Haiku – Page 4 – M J Mallon YA Author and Poet

3 Day 3 Quote Challenge: Day 2

I have been tagged by Janice who blogs at On the land to participate in the ‘3 Days, 3 Quotes Challenge’. Many thanks to Janice for inviting me to participate in this challenge. Janice blogs about our world and how important it is to care and nourish it: Caring About Our World; Reflecting About Life. She hopes to encourage us to move towards a cleaner, more sustainable future and away from the worst consequences of climate change.

Here’s a link to her awesome blog: https://ontheland.wordpress.com/2015/10/14/3-days-3-quotes-challenge-thich-nhat-hanh-love-letter-to-the-earth-bewow-writers-quote-Wednesday/

The rules for the 3 Days, 3 Quotes Challenge:

1. Thank the blogger, who nominated you.

2. Share one new quote on three consecutive days on your blog. They can be from anywhere, anyone, or anything that inspires you… Which means, it can be from yourself, too!

3. On each of the three days, nominate 3 more bloggers to carry on this mission impossible endeavor (if they dare!).

So my quote today is about love. I decided to edit one of my photos of this pathway in a park and add this fabulous quote from Maya Angelou that caught my eye, its simple message is so humorous and true!!

Love is like a virus.

It can happen to anybody at any time.

Maya Angelou

Love is a bit of a pathway, a route you either choose to take or not, so that’s why I chose this particular photo to go with Maya Angelou’s quote.

I’ve added more photography on my Instagram account now, do pop by and see: https://instagram.com/kyrosmagica/

If I had to write a haiku about love it would go something like this:

Here are my nominees if you’d like to take part!

My nominees:

http://cindyknoke.com/

http://www.mybookishlife.com/

https://booksandbakes1.wordpress.com/

Hope you enjoyed today’s quote, and my buzzy bee haiku, try not to catch a nasty love virus unless you want to!!

Bye for now,

Marje @ Kyrosmagica xx

Halloween Stuff and Autumn Nonsense

This October I’m doing a lead up to Halloween theme with lots of spooky, scary, and fun posts. As well as this I will be doing some reblogs (which don’t necessarily need to be autumn/Halloween themed but are helpful advice to authors/bloggers, writers.)

Here are some of my Halloween themed posts that you might have missed:

I’ve just finished reading Frozen Charlotte by Alex Bell – part of the #redeyereadealong on Goodreads. Highly recommended 4.5 stars. Keep an eye out for my review. After this I’ll be reading the rest of the red eye titles too! So plenty to keep me occupied…

Details of the readalong below:

https://atomic-temporary-67364188.wpcomstaging.com/2015/09/30/read-eye-readalong-frozen-charlotte/

My short story entry for #BlogBattle:

Blood Moon A Rip of A Ride. Link below if you’d like to read my entry.

https://kyrosmagica.wordpr ess.com/2015/09/29/blog-battle-blood-moon-a-rip-of-a-ride/

and I’ve written some haiku Halloween poetry for Ronovan Writes Haiku Poetry Prompt Challenge:

https://atomic-temporary-67364188.wpcomstaging.com/2015/10/03/ronovan-writes-haiku-poetry-prompt-challenge-64-tide-and-flesh/

Other Bloggers Posts

As well as this I’ve been nosy checking out other bloggers posts about Halloween/Autumn and thought it would be nice to share them with you, here are a few gems:

First up is this wonderfully spooky cat café in Japan, this really caught my eye:

http://katzenworld.co.uk/2015/03/09/cat-travel-tenmaruochi-cat-cafe-part-1/

Fellow #Blog Battler author Rawls E. has a welcome to autumn post, celebrating autumn, October, pumpkins, spooky Haunted houses, hayrides, and cemeteries:

https://rawlse.wordpress.com/2015/10/01/welcome-to-autumn-celebrate/comment-page-1/#comment-1991

