She Is The Flow – Haibun (essence of female)

September 23, 2016September 23, 2016 / Penny L Howe / 3 Comments

The flow is the balance.

A runner of life, she knows flow is balance. She is the flow. Running through early morning golden meadows, hair streaming behind, her breathing is deep and even. Her element is air, flow is balanced. A runner’s secret, balance can initiate speed but speed is cause – not effect.

On this morning the soles of her feet touch fleetingly upon damp morning dew. Something occurs, an otherworldly melding of effect with cause. Balance is cause but time is effect. She runs on with balance enhanced. She is fleeter, running more swiftly, the blending of morning’s moisture with air melds microcosmic elements together. Magic? She finds she can now run through time. Her yesterdays, todays and tomorrows – a real/all-time effect!

Now she runs through life … her life and all life. An amazing thing. An illusion? She runs on. She is a conduit of flow and the balance to life. An awakening discovery for her to recognize the strength within.

She, the flow of life

becomes balancing essence

of time, cause and effect

~Plh, 2016

By the way: My previous post was not about me, even though I wrote it in the first person. It was a commentary about people, our current society and where “we” the people are and how we’re feeling about same. So just clarifying, I am fine, doing exceedingly well.

Have an great and wonderful weekend,

With affection,

Penny

Sunday Photo Fiction – A Beaker of Magic Passion!

January 3, 2016 / Penny L Howe / 26 Comments

Too too long since I have written flash fiction for Al’s wonderful Sunday Photo Fiction, click here for more information on how to enter your own short short story based on the photo (around 200 words) or to read some of the other delightful entries. Thanks Al.

To me the object in the photo looked like a beaker, the lights at the bottom a little bit like magic, so I wrote accordingly:

A Beaker of Magic Passion

“As you can see,” she whispered seductively, “I hold in my hand a beaker of passionate magic. It is up to you to decide what’s to be done with it.”

He scoffed. “More likely a beaker filled with your overactive imagination.”

“Perhaps, as you say, it is a beaker of imagination. Yet I have found imagination to be closely related to the nature of passions in one’s life!” She responded with a sweet smile.

“You speak nonsense.” He said.

The smile remained on her face although there was a strained quality to it. “It is nonsense only in this reality that you currently endorse as your life. But there are many realities and in mine, the beaker I have is filled with passionate magic. What do you wish me to do with it?”

His caustic laughter most unpleasant and dismissive with intent. “Do with it as you wish, my love. As you wish. I care not for your silliness. I shall go about my day doing precisely as I desire – without need for any mythological magic.”

Removing the stopper from it’s container, her smile became sad as she spoke. “I will do as you have requested. I wish for my own passionate love of you to be transferred to someone who loves and respects me believing that all things are possible if you believe they are.”

A moment later she vanished. He never saw her again, but over the years in his loneliness he often thought he could hear her gentle happy laughter echoing in the reality of the empty chambers of his heart.

But of course he knew it was only his imagination!

Thanks for stopping by, hope you enjoyed. Have an excellent new week ahead.

With affection,

~ Penny

Transport of Choice – My Imagination

October 7, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 12 Comments

This piece also published in “The Haven of Haibun” today.

Transport of Choice

It is said that to travel is to learn, to grow inside through experience. While admitting to the truth in this, it does appear my travels have lead me far afield from where I’d originally meant to go. Funny that.

The various turns in the road, chosen by my own volition, seemed the right ones to take at the time, in retrospect I’m doubtful of this. Therefore, there have been those lessons learned in my travels which have been painful. This having been said, I will now say that my favorite mode of transportation is and always has been – my mind.

Fueled by the wonderful power of imagination, I have traveled to any place and every place wished for – to visit. Imagination, my vehicle of choice and while some may laugh at this mode of transport, I find this particular vehicle ready to depart at a moments notice to the far reaches of my desires, and I … I am most content with this.

imagination

*“to infinity and beyond”

yes, he has it right

Just simply had to throw in one of Disney’s beloved characters in my haiku. I adore *Buzz Lightyear and his wonderful outlook on life, cartoon character though he may be. I hope you enjoyed my Haibun.

