Blogathon Haiku Day

Ugh. Haiku Day.   Michelle Rafter, Queen Blogathon (she's so wonderfully and graciously arranged the blogathon) says Haiku Day is the most popular.  I'm sure for all the writers out there THEY like Haiku's.  THEY like poems and the arranging of words. Me, not so much.  Like a child learning to count, I sit here and count on my fingers the number of syllables each sentence has.  Can I add very, very, very to a sentence to hit the word and syllable count?

Here goes nothing

Macaws fly freely
Hoatzins groan in chorus song
Peru's nature sets me free


(there, did it.  Done)

Haiku's

Today is theme day in the blogathon world and the theme is Haiku's.  According to wikihow, a haiku is meant to be “unfinished” because the reader finishes the poem in her heart. I figure my poem is unfinished because I don’t understand poetry and have about as much haiku writing ability as my cat does. (Cat’s don’t have thumbs Focker).Traditionally haiku’s are often related to nature and the seasons and are serious instead of funny. If it’s funny it’s a ‘sentryu’ and not a ‘haiku’.  

So here it goes..out comes the fingers and toes to count syllables 5-7-5. 

1. Running Grumpy

Running. Isn’t so good

When the hamstring is pulled tight

Making me grumpy

2. Hot Summer Running

Summer heat outside

Slows down my pace drastically

Woman pushing stroller passes

Here’s something I wrote a couple years ago in a class

3. The Teacup

The child runs away

Towards the warm inviting house

Giggling with her friend

The wind blows gently

Moving the white speckled sand

Burying  lost treasures

Standing in the sand

Sun catches a silver glint

Pokes a spoon handle

Peaking from the sand

The saucer broken in two

Abandoned. Alone

The blue tea cup sits

Half covered in the cold sand

Awaiting return

How about you? Do you Haiku? Can you write a running haiku?

There is a Hole in My Sidewalk

At work, a sinkhole has been a meeting topic; the sinkhole reminded me of  a poem that was so fitting a few years back. I found it again to reread myself, note how far I've come and I wanted to share it with you as well.  Four years ago I went through a rough patch and was doing all the self-help things I could find.  At the time I was a big Wayne Dyer fan (still am) and he talked about this poem.  At that time, chapters 1 and 2 applied, A LOT.  Chapters 3, 4 and 5 apply more frequently now...thank goodness.  Enjoy the poem and remember to walk down another street and avoid the holes in your sidewalk.

There Is a Hole in My Sidewalk
Autobiography in Five Short Chapters
By Portia Nelson

Chapter One
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in.
I am lost…I am helpless.
It isn’t my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.

Chapter Two
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend that I don’t see it.
I fall in again.
I can’t believe I am in this same place.
But, it isn’t my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.

Chapter Three
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep whole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in…it’s a habit…but,
My eyes are open
I know where I am
It is my fault.
I get out immediately,

Chapter Four
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.

Chapter Five
I walk down another street.

Clicking of the Soul

Click. Click.
Each shoe strike sounds, revealing the rock wedged in the soul of my shoes.
How many more steps?
How long do I listen to the click cutting through the silence?
Is it more hassle to stop and clear the soul?
Or more antagonizing to continue to run?
Click.
Click.

Poem - Choosing the Perfect Race Outfit

For my creative writing class we are doing poetry.  Initially I thought there is NO WAY I'll enjoy poetry.  I love it when I'm wrong.  I'm loving the poetry section.  We've had to write 8 poems and they are due next week.  Only one is running related so I'm sharing and asking for your feedback.  Is it a good use of the right word (as compared to any word).  Are there other descriptive words I should use instead? What do you like?  What do you dislike? The second poem is one I wrote afterwards thinking it would be funny to do a male perspective (or my feelings about the male perspective). I welcome all comments.

Choosing the Perfect Race Outfit: The Female Perspective
The night before the race, open up dresser that holds all your running clothes
Look through your running clothes and pull out the following:
One pair of shorts with a blue stripe on the side
One pair of blue socks
One black sports bra
One dark blue shirt
Carefully place these on the bed or the floor in the correct body position
Step back and observe
Picture self running amongst the sea of runners
Place pair of shorts back into dresser
Exchange for pair of black Capri tights
Gaze at blue shirt with puzzled look
Toss blue shirt on floor
Fling black sports bra on top of blue shirt
Choose cute, happy pink tank with built in bra
Picture self standing at start line shivering, hugging self for warmth
Locate old ratty sweatshirt that can be discarded
Glance frantically around for shoes
Snatch shoes from bottom of closet
Gently place shoes next to outfit
Pick up left shoe
Attach timing chip to shoe laces taking care to go through the right number of laces
Shake shoe to try and determine the bounce factor of the timing chip
Set shoes by socks at bottom of Capri’s
Gasp in horror at the blue socks not matching the pink tank top
Frantically search for pair of pink socks haphazardly throwing non pink socks aside
Locate the socks that match the shade of the pink top
Discard blue socks off to the side on the heap of other socks
Pin race number to front of pink top taking care to use the correct holes in the bib
Hold pink top with race number at arms length and ensure it's straight
Gaze off into the distance
Run into the bathroom
Pull open the drawer containing the selection of hair bands
Pull out a hair band and two Bondi Bands
Carry bands back into room with outfit
Set each one down next to outfit and look at color scheme
Choose the one with the same shade of pink
Look at watch
Wonder how you’ll ever sleep
Step back and look at ensemble
Smile happily at the cute, pink, perfect race outfit

Choosing the Perfect Outfit: The Male Perspective

Half hour before leaving for race

Roll out of bed

Pick up shorts from floor

Pull shirt out of laundry basket

Sniff underarms for odor

Shrug shoulders and pull shirt over head

Open drawer.

Take out two socks

Check that the two socks match

Grab newspaper and head into restroom

Complete restroom activity with 5 minutes to spare

Smile sheepishly at girlfriend pacing looking at watch

Comment on her cute, pink race outfit

Ask girlfriend to pin bib number on front of shirt

Insist that it the bib be straight

Head out door with shirt half tucked into shorts

A Poem relating to the IMS Arizona Marathon on Valentines Day

Roses are Red

Violets are Blue

Sugar is Sweet

And I have a BQ

woo hoo!  I did it! 

(yeah, that doesn't rhyme with anything)

3:44:03 unofficial

race report to follow soon