A-Z Haiku

For the April A to Z Challenge 2014 I decided to write a haiku a day for each of the 26 letters. Participants in the challenge can choose any medium or topic they wish, then blog a letter a day except Sundays for the month of April. To see how other bloggers approached the challenge, click here   Day 1: A for April.

April begins damp with fog but a warming sun soon burns through the cloud

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Day 2: B for Blue I am going for Blue as it is the colour for World Autism Awareness Day (April 2). It is also one year since the death of my mother who worked closely with children with special needs, including autism.

Blue is the colour for World Autism Day and for the day we lost you

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Day 3: C for Cherry Blossom

Cherry blossom pink princess of spring in Japan and in my garden

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I am also including a link to this lovely song Dance of the Cherry Trees by Irish singer-songwriter John Spillane

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Day 4: D for Dandelions and Daffodils as I couldn’t choose between the two. Daffodils are an iconic sign of spring in gardens everywhere but I love how dandelions brighten up fields and roadsides, and also seem able to grow just about anywhere.

Dandelions say kids will make you wet the bed but healers know their worth

Daffodils gently sway while following as one the sun’s golden path

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Day 5: E for Eagle A project to re-introduce golden eagles to County Donegal and white-tailed (sea) eagles to County Kerry has been underway for a number of years. It is such a wonderful sight to see these magnificent birds circling high overhead but as with any re-introduction programme, not everyone is happy. A number of birds have died from poisoning, though it has not always been clear if the bait was left for the birds or for other wildlife. Either way, the practice is illegal for good reason. Recently the first Irish-bred white-tailed eagle was found dead in County Tipperary. The amount of shotgun pellet in the body left no doubt that the bird was the deliberate target.

Eagles return to Donegal’s hills welcomed but persecuted too

© Siobhán McNamara

More information on the re-introduction project is available here:

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Today’s letter in the challenge is F so I have chosen Ferns, which are appearing fresh and green at the moment.

Fern’s new leaves unfurl in crosier shape that gave Bishop’s crook its name

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Today’s letter in the challenge is G, so I have chosen Gates.

To see how other bloggers are responding to the A to Z challenge, click here

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Open gates to paths
that lead you forward and close
those that pull you back

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Today’s letter in the April A to Z Challenge in H. After some consideration, I decided on H for Hope.

I have used this picture on my blog before but I felt it was the right one to go with the sentiment.

Hope is the essence
that heals the human spirit
in times of despair

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Today’s letter in the April A to Z Challenge is ‘I’

I struggled a little to come up with something for this one. I have decided on I for Innovation but may add something more later today.

Innovative men
and women progress our race
step by clever step

Allowing children
to create develops their
skill to innovate

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J was a bit of a stumbling block but after trying a few ideas I settled on Jump

jump for pleasure and
jump for joy jump like a child
pretending to fly

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Today’s letter in the April A to Z Challenge is K. I have chosen to write haiku with photographs but each participant is interpreting the challenge in their own way.

kites soar on shoreline
breeze and for a time we all
spread our wings and fly

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Today’s letter is L. I was trying to decide between lakes and legends when I realised how often the two things go together. To see what other participants are doing with the A to Z Challenge, click here

 

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Lakes and legends go
hand in hand lore of our land
hidden in their depths