Sopala’s image brought to mind those unrelenting winters in Maine when we’re praying for and dreaming of an early spring. Diana Peach inspired me to write a haiku for the occasion. Hope you enjoy it! ~Bette A. Stevens, Maine author
Pixabay image by Marianne Sopala
So Long Sweet Dreams
Haiku by Bette A. Stevens
Beast of a blizzard
Tromping in to surprise us
Sweet dreams disrupted
Myths of the Mirror blog has given writers and readers this fantastic Pixabay image by Marianne Sopala to respond to this month. The challenge includes stories, poems and artwork. Check out Diana’sFebruary Writing Challenge and come join in on fun!
“During February and March, I’ll be getting my first poetry collection—MY MAINE, Haiku through the Seasons—ready for publication. I invite you to take a peek at a sampling of haiku from the Winter Tales chapter. I’m looking for a few ARC reader/reviewers for pre-publication blurbs by month’s end. You can let me know in the comments section below. Thanks so much for your continued support”
Do you like variety? You’ll find it in Novel Thoughts, Sharon K Connell’s monthly newsletter—articles, interviews, tips, poetry, art, at least one recipe, plus more.
Starting with the next issue (February 2019), I’ll be a featured poet in the Author’s Pen section of the newsletter. Take a moment to subscribe on her website http://sharonkconnell.com/ And while you’re there, you can view previous editions of Novel Thoughts by clicking on the Newsletter Archive menu. ~Bette A. Stevens
Bette in her garden with one of the monarch butterflies that emerged from its chrysalis at the farmstead in central Maine.
Monarch butterflies offer an amazing view into the intricate nature of the wild. Their scientific name—Danaus Plexippus— Greek for “Sleepy Transformation,” gets part of the story right, but not the epic whole. Monarch butterflies embark on an amazing migratory phenomenon as they have the ability to hibernate and metamorphose. International conservation efforts to protect and restore monarch habitat are ongoing. These efforts may help improve the near-endangered/endangered status of the species; but we, as ordinary citizens, can easily help the monarch butterfly recovery right in our own backyards and gardens.
Resources for kids, families, educators and gardeners Download Bette’s FREE PDF“Fun & Learning with Monarch Butterflies” where you’ll find: ★ Monarch Butterfly Facts
★ Coloring Pages
★ Gardening
★ Video: How to Make an Origami Butterfly
★ Butterfly Teacher Guide and so much more…
★ How you can help protect our monarchs DOWNLOAD Bette’s FREE PDFhttp://4writersandreaders.com/fun-learning-with-monarchs-2/
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”
LUKE 2:11 (KJV) Bible
Christmas music in a 3 hours long playlist. Traditional Christmas songs & carols featuring piano, violin & orchestra – arranged and recorded by Peder B. Helland. Christmas songs in the mix: “O Holy Night”, “Silent Night”, “O Come All Ye Faithful”, “Angels We Have Heard On High,” “In The Bleak Midwinter” & “Fairest Lord Jesus.”
Wishing you the Peace, Love & Joy of The Christ Child at Christmas and always…~ Bette A. Stevens
Enjoying another snow day at the farmstead in central Maine. This haiku is from my current work in progress—MY MAINE, Haiku Through the Seasons—a poetry collection schedule to be released early in 2019. The photo of field and forest (taken from the back patio at the farmstead) inspired me to write today’s featured haiku. “Snowfalls” is a verse from the WINTER TALES section. Wherever you are, whatever the season, I invite you to get outdoors and get inspired. Join the fun and write a seasonal haiku about what’s inspiring you. It’s easy as 1-2-3… You’ll find the definition and descriptive details of writing haiku below. If the kids are around, make it afamily affair—they’ll love it!
