Ligo Haibun Challenge – Photo Prompt

Apr20

Welcome to the Ligo Haibun Challenge. We have two photo prompts this week. Do select and write on the one that moves you and stirs your imagination.

photo1

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Here are the rules for the challenge:

  • the haiku/collection of haiku related to the text to close. The haiku should be as authentic as possible, with therefore no syllable count, no capitals or full stop, all ideally making 220 word max.
  • Wear the Ligo badge to the right with pride on your blog! And pin the Circle of Appreciation if your haibun is selected as a honourable mention
  • Prizes are given on special occasions – earrings, scarves etc..

After posting your haibun, do add it to the link collection below.

The special mentions for last week’s Ligo haibun challenge are as follows:

KZ: Conflicting emotions in the heart, but peace wins in the end. This is a moving tale of personal tragedy, written with depth and feeling.

Anelephant: War is no means to peace. A touching story with an emotional haiku.

Simon: Finding inner peace with nature. Lovely haibun and beautiful imagery.

ligo haibun

Friday Fictioneers – Inside the Oak Tree

Apr18

wasp-nest

“I have hidden the ruby in the large oak tree.” gasped Ned, the thief, in his last confession

“Which tree?” asked Detective Banks, hurriedly

“There is only one in the forest.” whispered Ned

Those were his last words. Ned had evaded the law for a long time. His latest conquest was big; an expensive ruby. The police had spotted him in the deep forest and fatally shot him.

Banks’s eyes turned huge with greed. Nobody else had listened to the confession. He sped in his bike towards the forest. Ah! There was the lone oak tree. Banks stood near the tree, studying it, when he felt a sharp pain in his hand. He looked up to see a hornet’s nest. They thronged him before he could think or react.

The ruby was safe inside the hornet’s nest. The faithful hornets were determined to guard it till Ned returned.

Written for Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle. Thanks to Janet for the photo.

Picture it & Write

Apr17

locker

Sal could see the school’s locker room from the streets. The students hurriedly opened their lockers and took out their things. He always visited the school at 7:45 AM. The gates would be briefly open till 8:30. He loved watching the students in their uniforms and shining shoes, their hair neatly done. His own public school would begin at 9:00. They had no locker rooms; just a creaky desk to keep their study materials. If anyone left their books overnight, the next day it would be stolen. They had no uniforms and even teachers did not attend classes regularly.

His teachers did not prefer their own students and often spoke of moving to a private school. Sal felt his soiled pockets for the lottery ticket. Yes, it was still there. He had purchased it with the money his mom had given him to buy chocolates. He had been buying lottery tickets for the past one year. Maybe one day…With a longing look at the private school, Sal walked away.

This was written for Ermilia’s Picture it & Write.

Photo Fiction – Farhaz’s Fiancée

Apr17

03-04-april-14th-2013

Anita heard from her classmate, Farhaz, after seven years. He told her that he had arranged a party in his house to celebrate his engagement. He had also invited their other friends. Anita was thrilled; for her betrothal was just a couple of days away. Farhaz was dating Vinita, their classmate. But, sadly, she passed away from a terminal illness. Farhaz had become very withdrawn after her death and did not stay in touch with anyone from college.

It is a good thing that he is starting a new life, thought Anita. She asked her boyfriend to accompany her, but he refused as he did not know any of her classmates.

Anita saw a house among bushes. Had Farhaz fallen into hard times? Anita had walked a long distance and was tired. The door gave way when she knocked. No one had turned up for the party as yet.

“Farhaz?” she called aloud.

“Hi, Anita.  I am Farhaz’s fiancée” said a female voice. Anita looked up at the familiar voice and froze in shock. It was Vinita. How was it possible? She felt giddy as Farhaz emerged from the other room. There was an inhuman glow in his eyes.

Anita had two final human thoughts: Why had they chosen her? At least, her boyfriend had mercifully escaped.

