“Curiosity about life in all of its aspects, I think, is still the secret of great creative people” Leo Burnett
After spending an enormous amount of time redesigning, name changing, and growing this blog, I took a year hiatus to focus my energies on doing same for my WordPress blog. 2012 sped by with many challenges and changes; great and not so great and 2013 arrived with lots of promise. I'm making a concerted effort to add content to this blog this year and, as I set up a sensible schedule that works for me to post on both blogs, I will appreciate your feedback and insights. I've signed up for two wonderful creative endeavors: Haiku Heights; a weekly prompt/haiku sharing group, and Small Stones; a mindful writing challenge that will be part of my work here, in addition to other creative writings I will continue to share.
“Haiku is not a shriek, a howl, a sigh, or a yawn; rather, it is the deep breath of life.” Santoka Taneda
Creativity
The Writing is on the Wall
Breathe, Use your senses...
This week, the prompt/word is: Script
What is a haiku?
As Leo of Haiku Heights aptly explains, a haiku is a three line poem. It shows what the author wants us to understand from it, rather than tell it directly. The limitation to a haiku is seventeen syllables. It can be at maximum, that much. If you wish to go by the traditional Japanese structure even with English haiku, you can use a 5-7-5 syllable, or 3-5-3 syllable structure.
“The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.” Chinese Proverbs
Small Stones #8
Good Deeds: Open doors, help the poor, walk the dog,
big and small kindnesses, a smile... even a smile is a good deed. (Small Stones Day8)
What are small stones?
According to the originators of this wonderful exercise, a small stone is a short piece of writing (prose or poetry) that precisely captures a fully-engaged moment. The process of discovering small stones is as important as the finished product. Searching for small stones will encourage you to keep all your senses; - your eyes,(and ears, nose, mouth, fingers, feelings and mind) open.
More Below! :-)
“I love it just because it is a stone, because today and now it appears to me a stone.” Hermann Hesse
Small Stones #1
Jewels gathered in my childhood, now pebbles on the beach.
Amba, Ambar, Amber. I loved the name until life swept it all away...
*PS I'm new to this exercise so advice me if I'm so left field. Thank you for your feedback.
Some Food for Thought: What are you observing around you? Can you write about those things in small, short pieces? Take a moment o listen to the script you feed yourself... is it supportive or disabling? Love and Peace in 2013.
I would love to hear from you: Please leave me a comment. Thank You!
PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photographs: Pebbles at Broulee, Dresden Codex, Bangladeshi woman, Amber pebble, via Wikipedia, Flickr or my personal collection.
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
 |
| Reflections: A Haiku & Some Small Stones... |
After spending an enormous amount of time redesigning, name changing, and growing this blog, I took a year hiatus to focus my energies on doing same for my WordPress blog. 2012 sped by with many challenges and changes; great and not so great and 2013 arrived with lots of promise. I'm making a concerted effort to add content to this blog this year and, as I set up a sensible schedule that works for me to post on both blogs, I will appreciate your feedback and insights. I've signed up for two wonderful creative endeavors: Haiku Heights; a weekly prompt/haiku sharing group, and Small Stones; a mindful writing challenge that will be part of my work here, in addition to other creative writings I will continue to share.
“Haiku is not a shriek, a howl, a sigh, or a yawn; rather, it is the deep breath of life.” Santoka Taneda
 |
| Reflections: A Haiku & Some Small Stones... |
Creativity
The Writing is on the Wall
Breathe, Use your senses...
This week, the prompt/word is: Script
What is a haiku?
As Leo of Haiku Heights aptly explains, a haiku is a three line poem. It shows what the author wants us to understand from it, rather than tell it directly. The limitation to a haiku is seventeen syllables. It can be at maximum, that much. If you wish to go by the traditional Japanese structure even with English haiku, you can use a 5-7-5 syllable, or 3-5-3 syllable structure.