It is a pleasure to see Haibun Thinking Writing Challenge up and active once again. Welcome back. The challenge this week is “Film Week”. Write Haibun style using the following quote or a photo as a prompt. As you can see, I chose the quote:

“You came here in that thing?
You’re braver than I thought.”
~ Carrie Fisher (Star Wars)

I encourage everyone who enjoys writing to enter this challenge. Just click on the Haibun Thinking up above. To read other entries click on the blue “links in collection!”

Have a wonderful day, filled with joy and love,

~ Penny

The Dichotomy of Hope – A Haibun for our Tomorrows.

April 30, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 20 Comments

Funny thing about “Hope”. It is both fragile beyond imagining and yet often has a tenacity and strength seemingly unbelievable.

How can this be?

Perhaps an analogy made with a puffball, to enlighten.

A Wish upon a Puffball – One single seed!

Fingers carefully grasped the fragile puffball’s stem, not wanting to disturb the ethereal seeds too soon. My wish might not be heard, but blown away. The wish made, I blew gently, scattering the fair dandelion seeds upon moist morning breezes.

Wishful thinking indeed for hopes to be realized, yet all that is needed for the puffball is but a single seed. A lone survivor tossed in the unpredictable winds of nature. It only takes one … one seed to reach the earth for regrowth and fruition.

And so it is with hope. A seed of potential and possibility, cast upon the winds of fortune.

May our hopes, dreams and wishes reach fruition. All that is needed is one single seed!

hope strengthens me

a most delicate framework

of possibilities

Have a great day today and even better tomorrow,

Thank you for stopping by,

~ Penny

Ligo Haibun Challenge – Honorable Mentions!

September 9, 2013 / Penny L Howe / 13 Comments

There is something wonderful about the art of crafting words. Some extra energy being generated inside ourselves when we sit down and pen our creative thoughts, emotions, ideas.

The nature of writing haibun extends this feeling. We find ourselves exploring and delving into the method and manner of our expressions even more fully.

Singling out a few for honorable mentions for August from the Ligo Haibun Challenge was difficult! All the entries were entertaining and well written. Thank you Nightlake for your wonderful descriptions of each of the following Honorable mentions:

Twoscamps: As the writer travels, you willingly join her on the various journeys. Such is the strength of description in these haibun that you will find yourself moving with the words. While all the haibun here need a special mention, do take a look at one called ‘illusion’.

Peripatetic Eric: Depth and ease with which the words flow are the hallmarks of this writer. His various haibun touch a chord in the reader, but the one titled, ‘Oblivion’ needs to be mentioned.

Reading Pleasure: Celestine’s haibun are emotional, passionate and always come from the heart. The haiku towards the end of her narrative is compelling and captivating. Check out her latest haibun for this.

Aesop Clerk: If you want philosophical writing with insightful knowledge of history, read Aesop Clerk’s haibun. Faith and facts are always analyzed in his haibun and the conclusions are summed up in a unique manner. For example, go through his haiku on ‘Liberation’ drafted in the first week of August.

Jules: Jules makes her point clearly and stresses her ideas with more than a haiku. Realism and a simple, but highly effective writing are her trademarks. Her haibun, ‘Aglow’, written on August 1, illustrates these points.

Congratulations to all! Your words – a pleasure to read. Be sure and take your “Circle of Appreciation” home and display! Our way of saying thank you!

Also an update: The Ligo Haibun Challenge, will continue to be hosted at Nightlake and Pirate’s most excellent blogs. I will be one less host for everyone to check in with, lol. While no longer a host, I am continuing in my role as one of the judges and will also be submitting my own haibun each week. Thank you everyone for participating, and I encourage you to continue to do so.