Written for Alastair’s photo fiction

The Unicorn

Apr15

unicorn

A proud unicorn plays with the wind, invisible to the human eye. Self-absorbed in his own magic, he pauses for a moment at the full moon night.

The moon soars high

rivalling me in magic

My envious eyes, enraptured

The Court

Apr15

8682858-dancer

 

The courtesan dances,

each intricate step performed

with careless ease,

tempting the king, the prince,

the minister and the courtier,

but her legs sway for the court musician,

who knows her every rhythm,

while his voice calls to the princess,

he secretly admires, but the princess

dreams of the prince in an enemy kingdom

whereas this spoilt prince

imagines a hostile state’s dancer

beside him on the royal throne

Ligo Haibun Challenge – Peace

Apr13

Hi Friends,

This is time for the next Ligo haibun Challenge. The topic for this week is Peace. “Those who are at war with others are not at peace with themselves.” A quote by William Hazlitt

We welcome all of you to take part, encourage other participants and have fun.

Here are some easy-to-follow rules 🙂

  • The word limit is 220, haiku finish, making the haibun
  • Haiku suggested without capitals or punctuations
  • The haiku is preferably preceded by prose (For e.g., your personal experiences or stories)

Read more on Haibun here. After you have published your haibun, do add it to the link collection below so that all of us get to read it.

Each entry last week was excellent and we found it difficult to select the winners. Our Special Mentions in Dispatches for last week’s picture prompt are as follows:

  1. Sunshine: Plight of a poor family in a beautiful mountainous region. Poverty defeats budding life.
  2. Jody: Really different! The knack of seeing something that the others don’t.
  3. Sarah Ann Hall: ‘The Climb’ is an inspiring tale of hope against all odds.

Wear our blue Līgo Haībun badge with pride on your blog! Special Weekly Mentions in Dispatches may pin the Līgo Circle of Appreciation logo on their blog if they so desire.

ligo haibun

Good luck to all!

Friday Fictioneers – Alvin’s Job

Apr11

sandra-crook

 

“I want to join the maths coaching class during holidays. But, I have no money” said Alvin.

“Why don’t you work part-time in the library?” asked Harry

“Oh, I have asked them. No vacancy. “

“Are you strong in any subject? You can tutor the school students.”

“No, I am not.” sulked Alvin. “I have also asked around the campus. They don’t have a vacancy.”

The following day, Alvin saw a strange old bike in front of his house. Harry was chatting with his sister.

“Hi, Harry. What is this?”

“Listen, Alvin. Many houses in the neighbourhood still have milk delivered to them. So, why don’t you become a milkman? You get to ride this different bike and also earn money. What do you say?”

Thanks to Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers and Sandra for the photo.

Picture it & Write

Apr9

skull-with-butterfly-eye

 

Felicia stared at the skeleton during the class presentation. This was the first time that they had a skeleton in class. She hardly listened to what her teacher said. The skeleton seemed to be beckoning to her. Her best friend, Leena, turned to her.

“Did you listen to the presentation? I saw you staring at the skeleton.”

“Nope. I didn’t listen. It scares me.”

“What is there to be scared? It is just plastic.” said Leena.

It seemed so real to Felicia. When she walked home, she peeped inside her classroom at the skeleton. She felt a twinkle in the sockets and the skeleton seemed to tilt towards her.

She narrated the events to her father, expecting him to laugh at her. He was silent for a few minutes. Then he said, “Do you know that your great grandfather donated his body to the School?”

“What!”

“Yes, he was an illiterate man who never had enough money. He always longed for a good education. Therefore, he decided to donate his body so that the future generation would use his parts for their education.”

Felicia was dumbstruck and overwhelmed. She would not be scared from now on. She would look at her great grandfather with reverence.

This was written for Ermilia’s Picture it & Write.

Journey

Apr7

En sti i Odense.

Lulling us to sleep

and a peaceful dream

in the long rhythmic journey,

the horse-cart travels in a rugged path,

determinedly trotting ahead

tracing every curve

in the dark lane