“The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.” Chinese Proverbs
 |
| Reflections: A Haiku & Some Small Stones... |
Small Stones #8
Good Deeds: Open doors, help the poor, walk the dog,
big and small kindnesses, a smile... even a smile is a good deed. (Small Stones Day8)
According to the originators of this wonderful exercise, a small stone is a short piece of writing (prose or poetry) that precisely captures a fully-engaged moment. The process of discovering small stones is as important as the finished product. Searching for small stones will encourage you to keep all your senses; - your eyes,(and ears, nose, mouth, fingers, feelings and mind) open.
More Below! :-)
“I love it just because it is a stone, because today and now it appears to me a stone.” Hermann Hesse
Small Stones #1
Jewels gathered in my childhood, now pebbles on the beach.
Amba, Ambar, Amber. I loved the name until life swept it all away...
*PS I'm new to this exercise so advice me if I'm so left field. Thank you for your feedback.
Some Food for Thought: What are you observing around you? Can you write about those things in small, short pieces? Take a moment o listen to the script you feed yourself... is it supportive or disabling? Love and Peace in 2013.
I would love to hear from you: Please leave me a comment. Thank You!
PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photographs: Pebbles at Broulee, Dresden Codex, Bangladeshi woman, Amber pebble, via Wikipedia, Flickr or my personal collection.
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Beautiful haiku and thoughts. I wish you much success on your blog in 2013.
ReplyDeletehope you can keep all these endeavors in high gear this 2013!!! :-) and please be in BC Bloggers always, im excited to see your work this 2013... :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you Promding. I'm back on board with the group... TY for stopping by. Happy 2013! :-)
ReplyDeleteEliz
Thank you so much for checking in TWG! I'm looking forward to a successful year and wish you same. ;-)
ReplyDeleteEliz
This is interesting. I hope to read more about it.. :)
ReplyDeleteTY for your feedback January! It's never too late to join in if you wish. :-)
ReplyDeleteI believe your blog would be very educational specially for us who are eager to learn more specially with writing. Please continue to be inspired. Following you now. :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you for your feedback Michelle! I look forward to blogging with you... As I figure out an ideal schedule, I see that the weekends might be the best time to play catchup... Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteEliz
Haiku and small stones...the concept is very zen like. Much as I love haikus, I am hopeless with it but maybe I just don't give it much effort. As for the small stones, I'm checking out the site, kind of liking the idea and still pondering on whether I'll participate in it. :-)
ReplyDeletegood luck to your blogging endeavor.. I know you can make it, you just have to focus on what you want to do..
ReplyDeleteTY Aileen for your feedback! I was too when I started and with practice, we all get better. Give it a try... The Small Stones too. :-)
ReplyDeleteEliz
Hi, I actually stayed long looking at your posts. Brilliant posts, eliz!
ReplyDeleteTY Rosemarie! Focus is important and I will do my best there... Sending you blessings for same. ;-)
ReplyDeleteEliz
Thank you Marie! I appreciate the visit and feedback... and will be catching up on yours too. Glad you stayed a while and checked out my older posts. Merci! :-)
ReplyDeleteI used to write poetry back then, and I even wrote some haikus. But I found them difficult to write! :D
ReplyDeleteMaybe time to try again... I used to write poetry but one day it all stopped... I love writing haiku because of the challenge of creating with only 17 syllables. Thank you for stopping by! :-)
ReplyDeleteEliz
I know, I know: The writing is on the wall--but sometimes I just can't decipher it!
ReplyDeleteWeird Script
i am enlightened what haiku is, i also like reading poem...
ReplyDeletegoodluck to your literary work
Thanks for your feedback Max! Will visit your blog again soon. ;-)
ReplyDeleteEliz
I hear you... and sometimes we don't want to do more than we feel we can handle... It's all good. TY! :-)
ReplyDeleteEliz
just a quick comment to tell you I enjoyed this post & was inspired to get back to something I enjoyed when I was younger.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy your posts, I have been going through some of them today and especially like this one.
ReplyDelete