SNOWFALLS
Silently—snowfalls
Reign over field and forest
Supremely sovereign
~Bette A. Stevens
HAIKU
nounhai·ku \ˈhī-(ˌ)kü\
: an unrhymed verse form of Japanese origin having three lines containing usually five, seven, and five syllables respectively; also: a poem in this form usually having a seasonal reference — compare tanka
Writing Tips from Bette
Discover more about how to write haiku and other poetry:
This upcoming collection of haiku reflects the Maine I know and love. Here is a sampling of several stanzas from the section Winter Tales. I hope you enjoy them and would appreciate your comments. I plan to edit and format the collection during the holiday season, and hope to publish my first poetry book—MY MAINE, Haiku through the Seasons—early in 2019. ~Bette A. Stevens, Maine author
Winter Tales
(Selected samples fromMY MAINE, Haiku Through the Seasonsby Bette A. Stevens)
Winter genie waves Its icy crystal scepter Dawn’s magic appears
Silvery branches Read a charmed folktale A spellbound story
Pine cones and tassels Mirrored in moonlight upon White weighted branches
Chickadees dozing Nestling, captive till Morning sets them free
Shovels and snow plows Storm’s ravings unraveled Till the next arrives
Soups, stews and chowders Stories told round the table Favored winter fare
The sundial declares Dwindling days this season When nightfall looms large
Neighbors helping hands Gifts from the heart most cherished As storm clouds gather
Families and friends Make merry through this season Knee deep in snow
Thanks so much for taking time to read these selected verses from MY MAINE, Haiku Through the Seasons. I look forward to hearing your thoughts about them as I continue work on the collection. Wishing everyone a blessed and beautiful Holiday Season.~Bette A. Stevens, Maine author
I’m working on my new book—MY MAINE, Haiku through the seasons and hope to release my haiku collection before year’s end. AUTHORS: Are you launching a new book? Be sure to check out author/blogger Sue Vincent’s gracious offer to lend a hand. You’ll find it at the end of this post. Be sure to click through… Sue and I would love to hear from you. Thanks. ~Bette A. Stevens, Maine author
My upcoming collection of haiku reflects the Maine I know and love. Here is a sampling of several stanzas from the section Autumn Leaves. I hope you enjoy them and would appreciate your comments. I plan to have the entire collection edited, formatted and published before year’s end. ~Bette A. Stevens, Maine author
Autumn Leaves
(Selected samples fromMY MAINE, Haiku Through the Seasonsby Bette A. Stevens)
Washed across woodlands Blazing brush transforms the world Into a canvas
Church steeples flashing Like beacons across mural Of the Master’s hand
Climb to the summit Ascending steep timbered trails Foliage at peak
Crispy, crunchy leaves Frolic in the wind Carnival classics
Skycastle ensigns— Clever couriers announce The coming tempest
Harvesting, mulching Gardener’s work never done But oh, the rewards
Window panes clatter Leaves scatter in the whirlwind Green fields turned umber
Drifting off to sleep Reposing in tawny beds Autumn leaves at rest
Thanks so much for taking time to read these selected verses from MY MAINE, Haiku Through the Seasons. I look forward to hearing your thoughts about them as I continue work on the collection. Wishing everyone a blessed and beautiful autumn.~Bette A. Stevens, Maine author
Write a Halloween Haiku & Get the Kids Writing Too!
BLACK CAT, A Halloween Haiku (inspired by Midnight, our fabulous furry feline). ~Bette A. Stevens, Maine author
Meet Midnight—The fabulous furry feline who inspired me to write BLACK CAT, a 🎃Halloween haiku🎃 (Haiku: a Japanese-inspired three-line: 5-7-5 syllable poetry form).
Midnight’s grooming table is decked out for each season or holiday and she loves it. I designed this year’s poster using a photo I took of Midnight resting on her grooming table here at the farmstead in central Maine. She’s a kitty who loves to hunt for spiders (one of her favorite treats). After taking the photo and writing the haiku, I added text plus spider and web graphics, then added a frame to make a poster. Kids of all ages enjoy writing and illustrating their own poetry. It makes a great family activity too.
What’s inspiring you this Halloween? Brainstorm your list and get writing. 🎃Have fun—don’t forget to get the kids writing too!
Here are some writer’s tricks (literary devices found in every writer’s toolbox) I used to create BLACK CAT. These tools can set a mood— they make writing and reading memorable and fun. Check them out and see if you can discover where I used them in my poem.
Read on to find out more about these literary devices.
BLACK CAT(haiku) by Bette A. Stevens
Black cat waits, watches… Stalking tricksters in their web. Spiders are her treats!
Three Writer’s Tricks (Literary devices used in writing poetry and prose)
Assonance Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words.
Consonance Another literary device used by writers and poets is consonance. It is the repetition of the final consonant sounds, usually in the more important words or in the accented syllables.
Alliteration You put your alliteration tool to work when words that start with the same sound are used close together in a phrase or sentence. The sound is usually a consonant and the words don’t have to always be right next to one another.
Finding “just the right words” Abundant resources are available in print as well as through online searches. Listed below are the two resources I had readily available in the classroom for my students (Grades 4-8). Paperbacks are inexpensive enough to have multiple copies available, and in my opinion, they are indispensable.
The Scholastic Rhyming Dictionary by Sue Young
Webster’s Thesaurus for Students by Merriam-Webster
🎃 HappyWritingandReading Haiku
&Happy Halloween 🎃
~ Bette A. Stevens, Maine author/illustrator
Find out more about how to write haiku and other poetry at Reference.Com
In 2002 we planted five apple trees(Granny Smith, Greening, Red Rome, Cortland and Macoun) forming an apple tree crescent between the house and barn here at The Farmstead in central Maine. This year we’ve harvested six bushels from the trees, and our ‘neighborhood’ deer have cleaned up all the drops. No need to bend, rake and set out the fallen fruit for the wildlife, they’ve already harvested their seasonal snacks. No need to travel to the local orchard or market to pick and purchase apples.
Wishing you a bountiful and beautiful fall!
~ Bette A. Stevens, Maine author
Time to Get the Apples In
Poem by Bette A. Stevens
Pies, cobblers, jellies, cider, applesauce and more… To make and bake To eat and partake From our garden Not the store
Written
on 01/28/2019