we can enjoy some fine poetry without leaving home.  Now, keep time with Matt at Radio, Rhythm and Rhyme for this week's Roundup!  

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Poetry Friday - Downton Delights...

March 5, 2020
Tags: Poetry Friday, Downton Abbey, John A. Holmes, Monk Gibbon, Poetry
CLICK this ridiculously long collage to see the pictures in a new window; you should be able to click again and enlarge to a viewable size! :0)

 

Greetings, Poetry Lovers!  (First, that crazy looking column above really is a series of pictures; click to open in a new window and click to view at a size you can see. ;0)  The Authors Guild websites don't yet offer the option for several pictures interspersed in a blog post.)

 

Last Friday, after my author school visit in Georgia, my third-grade-teacher-daughter Morgan and I took off for a Mama-Daughter Downton weekend at Biltmore House in Asheville. Though we had to drive through snow to get there ("It's Narnia" Morgan said...), we arrived to a beautiful cozy room at the hotel on the estate, and then we blissfully hopped on and off shuttles on Saturday to see the exhibits.  We were celebrating our January birthdays a little late, splurging to stay on the estate at the end of the winter rates, and before the Downton exhibits exit in early April.

 

There's some Downton history here. Morgan's wedding in 2016 definitely had some Downton-ish flair (I put up a few pix on my art blog afterwards here), after Morgan and I fell in love with the TV series and would text about it long-distance.  When the (fantastic!) movie came out this past fall, I drove the 10-to-12-hour round trip just to see it with her in north Georgia. I bought us cheap, fun little fascinator hats and she was a good sport to wear hers to the movie!

 

For Morgan's actual birthday a few weeks ago, I discovered that the costume jewelry company 1928 had a Downton Abbey line (HOW did I not know that?) and I had Jeff help me pick out a long beaded necklace to have sent to her.  Then, last weekend, I took another little box from said jewelry ("jewellery") line - I had bought us matching earrings!  (No, we didn't actually both wear them at the same time. ;0)  )

 

The exhibit at Deerpark at Biltmore Estate was delightful.  Each main character had his or her own display with some background story, costume items in some cases, and 'artifacts' such as letters.  There was an interactive quiz you could take at computer kiosks to apply for a job at Downton - Morgan and I were both suited to be a cook, like Mrs. Patmore!  So much for a life of leisure.  

 

The costume exhibit at Antler Village was much smaller, but oh-so-delicious, with actual apparel worn by the actors, men and women.  Oh, the beaded dresses.... Sigh. And the jewelry!!  Swoon, swoon, swoon.  

 

Okay, this IS Poetry Friday after all, and I've not shared any poetry yet.  In keeping with the general time period, I turned to one of my glorious December Poetry Swap gifts from Linda Baie.  She had given me a copy of THE BEST POEMS of 1930.  (I haven't "recycled" it yet into Etsy items, but I have tagged some pages... ;0)  )  

 

The Downton Abbey TV series takes place from 1912 through 1925.  The movie's setting was in 1927.  But I figured the poetry in this book was close enough to share some of the 1920s sensibilities.  I tried to find a couple of poems that might resonate for diehard Downton fans. 

 

The book, published by Harcourt Brace & Co. with poems selected by Thomas Moult, and "decorations" by Elizabeth Montgomery, opens with this poem:

 

 

A Prologue for Poems

 

by John A. Holmes

 

As music builds a bright impermanent tower

High in the sunlight, wild with birds

And banners, so this chosen hour

Will take you

Briefly from the world.

 

Until the windy flags are furled,

the last page turned, the music ended,

Wander, well attended

Through the gate and climb the stairs.

 

At the top look down, look down, and see

My broad enchanted land

Where south is love, and death lies north,

And oceans on either hand.

 

 

And here's a short poem from within:

 

 

Being but Men

 

by Monk Gibbon

 

Being but men, not gods, we'll need take pride

In all that gives the lie to this mean state;

All moments borne beyond the common tide,

All littleness of heart made briefly great;

All beauty vouched with sudden indrawn breath,

A word, a turn of head, a lovely look,

A gesture grave, a phrase defying death,

Or a chance sentence in an unsought book.

 

 

I hope our little Downton-y Diversion has brought a smile.  The wonderful Rebecca at Sloth Reads has the Roundup this week - and volcanoes and eggs!  Enjoy...

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Poetry Friday - A Haiku Shorter Than This Heading...

February 20, 2020
Tags: Poetry Friday, Poetry, haiku, Robyn Hood Black, Frogpond

©Robyn Hood Black

Greetings, Poetry Lovers!

 

I'm still treading water schedule-wise this year, and in case you are too, I just have a little teeny wee bite-sized poem today.  This is from the current Frogpond, the journal of the Haiku Society of America.