Then we’re off to find some scary books to read, Ramona Wray has some great suggestions:

http://www.mybookishlife.com/scary-stories-yes-please/

As does Lipsy, check out these Horror October posts:

https://lipsyy.wordpress.com/2015/10/03/horror-october-revisiting-wakening-the-crow-by-stephen-gregory-horroroctober/

https://lipsyy.wordpress.com/2015/10/01/welcome-to-horror-october-2015/

And Paranormal, Sci Fi and Fantasy suggestions from Nonnie Jones at Rave Reviews.:

https://ravereviewsbynonniejules.wordpress.com/book-club-selections-for-review/sci-fy-fantasy/

What about a party? That’s always fun, paranormal author Kirsten Weiss is holding a witch’s tea party on 31st October:

https://parayournormal.wordpress.com/2015/09/23/witchs-teablog-party/

Fancy visiting some literary horror houses? Look no further, Flavorwire, opens up its doors to Stephen King, (spider webbed gated front with bats!!) Edgar Allen Poe’s red brick house with eerie basement, H.P. Lovecraft, Neil Gaiman (with a phenomenal library!) Ray Bradbury, Anne Rice, Clive Barker, Shirley Jackson.

http://flavorwire.com/540894/visit-these-real-life-literary-horror-houses/

These were posted quite a while ago but are excellent Halloween posts by Donna Parker the lady with the strange sounding blog name that I can’t spell:

http://yadadarcyyada.com/2013/10/30/jerry-seinfeld-Halloween/

http://yadadarcyyada.com/2014/10/29/welcome-to-my-nightmare/

http://yadadarcyyada.com/2014/10/28/bewitched-bothered-and-bewildered/

http://yadadarcyyada.com/2014/10/20/hide-and-shriek-with-the-addams-family/

Let’s end this on a cute note. What about some Halloween fun spooky lunch notes?

http://nerdinthebrain.com/2015/09/29/halloween-fun-spooky-lunch-notes/comment-page-1/#comment-13541

and Colleen from Silver Threading’s wonderful post about autumn:

http://silverthreading.com/2015/09/23/go-ahead-fall-into-autumn-bewow/

Annika Perry featured one of my favourite poems about autumn, John Keats Ode to autumn, and has had some wonderful posts just recently, so do check out her blog:

https://annikaperry.wordpress.com/2015/09/26/ode-to-autumn/

Sarah Vernon from First night Design has some Halloween playing cards, greeting cards, ipad covers, and more items for sale : https://firstnightdesign.wordpress.com/2013/09/15/so-i-have-a-number-of-faults-said-the-skeleton/

Irene from Irene Design does a wonderful range of jewellery, this caught my eye for Halloween.

http://irenedesign2011.com/2015/09/27/skull-key-leather/

Hope you enjoyed all these Autumnal and Halloween inspired posts, I may be doing more of these so if you’d like to feature, and share the Halloween love do get in contact.

Thanks.

Bye for now,

Marje @ Kyrosmagica xx

Ronovan Writes Haiku Poetry Prompt Challenge # 64 Tide and Flesh

I’m joining this week’s haiku prompt challenge from Ron, the prompt words Tide and Flesh just seemed to be made for me as I’m doing Halloween type/scary posts leading up to 31st October.

Here’s a few of my recent activities:

I’ve been joining the #red eye scary read along, from Stripes Publishing, more about that on my previous post: https://atomic-temporary-67364188.wpcomstaging.com/2015/09/30/read-eye-readalong-frozen-charlotte/

and I’ve written a Halloween themed short story for #BlogBattle too:

https://atomic-temporary-67364188.wpcomstaging.com/2015/09/29/blog-battle-blood-moon-a-rip-of-a-ride/

So let’s talk haiku, I’ve written several this week, five in total. You see I like spooky things, even though spooky things scare me!!