For those with a little time please check out some of the other wonderful Haibun entries below:

Everyone have a positive and creative week ahead!

Thank you,

~ Penny

Ligo Haibun Challenge – A Call to All Writers!

August 10, 2013 / Penny L Howe / 16 Comments

Hello, welcome to the weekly Ligo Haibun Challenge. This week there are two intriguing photo prompts, from which to choose.

The first from Ye Pirate and the second from David Thoughts From The Outdoors, Thank you both!

Your writing challenge (should you wish to accept it) is to write a few paragraphs, as you view the photo prompt you have chosen, from a thought, idea or feeling the photograph evoked.

Once you determine the direction the photo is prompting your thoughts – go with the flow! Write!

At the end of your prose (written words – a few hundred or so) add a short free verse poem. haiku style! (see sample of a haiku below) a summation (so to speak) of your written words.

Sample haiku:

a thing of beauty

expression of being

soul of my haibun

Publish your haibun on your blog site and then click on the link box below (and follow the simple directions) to be entered. For more details and information click on the heading HAIBUN CHALLENGE at the top of this page!

And be sure and check out the two other co-hosts of the Ligo Haibun: Nightlake and Managua!

Good Luck,

~ Penny

My trip to Mars!

May 28, 2013 / Penny L Howe / 48 Comments

A SHARED MEMORY FROM MY PAST: When I was in the 8th grade I was shy but friendly with my fellow 8th graders. I lived in the country. So the size of the classes were relatively small. About 20 students. But I loved to write stories.

So one day I began to write a science fiction (yes I loved it even back then) story about a flying saucer landing in the play area of the school grounds. They (the aliens) were here for the purpose of choosing which students would go with them back to their planet to learn about life on another world.

A friend sitting to my left asked to read the first few pages and then the boy sitting next to her asked to read them and so on until the story circulated from desk to desk. Every day I added new written pages. Naturally many of the students were characters in the story, so we were all having great fun with this, until the day I looked up to see the principal (Mr. Dunbar – his actual name) standing next to my desk with his hand out (I guess word had gotten out).

I handed him (very nervously, he was always so stern appearing) the latest few pages. He stood there reading them and then said “You know Penny it isn’t fair not to share this story with everyone”. So he told my teacher she should let me, everyday, stand in front of the class (OH NO, remember I was shy and very self conscious about my speaking voice!) and read the latest installment. Which I nervously did. To the cheers of the whole class, and my embarrassment.

Yes the fiction had a happy ending. A few of the students “of course I was one” were chosen and went to live on Mars! Yes at that time it was definitely the “Go To” place, in outer space. My Title of this fantasy, very uninspiring … “My Trip to Mars“!

As I reflect on this story today, I think to myself how much like blogging this experience was, where we write and then interactively share our written words with others. Who knew I’d be sharing my stories with others around the planet when I grew up … Not Mars perhaps, but ever so cool. Blogging and bloggers, yes indeed! And no principal peering over my shoulder either!

Thanks for your time to visit me today, Have a great day!

~ Penny

Alastairs Photo Fiction – The nature of things

May 5, 2013May 5, 2013 / Penny L Howe / 31 Comments

The photo prompt for Alastair’s Photo Fiction follows. To take part and challenge your writing skills, click on the link, you won’t regret it.

“Light and dark, good and bad, up and down!” She inhaled the misty clouds blowing out ringed circles as she had seen humans doing with their cigarettes. “Why always the extremes in life, dad?”

He thought about sending her back in time to review the beginning of existence. But upon reflection decided she was just emoting to break through his reverie. She knew why there were extremes.

“Well, no philosophy lecture today my child, just the natural order of things which reminds me, are your “things” in order for today?”

She flipped herself (the ethereal one shaped now as a human) doing cart wheels in the clouds. “Oh yes indeed! I am ready. Things are going to start happening now!” Her dark chuckle a sound on the wind, dissipating quickly.