 

 

 

high tide it comes and goes

 

 

©Robyn Hood Black.  All rights reserved.

 

 

And... you're done here!  Well, leave a howdy, and then row on over to Library Matters, where the lovely Cheriee is rounding up today.  She also has a special treat - a feature/interview with Avis Harley! 

~~(Final thought, especially with my water references today... prayers for all in Mississippi who are dealing with devastating flooding this week.)~~

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Poetry Friday - O my Luve...

February 13, 2020
Tags: Poetry Friday, Poetry, love poem, valentine poem, Robert Burns
(Click image for this listing in my Etsy shop.)

 

Greetings, Poetry Lovers - Happy Valentine's Day! 

 

Let's have a wee bit of Rabbie Burns, shall we?

 

 

A Red, Red Rose


O my Luve is like a red, red rose
That's newly sprung in June;
O my Luve is like the melody
That's sweetly played in tune.

 

So fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in luve am I;
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a' the seas gang dry.

 

Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi' the sun;
I will love thee still, my dear,
While the sands o' life shall run.

 

And fare thee weel, my only luve!
And fare thee weel awhile!
And I will come again, my luve,
Though it were ten thousand mile.

 

 

Burns lived from 1759 to 1796, and many of works were written as songs, such as this oh-so-famous poem. (He wrote Auld Lang Syne, too.) Most of his writings were in Scots.  

 

According to Pauline Mackay on the BBC site, this poem is "one of the most famous love songs associated with Robert Burns, ... composed prior to 1794 when it appeared in a collection by an Edinburgh composer named Urbani."  She adds, "Part of the song's appeal is its use of powerful, natural imagery to convey a love that is ever-lasting and capable of surviving both distance and time."

One of these years, I'll have my act together and celebrate Burns Night on January 25 (his birthday) - but, with vegetarian haggis. ;0)  We had that several times on our trip year before last.  (Here's some more info about Robert Burns.)

 

If you are celebrating with your Luve today, enjoy and savor.  And if you know someone who is missing their Valentine, make their day by reaching out with a thoughtful wish - roses optional. 

 

Slàinte Mhath!

 

Continue to feel the love today over at Teacher Dance, where Linda always fills our hearts!

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Poetry Friday - Last Couple of Postcard Swap Poems - New Year 2020!

February 6, 2020
Tags: Poetry Friday, postcard poem swap, New Year poems
(Click to enlarge.)

 

Greetings, Poetry Lovers!  

 

I was happy to receive these last couple of New Year's Poem Postcard swap treasures in the mail and wanted to share. Many thanks to Linda Baie and to Diane Mayr!  (Though I switched up the postcards in the turning over for the photographs, I think you can figure out whose is whose.)

 

Below them was my contribution I mailed out for the swap.

 

[This is probably one of my shortest posts ever, because the storms that have been making their way this direction (on Thursday) are finally rumbling outside (Thurs. eve.), so I need to shut down my old computer....]

 

Wishing you more poetic inspirations and good rat spirit medicine all weekend.  For this week's Roundup, visit the amazing Laura at Writing the World for Kids / Small Reads for Brighter Days.  

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Poetry Friday - Rhymes with BirthDAY: Wilder's FEY and Louisa May....

January 30, 2020
Tags: Poetry Friday, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Fairy Poems, Louisa May Alcott

 

Greetings, Poetry Lovers!

 

Grateful to celebrate another trip around the sun over here. 

 

Some literary surprises have helped!  My sister Sharon sent the perfect birthday gift - a copy of Laura Ingalls Wilder's Fairy Poems, compiled by Stephen W. Hines with oh-so-charming illustrations by Richard Hull.  It was published by Doubleday in 1998.

 

How did this little gem of a volume miss our bookshelves when it originally came out?  Morgan loved Little House on the Prairie so much that for two separate Halloweens I was up late stitching prairie dresses, bonnets, aprons....  We read the books and she fell in love with the TV series, too, which I probably still have on VHS tapes around here somewhere.  (She shares this love with her Poppy, her Florida grandfather.  He and my mother probably still have those VHS tapes, too. Some of you might be reading this and wondering, What is a VHS tape?  Don't judge.)

 

Anyway, I'm delighted to have the poems!  Morgan does remember having some little plastic figure fairies that you tossed into the air, and they would flutter wings and spin around... Sky Dancers!  (Anyone remember those?)  She said it hurt when you tried to catch them....

 

Here is a poem from the book describing a particular challenge faced by the fairy Drop O' Dew, as she tries to tend some rather rebellious flowers:

 

Naughty Four O'Clocks

 

 

There were some naughty flowers once,

Who were careless in their play;

They got their petals torn and soiled

As they swung in the dust all day.