The Red Tide

The red tide flows in

It decimates the shoreline

Flesh flows scattering

Vampires Outlive Us

Vampires outlive us

Life drifts and flows on the tide

Flesh decays with time

Ghosts Harbour Grudges

Ghosts harbour grudges

With no flesh to look pretty

Tide drifts ghosts do too

Wily Witches

Wily Witches Spells

Make their old flesh young and firm

Charms cast on the tide

The Blood Moon

The blood moon settles

High above tide’s jewelled throne

A red shadow glows

Link to Ronovan’s Blog, do check it out, he has an awesome blog:

https://ronovanwrites.wordpress.com/

Hope my haiku didn’t give you the shivers!! What do you like to do to get in the mood for Halloween? I’ve been watching vampire diaries!!

Bye for now,

Marje @ Kyrosmagica xx

Ronovan Writes Weekly Haiku Challenge #62 Start & Hot

RonovanWrites #Weekly #Haiku #Poetry Prompt #Challenge #62 Start&Hot

Isn’t this pretty? Really like this prompt photo Ron, very nice indeed. Love the orange leaves against the grey – very striking.

This week’s prompt words for Ron’s Weekly Haiku Challenge are Start and Hot, and boy did these two words give me trouble, I just wasn’t feeling it. My haiku engine wasn’t starting, it was at a dead stand still believe me. In fact it protested like an old uncharged car battery on a freezing cold snowy day. I was stumped and practically gave up. You nearly had me throwing in the towel Ron, but I kept on at it, played with words, and fiddled about until I came up with these two haikus: Hot Rave Drug Murder and Tsunami of Tears. Not particularly cheerful haiku this week, I’m sorry to say, but at least I get full marks for being determined!!

Hot Rave Drug Murder

A cliff hanger start

The final chapter shocker

Hot Rave Drug Murder

It reads as:

A cliffhanger start the final chapter shocker.

The final chapter shocker hot rave drug murder

Then after muddling through that first haiku I came up with this:

Tsunami of Tears

Start running, death calls

Hot, still sand surrenders souls

Tsunami of tears

It reads as:

Start running death calls hot still sand surrenders souls.

Hot still sand surrenders souls tsunami of tears.

Here’s the link to Ronovan Writes Challenge: https://ronovanwrites.wordpress.com/2015/09/14/ronovanwrites-weekly-haiku-poetry-prompt-challenge-62-start-hot/

Hope you like this weeks haiku. I kind of looked a bit shocked like my Bitstrips cartoon character when I finally worked it out!

Do leave a comment I’d love to hear from you.

Bye for now.

Marje @ Kyrosmagica xx

Ronovan Writes Haiku Challenge #61 Tears and Wine

Hey guess what it’s time for Ron’s Haiku Prompt Challenge, and the prompt words this week are wine and tears. Interesting combination…. Yes tears often follow wine. They could be tears of happiness at a celebration. A wedding perhaps, or a birth of a baby. But sometimes unhappy tears follow wine too. Sometimes things can happen on a night out, a lost wallet, or a phone perhaps? Too much alcohol is often the reason! Or in some cases a lost wallet, and a phone. I heard a story about this recently and apparently a very kind person came to this youngster’s rescue and gave her money for a taxi home. Now isn’t that a wonderfully uplifting story? It just convinces me that the spirit of human kindness is still alive and well.

But my advice would be – enjoy your night out but make sure you are sober enough that you can get home safely, so here’s a haiku with that in mind:

Lost and Alone Tears

Wine drinker’s advice

Deceptive nightclub fun high

Empty wallet tears

Once you are back home safe and sound why not have something sweet to end the evening? As long as your stomach is up to it! Otherwise you might be wise to settle for an alka seltzer. To make it a bit different I’d thought a deconstructed cheesecake might be the perfect choice, or if not, a wine glass full of sweet heart lollipops:

Tears of Sweetest Joy

Produce dessert wine

Deconstruct a cheesecake dear

Tears of sweetest joy

Ping back Link https://ronovanwrites.wordpress.com/2015/09/07/ronovanwrites-weekly-haiku-poetry-prompt-challenge-61-tears-wine/

Thanks for stopping by Kyrosmagica. I do hope that you like my haiku this week, and that I don’t sound too preachy. I worry about all those youngsters getting back home safely at night.

