white lines and arrows
on the asphalt, overlooked
on the way to work
light contains colors-
within white is the rainbow
shown with a prism
smell of white roses-
sickens me now, thoughts of Snow,
leader of hunger
plumage of seagulls-
breakers, foam, tendrils of fog,
white shorts of runners
didn’t want to talk
about blank white pages and
calla lilies, but
/ / /
Process notes: These are more poems written in response to the white prompt at Haiku Heights.
I wasn’t entirely satisfied with the haiku I wrote this morning and posted. So, I’ve been thinking about “white” all day.
The first one above came from my drive in to work this morning. I spent a lot of time noticing the different colors of lights, some white and some yellow, and then I noticed all the white used on signs – and on the street.
I also thought of visible light and the color spectrum.
The third is my nod to The Hunger Games books.
The fourth came from observations on my way home, driving along Ocean Beach in San Francisco.
The last one came from thinking about others’ poems that I read this morning. More than one mentioned blank white pages. And, for some reason, the calla lilies in my front yard. It’s meant to be humorous.
/ / /
Some thoughts on posting poems. I think I felt in a bit of a rush this morning to post that first poem, the one in the previous post. I’ve been writing poems to the daily prompts at Haiku Heights every day so far this month. It’s been fun writing haiku and senyru and reading others’ poems. But, I live on the west coast of the U.S. I posted that poem around 6 a.m. Pacific time. And I was the 33rd person to post a poem to that prompt. (As of this posting, there are a total of 41.)
So, I’ve been feeling a little pressure to post as early as I can, so that others will read my poems. Of course, I realized that I’m the only one putting that pressure on me. I’m not blaming others. I’m certainly not blaming Leo at Haiku Heights. It’s not a matter of eating sour grapes.
However, I am posting these additional poems around 9 p.m. Pacific time. I will link to them from Haiku Heights on the same topic as my previous poem. I will be surprised if very many people will read these poems and this post. I could be wrong, of course.
I feel like I can rush and get something posted and others will read it, or I can wait and post something later in the day, but it won’t be read.
Obviously, I was unhappy with posting early. I should have waited until later. The irony is I turned that feeling into productivity, continuing to think about the prompt, and writing an additional five poems – that probably will not be read.
I don’t know what the solution is. I’m just thinking on paper at this point.
Sadly Waiting for Recess 
For my particular project, I admit that I do get more hits when I post in the morning, but sometimes it takes until later in the day to get something with a little quality in it, at least for me. Of course, some days I work the night shift so that shifts around. I guess in the end, this whole thing is for fun and the promotion of language, so we really only need to compete with ourselves, and most importantly, have fun. Thanks for the poems and the heart to heart. Good stuff!
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First of all, thank you for the thoughtful reply. I’ve seen that too – more hits when I post in the morning – and more quality from myself later in the day. I agree, it is for fun; I especially like “the promotion of language” – well said! I need to get away from that competition mentality; it was staring to creep in. And just focus on reading and writing. I am having fun and I need to focus on that. Thanks for the reminder.
Richard
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I read it–nicely done! Enjoyed the variety and your explanations as well. I will read all of your haiku heights posts–I promise. I wait until the links are closed and then read all of people’s responses (including the late-comers) I feel the pressure to post as soon as possible also, but I hope I can give you some small peace of mind in knowing that even if you post last of all you will still get read 😀
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wordcoaster, thank you so much for the thoughtful reply. I appreciate your reading these poems and my thoughts. And I really appreciate that fact that you are so diligent about reading others’ poems. You are absolutely to be commended for that. I think that’s a wonderful idea – waiting until the links are closed and then reading all posts, and I wish more people did the same. I’m seriously considering doing just that myself. That not only gives me peace of mind, but a little hope. Thank you.
Richard
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Hi Richard. I hear you. On any prompt site, it seems that the earliest poems get the most visits. I am not from Haiku Heights, but I “follow” you, so thus always see what you write. You did some good writing with these Haiku. My favorite is the fourth, as it needs no explanation and the words sing. My second favorite is the second for a similar reason… Write on!
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Mary, thank you. I can’t thank you enough. You have always so strongly supported my writing, and I don’t think I can adequately express just how grateful I am. (I will keep expressing my gratitude; and I will keep reading your wonderful poetry.)
And extra special thanks for commenting so specifically on these poems. I appreciate that. I think that fourth one is also my favorite. It has that juxtaposition of images that I love in haiku; and which I did not manage in the first one I posted, which led to those other poems.
Richard
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These are all beautiful, Richard. You have a deft hand with the form :). My favorite (if I have to choose) is #4, but they are all very well done.
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Susan, thank you. I’m fond of that one as well. It had the density of imagery that I like about haiku.
Richard
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