 

Then went to bed at four o'clock,

With faces covered tight,

To keep the fairy Drop O' Dew

From washing them at night.  

 

Poor Drop O' Dew!  What could she do?

She said to the Fairy Queen,

"I cannot get those Four O'Clocks

To keep their faces clean."

 

The mighty Storm King heard the tale;

"My winds and rain," roared he,

"Shall wash those naughty flowers well,

As flowers all should be."

 

So raindrops came and caught them all

Before they went to bed,

And washed those little Four O'Clocks

At three o'clock instead.

 

April 1915

 

 

(For a wee bit more on my blog re. fairies, here's a link to a poem by Yeats  and here's a picture of a fairy tree we saw in Ireland summer before last.)

 

Another welcome gift came my way among a few from my hubby Jeff, over birthday cake Thursday night - a TIME magazine/book about Little Women. Have you seen the new movie?  Morgan and I saw it over Christmas break during our Georgia traveling, and we loved it.  Hear, hear for the Oscar nominations.

 

I recently discovered some vintage US postage stamps featuring Louisa May Alcott from the 1940 Famous Americans series.  They have found their way into bookmarks, magnets, and earrings in my Etsy shop.... :0) Go, Louisa May!

 

Finally -- my mother, Nita, and the aforementioned Poppy (Jack) like to spice up birthday cards with original poems now and then.  I'm not sure what overcame them this year, but there was a rather long offering with a rather redneck-y voice to brighten my day.  Well, here is just a short sampling:

 

You see this poem ain't got no rhythm or meter

it just buzzes around like a Florida skeeter.

 

What can I say?  (Really - um, what does one say??!) 

 

Speaking of literary birthday surprises and Florida skeeters, I also received a hefty book from my brother.  Mike and Scott sent a memories-and-smiles-evoking gem called Florida Roadside Attractions History - The Complete Guide to Florida Tourist Attractions Before Disney by Ken Breslauer.  Yes, I will have to share it with you at some point!  The pictures alone are fantastic.  Pirates, giant gators, mermaids - you get the idea.  If mermaids exist, then surely fairies do, too!

 

For less rambling and more coherent poetry-rich blog posts today, visit the always enchanting Jone at DeoWriter for this week's Roundup. (Pssst... she has a giveaway perfect for kindling your imagination in this new year!)

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Poetry Friday - Poem Postcard Swap!

January 23, 2020
Tags: Poetry Friday, Poetry, poem postcard swap

Greetings, Poetry Lovers!

 

Can you believe we're sliding into the last week of January?  I can't.  But I sure have enjoyed ushering in 2020 with poetic, artistic surprises in the mailbox.  The postcard poem swap, coordinated by the amazing Jone MacCulloch, is a fun way to celebrate a new decade's beginnings.

 

Jone tossed out a possible prompt/inspiration in the form of the Chinese New Year, and this year the animal star of the zodiac is... the Rat!  The Lunar New Year officially begins this Saturday, the 25th, and celebrations will continue through Feb. 8th or 11th or so.  (Unfortunately, the virus outbreak is curtailing much of the customary travel and plans in China... a logistically awful time for such a crisis.)

 

Here are the wonderful poem postcards which have scurried inside my door - some with whiskers and tails, others not, several in haiku, others not. Enjoy! (All poems are copyrighted by their authors.)

 

 

Linda Mitchell's colorful card features a fetching text-bodied, line drawn literary rat with a bit of fabled history (about the Jade Emporer and the animals seeking to be his guards.)  Boxed in are these lovely words:

 


Some days we dash
to win the race.

 

Others, friends carry us
over dangerous rivers.

 

Each a heavenly gift.

Happy New Year, 2020.

 

 

********************************

 

 

Irene Latham brings on some perfect January imagery:

 

 

Blades slice

easy 8s

across ice pond

 

You breathe

teeter 

weave

 

arms tight

flung w i d e

tight again

 

Just you

with your tingly

truths

 

your deliberate

unmittened

heart

 

and a whirl

of white

waiting

 


********************************

 

 

A Happy New Year 2020 Fireworks card from Kimberly M. Hutmacher offers these sparkling words:

 

Crackle, fizz, flash, bang!

Bold dreams bursting from the sky.

New hope springing forth!

 


********************************

 

 

Rebecca Herzog is up to a little mischief:

 

little snow angel

with snowballs in mittened hands

devious device

 

 


********************************

 

 

Margaret Simon takes on a triolet (I love triolets!)

 

 

In New Year's arms, we find a space

open for our thoughts to inspire,

dreams seeded in winter with grace.

In New Year's arms, we find a space

to refresh a lost sense of place,

and find hope for what we aspire.

