Thank you, Michelle Barnes for hosting this week. Be sure to find her at Today’s Little Ditty and discover what poetry treasure she has in store for Poetry Friday.
Just a few haiku to share this week. The one below inspired by a tree near my home. What caused its unusual split? Weather? I can’t explain this strange pine tree. But it grows on and I see hope in what the tree becomes.
I’ve been feeling more nervous about the next few months. We will be changed by pandemic, that’s for certain, and I hope for the good. I feel fortunate to have a steady governor, Andrew Cuomo, who gives a thorough briefing every day. He usually talks about building back and building better. I’m hoping for positive change.
My son in New York City is doing well and getting through the worst of it. I read the New Yorker Magazine to see what’s going on in the city. Here in Syracuse, there is less virus, but everyone is still staying in, wearing masks when they are out, and thinking of others. I’ve been making bread, like so many others on Poetry Friday. I have these to show for it:
Below are a few haiku inspired from vignettes I read in New Yorker. I feel so much gratitude, for all the essential workers who are cleaning subways, delivering food, caring for the sick, teaching, doing so many different jobs, while my job is to stay safe at home.
NEW YORK May 2020 Job over for now. Seventy five cents in bank, will stimulus come? Brighten Beach high-rise. Sunrise over glistening waves. Ambulance sirens. At the reservoir, Central Park runners in masks, slow down, keep distant. Medical students graduate a month early, to do what they can. Nurses, exhausted return home after long shifts faces creased by masks. ©Janice Scully 2020
I’d like to share a poem my Stephen Crane. The “I” of the poem is a free thinker.
"Think as I think," said a man by Stephen Crane "Think as I think," said a man, "or you are abominably wicked; You are a toad." And after I had thought of it, I said, "I will, then, be a toad.
Free thinking is best informed by science these days. Stay well and keep writing in spite of the distractions.
Janice,
Your posts always make me miss upstate, western NY a bit. I so enjoy writing in response to reading and your haiku do that in a really lovely way. Those nurse with scarred faces. I cannot imagine. And, I have dear ones that are not trusting science. It’s so hard for me to continue to love them in the regular ways. Today, I’m sending some homemade masks to them. I hope they will see it as a sign of love.
I understand about loved ones who seem to disdain science. It’s difficult. Good for you that you are sending masks. It is a good way to show you care.
I am often amazed by what trees can endure – and still thrive. We have one on our property that would appear to be a burnt out shell at the base – yet is a thriving tree. And others that have fallen over as large trees – and then changed course and continued to grow up to spread their beautiful shady canopy. Take care – and take heart.
Such determination!
Hi Janice,
Your NYC haiku speak to me. The nurses from our area (and many others) heading into the fray in NYC and Long Island. Heroes. Your bread looks delicious. Being on my low carb plan I can make a yummy almond flour “cake” with blueberries and lemon or today walnuts and choc chips (just a few). I yearn for the lovely moments. I posted a poem on the padlet at Today’s Little Ditty, inspired by Margaret Simon’s challenge for May. I hope you can see it and maybe post one of yours there. Maybe we can “meet up” and socially distantly enjoy a meal/picnic, ie your car and mine. Some friends have gone to an empty parking lot and formed a circle to chat…..Anyhow, stay safe. I am praying for a snowless Mother’s Day but mainly for relief from the virus and prayers for a vaccine and good treatments/cures.
I know the solitude is getting old. The cake sounds delicious. Yes, maybe a picnic somehow, some day. It will be warmer soon. I’ll check out your poem.
Wonderful haiku, poignant and inspiring. Glad to hear your son is doing okay. I also watch Gov. Cuomo’s updates every day. Wish he were President! He’s doing a great job. I read somewhere that Cuomo is leading an orchestra, while Trump just blows his own horn.
That’s an amazing tree; glad it’s healthy and continues to thrive. And your homemade bread looks delicious!
I also find that writing haiku is a good tool for processing my thoughts and settling into this new world we’re living in. Thank you for yours, Janice. Like that thriving tree of yours, we can only strive for resilience.
I love all your haiku, but especially the hope in the one with the trees.
Janice, these are wonderful! They really capture the feeling of weariness and sorrow and hope…
Thanks for your strong collection of haiku Janice, so many are touched by the first one
“Seventy five cents in bank,”.–not an easy time in so many ways. Glad your son is okay. As Jama mentioned above we could use some more “orchestra leaders” at the top.
Lovely breads and what an interesting tree–nature continues to inspire me…
Janice, I like your take on the tree haiku. It is an interesting photo and distinctly unique so your haiku flows beautifully with it. Would you like to offer it for my gallery? I ask that you share your snow photo/poem on Twitter to place in the repository #NatureNurtures2020 and this new one also (copy me at @cvarsalona on Twitter). I plan on highlighting some more Poetry Friday haikus this week and would like to include yours. Stay safe in Syracuse. My sister told me about the snow.
Thank you very much, Carol. We got hardly any snow in Syracuse. Things are looking up here weather wise.