Ligo Haibun Challenge – Life

Sep10

This week we have two quotes for the Ligo Haibun Challenge. I chose the one by Rumi.

“Not only the thirsty seek the water, the water as well seeks the thirsty.”
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As the fisherman’s daughter moves the net, a captured fish wakes to the sound of waves crashing near the hut. It struggles for breath and the waves roar at lives stolen from its bosom. Fish desires sea and the water longs for its missing children among millions. The struggling creature reminds the girl of her baby brother who took his last breath the previous week. She picks the fish and runs towards the sea.

Water boils

as deep sea fish

pleads for a drop

Alastair’s Photo Fiction – The Commemoration

Sep9

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When Jasmine swung from ropes in her attic, no one thought that she would become the finest gymnast in her country. In fact, she was scolded and ordered to behave by the righteous adults.  However, they soon found out that she was a child prodigy. But, the surprise was that Justin next door enrolled in medical university at the age of 12. Mary of the opposite house displayed athletic skills at the tender age of 3 and brought home top world medals at the age of 10. Edwina in the last house of the street became a high jump champion.

The world soon took notice of the Prodigy Street and families thronged to rent or buy an apartment there; sentimentally hoping their children would achieve greatness. Sadly, this never happened. It was strange that the next generation of families in Prodigy Street did not have children.

You can find the statue of the world-renowned children in Prodigy Street. If you want to take a snap, visit Loola Land in the far corner of the earth.

Written for Alastair’s Photo Fiction

Ligo Haibun Challenge – Persian Songs

Sep6

Last week we received haibun with writers putting themselves in the shoes of animals. Some were philosophical, others were emotional, some added fantasy and humour. Thank you for all these wonderful work. Here we compete with our previous haibun, rather than other writers, trying to make our piece better and different from our previous ones.

This week, we embark on a journey to the mysterious Persia. Apart from the romance and mystique, these sufi philosophers persiaalso looked at life and world with depth. Here are a couple of quotes from them to start this week’s haibun:)

If your heart is a volcano, how shall you expect flowers to bloom? – Khalil Gibran

or

Not only the thirsty seek the water, the water as well seeks the thirsty.  – Rumi

We, Penny, Pirate and I thank you once again for all the meaningful haibun. Add your work to the link below and also do not forget to check out the haibun by other writers:)


The honorable mentions for August are as follows:

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.

The three of us thank you all for taking part. Hope you will continue to inspire and entertain us with more haibun in the days to come.

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Picture it & Write – Meditation

Sep6

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Sam forgot everything; himself, his life, his commitments and relationships. He meditated with intensity, unknown to him till now. All of a sudden, he could find himself rising in the air, floating in the breeze. Fear struck his heart as he opened his eyes.

Cars honked and buses zoomed past in a chaotic manner. His dwelling in the air was not peaceful either.  Birds tried to prick him and further movement upwards could cause collision with aeroplanes.

Sam looked below. A couple of boys were trying to steal fruits from his garden, he thought indignantly. A pretty high school girl strolled with her dog. Was she his classmate, Jessica? Thinking of class and school, he needed to complete his record work.

Sam fell down with a thud. “I am not ready for this yet.” he thought, wretchedly.

The above was written for Ermilia’s Picture it & Write.

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Ligo Haibun Challenge – The Sage

Sep5

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I heard a screeching noise and saw the creature for the first time. It looked like a goat, but was something different. Later, I learnt that he was a Llama. After eating the grass, he looked at me. It was a contemplative look, as though he saw something that others had missed. It was a look that animals did not give humans. It was as though he knew everything that was going on.

Later, the shepherd drove him away and the Llama threw a resigned look. I thought of him as a sage. The Llama presented an odd picture, trotting amongst regular sheep. ‘The sage’ came everyday and probed my cottage, conveying different thoughts, till the shepherd spotted and whisked him away.

