Dichotomy’s Dissertation of Lonely and Alone

September 22, 2016 / Penny L Howe / 6 Comments

A creative interpretation through the medium of words viewing man’s struggle to understand man.

All Alone Am I

“Seeking through the blur of today’s truths

blending with yesterdays untruths (well, my interpretation thereof)

I find myself staring out the window

through early morning misty emptiness

even as

sunlight streams through my senses

creating a blistering awareness of being alive …

and worthy? I do not think I know what that word truly means

or in the obtuseness of my current thinking processes

it seems I don’t wish to know.

Yet do I recognize

how lonely am I

midst humanity’s crush

where futility sneaks in to blossom and flourish

in spite of hope.

Hope? Are you out there?

I’ve lost my way and find

my new reality is reminding me that

there is not one single soul caring

(the perception that I may still be of some selfish use for them not withstanding)

about me in this mass of life’s everything-ness.

Caring about

where I be

why I am

or even

more explicitly …

Who am I and if I am, do I indeed matter – in the whole scheme of things … do I?”

~ Plh, 2016

Sigh, it does seem, on some days that we humans are more confused than not. But I believe we are all seeking our place in the whole mixture of life’s adventure. And then there are those clever little things called “our emotions” likening to a riptide, riding high one moment and pulling you under the next. But I also believe we do, somehow, always manage to #GoOn! And that is a most excellent thing! 🙂 Have a great day and wonderful weekend to come.

With much sincere affection,

~ Penny

Just in the Knowing … Haibun of Love

January 15, 2016January 15, 2016 / Penny L Howe / 7 Comments

♡

Just in the Knowing

Just in the knowing you’re somewhere. Not caring where, just knowing you exist is enough for contentment. Alright, perhaps a whimsical slightly lonely contentment, but contentment none-the-less. Were I to have realized love’s nature as we laughed and played during brief interludes of time together perhaps choices would have been a different making.

But nature of things at the time (Ah, time … immutable passage of linear time) spinning out of control, whirlwind of decision making – poorly thought through – emotionally charged and so we are apart … and yet … we are not.

For all that you are and all that I am create amazing realities of “greater than”. This unknown mysterious quality of perception, not understood but realized and so it is that …

Love has no true boundaries: Not time. Not location. Not even cessation.*

*through the physical departure from our current plane of existence

For truly love is existence and existence is love – superseding any boundaries of time. Time becomes timeless and therefore never ending as is ~ my love ~ for you.

timelessness of life

gifted from eternity

never ending love

♡

It’s been awhile since my composition of haibun. I hope you enjoyed. Thank you for reading, have an excellent weekend!

With sincere affection,

~ Penny

Forever and Always In My Heart ~

August 24, 2015 / Penny L Howe / 13 Comments

♡

Sleep now … my love,

I’m keeping you forever and always,

in dreams, and memories

the beating of my heart keeping endless time to the rhythm of your soul.

♡

Your words penned from far away,

so very lovely,

for eyes to see,

for mind to dwell on

and heart to feel …

Fitting in most perfectly

with the reoccurring memory of being in your arms.

♡

Sleep now, my love,

within the heart there is a place that has no knowledge of separation.

And so we will always find each other in our arms …

held safely fast, protected from all harm,

never truly alone in our forever love.

~ Penny

Drops of Pure Water

January 4, 2015 / Penny L Howe / 17 Comments

Drops of pure water

to succor and secure life

plus many drops more

A few words, a haiku, to illustrate the importance of pure clear water in our lives. I humbly suggest “we” make reasonable changes in our personal lives to help insure the well being of a fresh water supply for our future. Something we can take a positive hand in, beginning in our home and work place.

Thank you,

~ Penny

Haibun of Spring – To Lay in the Meadow

January 3, 2015January 3, 2015 / Penny L Howe / 11 Comments

To lay down in the meadow is to recall youthful days running wild and free throughout the countryside. Surrounded by mountains, the valley where I lived as a child is uniquely nestled in a protected area where the weather (for the most part) is mild and residents are blessed with four distinct seasons, each a favorite of mine. About the time I’d tire of one season the next would arrive in all its glory.

In late spring, early summer wildflowers are in full bloom, grassy meadows soft to lay on and I … I lay midst blooming sweet clover, limbs spread wide contemplating absolutely nothing at all, except perhaps blue sky over head and a few puffy white clouds floating by.

Did you know if you take the little purplish colored clover buds and pull them away from the base of the flower putting them on your tongue, there is a sweet nectar taste to them. Fun.

Bird song is everywhere with croaking little mint green frogs from a nearby stream adding to the melody of life. It is heaven to me, all is right and as I recall this today, it is still a truth. To lay down in the meadow embracing life and nature, in that moment … all is right with the world.

nectar so sweet

a meadow land of wonder

the rightness of life

Thanks for stopping by, I hope your enjoyed my haibun. For those of you who would like to try your hand at writing ‘haibun style’ check out Alastair’s Haibun Thinking, a weekly haibun writing challenge. Click here for more information.