He sighed causing the clouds to change form around him. His exhaled breath creating movement, although he was also, without physical substance or form. Her exuberance would be tolerated, it was after all her nature. “The subjects are prepared then?”

“Yes, most particularly the female!” Her reply a sneer. “The scary dreams I’ve been sending her are awesome”.

“Why her?” He asked? Although he knew.

“She just really irritates me. How could she encourage him to dismiss my beautifully ominous clouds the other day and right after pointing them out?”

“But you thought it funny at the time, child,” He reminded her.

“Well I don’t now,” *Yin replied.

“If you must then”, *Yang sighed again. “Just remember, balance must at some point be achieved, it is the nature of things.”

She stuck her tongue out at him, while nodding her head in agreement!

*Yin and Yang in Chinese culture, represent the two opposite principles in nature. Yin represents the feminine or negative nature of things and yang stands for the masculine or positive side. Yin and yang are in pairs, such as, female and male, dark and bright, passive and active, etc. But yin and yang are not static or just two separated things. The nature of yinyang lies in interchange and interplay of the two components. The most important element is that yin and yang rely on one another so balance of life is maintained.

Thanks for stopping by, hope you enjoyed the story (yes it was a continuation from Alastairs prompt last week!) Stay balanced in life – as you can!

~ Penny

Being in the company of bloggers

April 24, 2013April 25, 2013 / Penny L Howe / 32 Comments

…I am happy to be here!

Blogging is about sharing but also about being heard! Being noticed.

Isn’t that what we all want? Each one of us?

To be needed, an essential part of things but recognized through our own individual expression.

Reaching out to others on our own terms. To explore, experience, learn, grow and share all with the strong desire to make a positive difference while learning to understand the nature of who and why we are.

I have met and continue to meet so many wonderful bloggers presenting interesting and well-crafted words from around the globe in the blogging world of today.

I have viewed and continue to view beautiful and well executed photography. I have read and continue to read inspirational moving thoughts and ideas. Reflections that range from new information in any given subject to that of experiences and coping with pain, joy, beauty and laughter – and last but not least the powerful and creative written word. All through the medium of blogging.

We bloggers have a need to share, to connect – express ourselves and be heard. We need to make a difference and we want to grow and learn about ourselves while we do so.

“Blogging is an artistic medium for individual expression

I for one revel in it!” – Penny L Howe, 2012

Fun Fiction from Friday Fictioneers

April 24, 2013 / Penny L Howe / 72 Comments

An international community of blogging writers, hosted by the gracious, Rochelle, come together once a week to share their creative talents, these are the Friday Fictioneers. They are given the challenge of writing a ‘hundred word’ (roughly) flash fiction story prompted by a photo. Some use the photograph for inspiration while others use it as an illustration.

Writers are encouraged to think outside the box.
The story should have a beginning, a middle and an end.
THE KEY: making every word count. As close to 100 words as possible.

If you are a writer, even an aspiring writer, have some fun this week and give them a try, tune up your writing skills and then share. Just click on the link above. This weeks photo prompt courtesy of Claire Fuller

My offering:

Reading Books – That’s What You Do With Them!

“Okay, so big deal, books!”

‘Yes, but these aren’t just any books. They’re special books!”

“What’s so special about them?”

“You don’t read them.”

“What?”

“I said you don’t read them. You just pick one out, hold it in both hands and if there’s a picture on the cover you think about it.”

“Well that’s just stupid.”

“Why would you say that?”

“Because you’re supposed to read books, that’s what you do with them.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course I’m sure. Otherwise what would be the point?”

“What point?”

“Of having books?”

“I guess there’d be no point, would there?”

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed this brief conversation on the purpose of reading a book. Reading is almost at the top of the list of things I love to do – as a child and then as an adult. Encourage children and others around you to read. That’s what books are for, after all!

Have a great day.

~ Penny