Hope you like my new comic me, I’ve had fun doing these, it’s uncanny how it kind of looks like me! My pal Colleen at Silver Threading http://silverthreading.com/ has been giving me lots of tips, she’s an expert on these Bitstrips cartoons. Thank you so much Colleen.

Bye for now.

Marje @ Kyrosmagica xx

Ronovan Writes Weekly Haiku Poetry Prompt Challenge #60 Bridge and Move

I’ve been out of the loop of Haiku challenges for a while as I’ve been up in Edinburgh looking after my mum after her operation. Luckily she’s as fit as a fiddle and bouncing back to health at a miraculous pace. She’s a regular churchgoer and apparently the congregation pray for those who are ill or in hospital, and in her case it seems to have worked, quite amazing, not much pain, just a bit tired as if she’s had a serious case of man flu or something.

So in between helping my mum out I managed to have a bit of a holiday in Edinburgh, taking in the delights of the Edinburgh International Festival, and the Book Festival too, you may have seen some of my recent blog posts.

Now that I’m back in Cambridge, I’m happy to be joining in this week with Ron’s weekly haiku challenge, here’s the link if you’d like to take part: https://ronovanwrites.wordpress.com/2015/08/31/ronovanwrites-weekly-haiku-poetry-prompt-challenge-60-bridge-move/

The prompt words this week are bridge and move.

My first haiku is about my experience on the train coming home from Edinburgh. I was sitting opposite a Chinese lady and her son. She was obviously hungry as she rummaged in her bag and pulled out a large chocolate cheesecake, (it looked like it served four people,) and sat there and ate the majority of it all by herself. Her son nibbled on a chocolate and in a short while finished off the last remaining crumbs of that cheesecake before polishing off a packet of crisps. This amused me no end. I know that Chinese people love their food, (my mum’s from Malaysia so I know this without a shadow of a doubt,) but I always thought they prefer savoury to sweet so this astonished me. In fact they were very entertaining to listen to, the lady started telling the people sitting next to her about all her travels in the Far East, so I got my eavesdropping ears on, (an absolute must if you have any aspirations to be a writer,) and had a jolly old-time. It ended up being a very interesting journey home.

So this haiku is an eves-dropping thank you for the Chinese lady on the train, and a celebration of her eating so much chocolate cheesecake in one sitting! I hope she likes cats, didn’t have an upset tummy afterwards, and will forgive me for being such a nosey parker.

Isn’t this picture cute?

A Sweet Bridge Too Far

Moving train journey

Kitty! Choc cheesecake delight

A sweet bridge too far?

And the next one, which I have entitled We’re Finished Lover, well I don’t know where this one came from!

Oh I tell I lie, whilst I was up in Edinburgh at the Book Festival I saw a little haiku book that caught my eye, it’s called Haiku for The Single Girl by Beth Griffenhagen, with wonderful illustrations by Cynthia Vehslage Meyers (Illustrator) so it inspired me to write this haiku:

We’re Finished Lover

Move an inch baby

Don’t dare cross that bridge sweetheart

We’re finished lover

Hope you enjoy my couple of haiku offerings this week. Haiku always make me smile, I hope they make you smile too.

Bye for now.

Marje @ Kyrosmagica xx

Ronovan Writes Weekly Haiku Poetry Prompt Challenge # 57

Ronovan Writes #Weekly #Haiku#PoetryPrompt# Challenge#57 Bust & Must

This week’s prompt words for Ron’s Ronovan Writes Weekly Haiku Poetry Prompt Challenge are bust and must.

There are several meanings for the word bust so I thought I’d explore them and have a bit of fun!

The two prompt words brought to mind my piano teacher, God rest her soul. I feel a bit mean about this one, she was a lovely chatty lady with one very abundant distinguishing feature. But, she was a good sport and an excellent piano teacher so, I trust she wouldn’t mind if I start off with joke to make you smile.