Have a great weekend and take care of you.

with affection,

~ Penny

Inferno of Emptiness

October 17, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 12 Comments

In between happy memories and heartache,

there are the days when it still can’t be born.

Days consumed with my awareness of loss.

Some days – feelings are ignored, muted, dealt with,

and yet … and yet

there are days

when the need is so strong,

when the “lack of” … so overwhelming,

the feeling of being so alone and lonely,

it is then, I realize you’re still here,

in my heart,

my mind,

my thoughts,

my being,

and the longing becomes searing, burning pain,

melting tears into little pieces of lost love

and I cry myself to sleep within an inferno of emptiness.

Penny L Howe, 2014

Why do we write Poetry?

August 24, 2013 / Penny L Howe / 36 Comments

What is it about the particular nature of a poem? Whether penning or reading. A poem sets itself apart from all other written words. Various sized packages of contained messages of our thoughts, our feelings, our expressions. We the author and presenter of chosen word and format.

Do we write for ourselves when we write a poem? Do we write for others? Yes and yes.

With poetry we tap directly into our feelings about things, bringing forth those emotions, thoughts and ideas inside of us to be viewed through our written words. We are reorganizing our insides when we do this. And when others read our poems they frequently will do the same thing.

Should you write a poem? Yes?

Why?

Because:

It’s therapeutic. Not only letting out what’s inside, but presenting a microcosm of your heart and soul you can view and share with others.

It’s wonderfully creative. Your journey through your own nature with the poetic word while you find yourself exploring all sorts of creative avenues of expression.

It is encouraging, helping you and others to “Open Up” inside. Writing poetry and sharing your words, creates a stronger environment for learning and growing yourself. Online today there are many *websites and forums – groups actively in pursuit of knowledge and understanding from poets of the past and present.

The Poem

“Such beauty you bless in the form of a rhyme

Such feeling, such rhythm your words so divine

I am lost in your glory, sensation sublime

Sharing forever, time after time.”

Penny L Howe, 2013

So today, write a poem and share with others, read a poem and enjoy someone else’s creation. Both will be uplifting and illuminating … I promise.

Have a great weekend,

~ Penny

All Poetry.com

WritersCafe.org

Poetry.com

Ligo Haibun Challenge

ThePoet Sanctuary.net

For All Writers Out There …Rethink the haibun and haiku!

July 20, 2013July 22, 2013 / Penny L Howe / 46 Comments

A writer’s gift – yours!

Chances are if you are a blogger, you express yourself very well. Your hands have the gift of being able to put thoughts and expressions, ideas and vision into written words (and photographs and illustrations, art, videos, music, etc) But most all of you can write!

For all you non haibun writers, I believe that perhaps if it were worded differently you might be interested in giving it a try! So I’d like you to consider writing a short piece with only the following thoughts in your mind.

Your writing style: Write the way you normally write, especially if you write in a journal. If you don’t write in a journal. Then write the thoughts you’re thinking of in the moment. What comes to mind. You’ll find your words may flow (like thoughts) just write. Worry about editing afterwards. As your words flow you’ll see they have a rhythm (not rhyming like a poem, more open like free verse), they may even be terse and to the point. Have your written piece be just a few paragraphs or so.

Let it be a thought, an experience, or a feeling that comes to mind after you view a “prompt”. It can be a fictional story, or not, just as long as it is the “telling” or presenting of a thing! (much like in many schools “when growing up” you’d share in front of the class something you did for the summer kind of “telling”!)

After you’ve written your piece. Read it out loud to yourself.

And then go back and tighten it up. See if there are any words you can change or remove to make it more focused, specific and full of the flavor of you (that which you want to convey, express). Take just a little time here for this.

When you finish your written piece; add a short 3-line, ‘free verse’ poem, total about 14 to seventeen syllables. Have the middle line slightly longer than the others.

SAMPLE OF POEM (haiku) STYLE:

rich in expression

the haibun of our thoughts

words, a writer’s food

~

Your poem should contain your feelings on the subject you’ve just written about. Perhaps a summation or a realization (the essence of understanding, the point).

Got it? Here are your prompts! Pick one of the following two photographs.

Exploratorium Museum, photo by Penny L Howe, 2013

Now, WRITE! then I’d like you to publish your written piece on your blog and enter the piece you’ve just written, in the blue box below, follow the instructions (easy ones). I look forward to reading your words!

I think you might just surprise yourself how well you will do. Most importantly have fun.

Honourable Mentions for last week’s Ligo Haibun Challenge will be posted soon! Once again there were many excellent entries! Thank you for sharing your creativity with us and others this past week!

~ Penny