In New Year's arms, we find this space

open for our thoughts to inspire.

(Margaret's words have been inspiring to me as I've been trying to wrangle order out of chaos in my studio, and also in my wee home office, where my computer is.  Thanks for the timely encouragement, Margaret!)

 


********************************

 

 

More literary collage fun from Kay McGriff!  Her card features the image of a stack of books, against a backdrop of text from a Harry Potter volume....

 

stacks of books, rivers

of words beckon adventure

through the new year

 

(A little book spine poetry sandwiched in there, too?) :0)

 


********************************

 

Jone MacCulloch shares her gorgeous photography along with this comforting poem:

 

incoming tide brings

words on waves

throughout the decade

 

 


********************************

 

And Robert Ertman has a little fun in the natural world:

 

winterberry--

among fifty shades of brown

 

 


********************************

 

I'm grateful to begin a new year - and new decade - with these fabulous people and lively poems!  (A couple of folks on my "list" aren't represented; here's hoping nothing has gotten lost in the mail.  We've had a few delivery mishaps this month....)

 

Our wonderful Kat Apel is hosting Poetry Friday this week; continued prayers and light to Autstralia and all her inhabitants, including Kat, and Sally, who hosted earlier this month. 

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Poetry Friday - (Postcard Nod) and Go See Catherine!

January 17, 2020
Tags: Poetry Friday, poem postcard swap

Greetings, Poetry Lovers!  This weekend finds us with an extended family get-together, so this post is just a skipping-stone to next week.  But I did want to mention I'm loving the wonderful postcards gracing my mailbox as part of the winter poem postcard swap courtesy of Jone MacCulloch. What an inspiring bunch of creative souls you are! I am getting my postcards mailed today, in my typical life-on-the-edge, deadline-taunting fashion.... ;0)  

 

Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday weekend as we celebrate the life of one of our country's heroes.  For all kinds of great poetry for any occasion, head on over to Catherine's at Reading to the Core for this week's Roundup! 

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Happy Janiveer.... with Birds

January 9, 2020
Tags: Poetry, Poetry Friday, January poetry, Edith Holden, Coleridge

 

Greetings and Happy Janiveer, Poetry Lovers!

 

After a few weeks of being slammed with Etsy orders before the holidays (thanks to anyone who contributed to those late nights! :0) ), and then the better part of two weeks road-tripping to visit family hither and yon, I'm still "starting" my New Year.  I SHOULD have spent every free hour this week restoring order in my studio (not to mention house/home office).  Somehow, I also took little detours into a local thrift shop or two to see what new (old) things might call my name.

 

I found a hardcover edition of a book I love, THE COUNTRY DIARY OF AN EDWARDIAN LADY by Edith Holden.  I've professed my affections for this tome before, as Jeff gave me a cherished paperback copy early in our marriage.  But for a buck going to a good cause, I succombed to bringing home this larger version, too.  

 

Our Dear Edith opens her January pages with  notes on Janus, and Epiphany (Jan. 6), and an excerpt from Spenser's Faerie Queen, and mottoes such as:  "If the grass do grow in Janiveer/It grows the worse for it all the year."  Her illustrations of Blue Tits, a Cole (Coal) Tit and Great Tit are delightful. 

 

What exactly are these birds, you ask?  Well, good thing that my Christmas gift from my son, Seth, was a copy of Collins Bird Guide - the Most complete Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe. (Here's a British link to that bird family in case you were not similarly gifted.  It describes these charming feathered friends as "small birds with plain or colourful plumages, stout legs and strong feet and short, triangular bills," noting that some have crests, and all are frequent visitors to bird feeders.)  Last February I included a photo of one from our 2018 trip to Scotland in my Poetry Friday Roundup post here.

 

Edith Holden includes one more spread of January musings - two poetic selections and an illustration of dead leaves - before her daily entries for the month.

 

Here is her excerpt from "Frost at Midnight" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834), the last stanza:

 

 

  Therefore all seasons shall be sweet to thee,
Whether the summer clothe the general earth
With greenness, or the redbreast sit and sing
Betwixt the tufts of snow on the bare branch
Of mossy apple-tree, while the night-thatch
Smokes in the sun-thaw; whether the eave-drops fall
Heard only in the trances of the blast,
Or if the secret ministry of frost
Shall hang them up in silent icicles,
Quietly shining to the quiet Moon.

 

 

(You can read the whole poem here.)

 

(I'm quietly swooning at the quiet last line.)

 

The always-shining Sally Murphy hosts our Roundup this week; so glad to "see" her as I know we are all worried about our Australian friends.  (Continued prayers for everyone through those fires, Sally and Kat.)  Click over to see what she's been up to, and to enjoy all the poetry links!  

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