Piano Teacher

Must navigate around her

Ample bust on keys

Expressions with the word bust in them –

He bust his sweet ass

To make a forever perch

Love must always last

Oh, and let’s not forget artists mannequins:

Such a fine red hat

A mannequin bust display

Must have gold necklace

or:

Holiday must see

Clear blue skies sand sculpture bust

Amazing delight

Unfortunately the other day I broke my lovely tea caddy, I was a bit upset about this, but I suppose on the bright side it gives me an excuse to buy a new one! Or who knows maybe a magical tea cup? I need one of these at the moment, my kitchen renovation is still going on, when will it ever end? Magic wand please come to my rescue!

Bust my china cup

My only magical brew

Must get a new one.

Here’s the link to Ronovan Writes Haiku Challenges:

https://ronovanwrites.wordpress.com/2015/08/10/ronovanwrites-weekly-haiku-poetry-prompt-challenge-57-bust-must/

Hope you liked this week’s dose of several haiku, I seem to have got a bit carried away, boy this haiku gets a bit addictive!

I’d love to hear from you please don’t be shy do leave a comment.

Marje @ Kyrosmagica xx

RonovanWrites Weekly #Haiku #Poetry Prompt Challenge Review 54

Can you believe it? I’m this week’s Serious Haiku choice, now that’s a wonderful surprise. Marjorie of Kyrosmagica: Anxiety and Pet Hugs. Seriousness from our resident Humorist. @Marjorie_Mallon

Vashti Quiroz-Vega of The Writer Next Door is the humour choice this week with: Po-Po.

Check out all the wonderful Haiku entries.

RonovanWrites Weekly #Haiku #Poetry Prompt Challenge Review 54.

Ronovan Writes Weekly Haiku Poetry Prompt Challenge #54 Free and Think

RonovanWrites #Weekly #Haiku #Poetry Prompt #Challenge #54 Free&Think

This week’s prompt words for Ron’s Weekly Haiku Challenge are Free and Think.

Here’s the link to Ronovan’s blog to join in the challenge: https://ronovanwrites.wordpress.com/2015/07/20/ronovanwrites-weekly-haiku-poetry-prompt-challenge-54-free-think/

Both of my Haiku this week are more serious in nature, this is a bit unusual for me but somehow the prompt words seemed to lead me down a more thoughtful path. Of the two Haiku the second one is more light-hearted.

The following Haiku are especially for anyone who is or has ever experienced the overpowering symptoms of anxiety. This is much more common than you would ever believe possible, it seems that this fast paced world that we now live in is the perfect breeding grown for anxiety symptoms.

Anxiety

Free my racing pulse

No thought but relentless fear

Anxiety bites

My second Haiku is inspired by AAT, whatever could that be?

Read all about it after this haiku, a much needed hug for all sufferers getting through another day, living with the crippling effects of anxiety.

Pet Hugs

Cruel thought assailant

Anxiety wires your brain

Pet hugs free event

Words good or bad, are my very own!

At my daughter’s University, they had this special event, dogs where brought into campus for students to help counter stress relief. A hug a dog day or something like that! The official term is Animal Assisted Therapy or AAT for short. Which also happens to be the abbreviation for Accounting technicians, I know which of the two I prefer!

What a great idea, not the accounting I hasten to add. I’d rather hug a cat or dog than add up a row of figures any day of the week, and I should know I used to be a book-keeper many years ago!

Here’s a link to find out more about Animal Assisted Therapy:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal-assisted_therapy

Let’s not go without mentioning a new development regarding our cat friends, CAT CAFE’S!

I’ve just found out there’s one in Edinburgh, which I must go and visit.

It’s called Maison de Moggy and it’s in Stockbridge: http://catcafes.co.uk/uk-cat-cafes/maison-de-moggy/

I’m planning to go up in August, but the trip will be a stressful one as my mum is going into hospital for an operation. She loves cats so maybe when she’s feeling up to it, I’ll take her for a bit of R & R to the cat café.

For more cat cafés in the UK and abroad visit: http://catcafes.co.uk/

There’s a shed load of benefits attributed to owning a cat or a dog. Here’s the ones that spring readily to mind: great for reducing your blood pressure, making you more active (taking your dog for a walk,) widening your social network with other dog/cat owners, staving of loneliness, and reducing stress!