Eternal prejudice

supreme intelligence

locked inside a four-legged genius

The above was written for the Ligo Haibun Challenge. This week we have photos of the Llama and the penguin. Take part and share your haibun with us.

Alastair’s Photo Fiction – Faiz’s Sunrise

Sep2

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Faiz lay in the dusty corner of his dwelling. A rat scrutinized him and spotting a friend, scurried away. It was Faiz’s second day in the ocean liner. He had sneaked into the ship when it halted briefly in his war torn nation. His parents were now in prison just because they belonged to a particular sect.

Faiz had spent two days in an unnoticed part of the liner. He tiptoed to the dining room during the night. A lady, probably a cook, had given him some sandwiches the previous night. She neither reported nor questioned him. One look at him and she was moved. Why was this stranger so kind when his long-time neighbours pointed fingers at his family, leading to their persecution? Faiz did not understand the world.

He looked at the beautiful sunrise. It was time to return to his narrow space. But, he would rise like the sun as soon as the ship reached its destination. Faiz smiled for the first time.

Written for Alastair’s Photo Fiction

Ligo Haibun Challenge

Aug30

Hi Friends,

Welcome to the Ligo Haibun Challenge. This is the ‘photo week’. Select any one of the pictures below and write your haibun:) The first snap belongs to Ese Kļava blogging as Ese’s Voice.

horns

or

Penguins

As always, we welcome suggestions from you for word/phrase or visual prompts

The following are the rules for this challenge:

  • The haiku/collection of haiku related to the text to close. The haiku should be as authentic as possible, with no syllable count, no capitals or full stop
  • Wear the Ligo badge to the right with pride on your blog! And pin the Circle of Appreciation to your blog if you haibun is selected as an honourable mention!
  • Prizes are given on special occasions

After completing your haibun, please add it to the link collection below.

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Friday Fictioneers – The Earrings

Aug29

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“What do these earrings cost?” the customer asked Marianna

“Just $9,999 ma’am.”

“Hey, that is not bad. Shirley, shall I go for it?”

“Sure.”

Marianna felt a pang as her customers tried different earrings and spoke of how cheap they were. Time to close, she thought, relieved. It was late and Marianna hurried, looking for something.

The platform shop was just closing.

“Two minutes, please?” she pleaded

After ten minutes, she asked the shopkeeper to pack some imitation jewellery. They cost $2.50 and looked as good as the earrings she had sold. Marianna’s heart felt light as she walked home.

Written for Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle. Thanks to Dawn M. Miller for the photo.

Picture It & Write – Esteem

Aug28

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Tom’s thoughts were elsewhere as he rode his bicycle. Rose refused to speak to him. In addition to that, she had taken to ridiculing him. She knew that he was devoted to her. Then, why this attitude, he wondered.

As Tom sped, he did not notice his small tennis ball slipping down. Then he saw it sliding down the hill. Tom hurried to locate the ball, but it was lost in the muddy water below. He considered going after the ball, but did not make the effort. He sat on the edge, lost in thought. Was it worth it? Should he reach for a ball lost in dirt? Another thought struck him. Why was he devoted to someone who did not care for him? If Rose could not spot his merits, it was her problem. He would wait for the right girl, but never give up his self-esteem for anything or anyone.

Tom got up and confidently walked to his cycle. He whistled now as the world looked new.

Written for Ermilia’s Picture it & Write

The Swordfight – Alastair’s Photo Fiction

Aug27

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Sir Galahad threw the sword to sir Lancelot.

“Let me see you do it, Lancelot.” he said, coldly.

Sir Lancelot caught the sword and bowed. Then started an intense sword fight the world missed or it would have been recorded in history. Their brows furrowed in concentration as they tried to spot a weakness in their opponent.

Sir Galahad screamed all of a sudden, “Mom!”

Their mother came hurrying down the stairs. “Gally! Lance! I have told you not to touch those antique pieces. Who is hurt now?”

“He asked for it, Mom.” said Lance, defensively.

Written for Alastair’s Photo Fiction.