No wonder so many writers have a dog or a cat. I’m missing out…… My pet free way of unwinding is going to Tai Chi or doing a bit of Yoga, and having a bubble bath and a glass of wine does wonders for me too….

So whether it’s hugging a human friend or a dog or cat, it’s all so very good for you.

Check out Val Boyko’s wonderful blog which is full of tips to nourish and restore you: http://findyourmiddleground.com/2015/06/22/stressed-quick-tips-to-nourish-and-restore/

Please do comment, I love to hear from you. Have you a dog or a cat? Or an unusual pet? Have you any tips about reducing stress?

Marje @ Kyrosmagica xx

Ronovan Writes Weekly Haiku Prompt Challenge Guide & Mad

RonovanWrites #Weekly #Haiku #Poetry Prompt #Challenge #53 Guide & Mad

What could this weeks Haiku poetry prompt challenge from Ronovan Writes be?

Ah the two words are Guide and Mad.

So what will I make of the prompt words guide and mad, could someone be driving me mad? Or are they guiding me to do something that I really should pay attention to? I don’t always listen, especially if I’m being coerced into doing something I don’t enjoy. Particularly if that unwelcome activity is taking me away from my writing! Ah, how dreadful. How could you ask me to abandon my blogging! Sacre bleu! Especially when I’m helping someone learn how to use WordPress. I’m spreading the word, doing my best to nurture another blogging hero.

Alright now you’re probably thinking what in heavens is she going on about?

Is she mad? Possibly a little!

I’ve been helping my sister in law set up her blog and well a certain someone wasn’t too pleased that I wasn’t doing what they wanted me to do. Ah, you can see my predicament, you can never please everyone can you? Least of all your nearest and dearest.

So with that in mind, here’s a little confession. Moi, I can be a very stubborn individual, a total rascal! Oh La La!!!

So this haiku is inspired by my stubborn spirit. I’m a Scorpio after all. I’m quiet on the surface, easy going, but underneath it all I have a saved up unexpected sting in my tail that comes out to play when you least expect it! Oh well it had to happen sooner or later. I’ve had this blog for over a year now, it was about time I told you about the real me. Warts and all. Sting and all. Tail and all.

Enough’s enough. I suppose I’ll have to be a good lass tomorrow but today I can do whatever I like!!! So I’m writing two posts to be published this week. Tee Hee!!!

Don’t tell anyone will you? I love secrets.

Ring, Ring, Don’t Call Me

Ring, Ring, Don’t Call Me.
You can guide but don’t change me
Your mad I’m Scorpio

My final Haiku is based on a real life event apparently kids were sneaking onto my dad’s golf course and picking magic mushrooms! Whatever next! This golfer looks very disgusted doesn’t he? He’d say something like this: “Magic Mushrooms, shocking! Why can’t they take up a healthy activity like golf? If I hadn’t seen this wicked magic mushroom picking with my own straight to the pin golfer’s eyes I’d would have to conclude that I’d been on the MM’s myself.”

Magic Mushrooms Heist

A guide to catch them
Mad kids on fairway mischief
Magic mushrooms heist

Words good or bad, are my very own!

Thanks for stopping by, hope you found this weeks haiku entertaining. I seem to have particularly enjoyed them! Stay clear of those Magic Mushrooms folks, and try to be good, not a stubborn, rascal of a Scorpio like me!

If you want to find out more about joining in this wonderful weekly blogging activity then click this link: https://ronovanwrites.wordpress.com/2015/07/13/ronovanwrites-weekly-haiku-poetry-prompt-challenge-53-guide-mad/

Do leave a comment I’d love to hear from you.

Marje @ Kyrosmagica xx

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A Sweet Bridge Too Far

Moving train journey

Kitty! Choc cheesecake delight

A sweet bridge too far?

We’re Finished Lover

Move an inch baby

Don’t dare cross that bridge sweetheart

We’re finished lover

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