National Poetry Month – Day 19: Blue

Posted on April 19, 2026 by Jan Morrill

One of my favorite websites is The Marginalian. Today, I read a post title “Is This Blue: Chilean Philosophers Humberto Maturana and Francisco Varela on Love and How We Know the World.”

Reading Maria Popova’s post inspired the haiku for Day 19.

I welcome your haiku, too. If you feel inspired to write about blue (or any other color!) or love, or anything, please share in the comments. You might just win a copy of my book, Life: Haiku by Haiku!

An abstract watercolor image featuring a large blue dome shape with a gradient effect at the bottom. The text overlay reads, 'Can one explain blue to one who’s never seen it? And what about love?'
Georgia O’Keefe’s Light Coming on the Plains II

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New to writing haiku? Here’s the pattern:

Three lines with a total of seventeen syllables:

5 syllables
7 syllables
5 syllables

Anyone who shares a haiku in the comments is entered into a drawing to win a copy of my book, Life: Haiku by Haiku!

Posted in Haiku, Love | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

National Poetry Month – Day 18: Airplane

Posted on April 19, 2026 by Jan Morrill

Sometimes, when I look up at airplanes in the sky, I wonder where the passengers are going, and what they’re thinking about their destination. Is it an adventure? Or a business trip? Is it a honeymoon? Or a family reunion? Sometimes, I imagine I’m on the plane, headed to a place I’ve never been before. And sometimes, I even imagine my father is flying the plane.

So, the inspiration for Day 18’s haiku is a photo I took of an airplane appearing to pass by the moon.

As always, I welcome your haiku, too. Does seeing an airplane high above inspire your imagination? How about seventeen syllable? You might just win a copy of my book, Life: Haiku by Haiku!

An airplane flying across a twilight sky with a moon visible, surrounded by tree branches.

______________________________________________________________

New to writing haiku? Here’s the pattern:

Three lines with a total of seventeen syllables:

5 syllables
7 syllables
5 syllables

Anyone who shares a haiku in the comments is entered into a drawing to win a copy of my book, Life: Haiku by Haiku!

Posted in airplane, fantasy, Haiku, nostalgia, travel | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

National Poetry Month – Day 17: Rearview Mirror

Posted on April 18, 2026 by Jan Morrill

The haiku for Day 17 of National Poetry Month is inspired by the quote, “Hindsight is 20/20.” Perhaps that’s why wisdom comes with age — by now, most of our lives are now hindsight. We’ve learned our lessons, and things are more clear.

However, I hope I have more lessons to learn — just not the hard way!

As always, I welcome your haiku, too. Any reflections of what was learned by the past? You might just win a copy of my book, Life: Haiku by Haiku!

A rearview mirror reflecting a sunset and a road, with the text overlay about life's journey and clarity.

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New to writing haiku? Here’s the pattern:

Three lines with a total of seventeen syllables:

5 syllables
7 syllables
5 syllables

Anyone who shares a haiku in the comments is entered into a drawing to win a copy of my book, Life: Haiku by Haiku!

Posted in Haiku, Life, nostalgia | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

National Poetry Month – Day 16: Unrequited #1

Posted on April 17, 2026 by Jan Morrill

In today’s post, I thought I’d kill two birds with one stone:

So, here’s Unrequited #1’s haiku. To make a very long story short, it began as a first love and ended, (or, more appropriately, it became “unrequited”) when my mom read my diary.

Stay tuned for Unrequited #2’s and Unrequited #3’s haikus.

I welcome your haiku, too. Maybe about your first love? A diary? A betrayal? You might just win a copy of my book, Life: Haiku by Haiku!

A Five Year Diary with a cartoon character on the cover, featuring handwritten notes and a lock, indicating personal secrets and memories.
Yes, this IS my high school diary!

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New to writing haiku? Here’s the pattern:

Three lines with a total of seventeen syllables:

5 syllables
7 syllables
5 syllables

Anyone who shares a haiku in the comments is entered into a drawing to win a copy of my book, Life: Haiku by Haiku!

Posted in First Love, Haiku, High School, Life, Love, nostalgia | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

National Poetry Month – Day 15: April

Posted on April 15, 2026 by Jan Morrill

It’s Tax Day. I thought about writing a tax haiku, but how uninspiring is that? So instead, my Day 15 haiku was inspired by something that always causes me to ponder, and from a ponderance comes creativity: the beach!

Every time I see these Royal Terns, I think “Now, that’s what I call attitude!”

Can you squeeze seventeen syllables out of a beach inspiration? You might just win a copy of my book, Life: Haiku by Haiku!

A group of royal terns standing on a sandy beach, with a playful caption overlay about their attitude.

______________________________________________________________

New to writing haiku? Here’s the pattern:

Three lines with a total of seventeen syllables:

5 syllables
7 syllables
5 syllables

Anyone who shares a haiku in the comments is entered into a drawing to win a copy of my book, Life: Haiku by Haiku!

Posted in Haiku, Nature | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

National Poetry Month – Day 14: April

Posted on April 15, 2026 by Jan Morrill

I love to write haiku, but after two weeks of counting seventeen syllables, I think my brain is getting tired. But I shall persevere! 🙂

And so, my Day 14 haiku gives a hint of my struggle to remain creative, but also my determination!

I invite you to struggle with me — share a haiku about April, perseverance, springtime — whatever you’d like! You might just win a copy of my book, Life: Haiku by Haiku!

A colorful calendar for April 2026, celebrating National Poetry Month, featuring floral and nature illustrations. The date '14' is circled, and there's a message urging to keep counting syllables for sixteen more days.

______________________________________________________________

New to writing haiku? Here’s the pattern:

Three lines with a total of seventeen syllables:

5 syllables
7 syllables
5 syllables

Anyone who shares a haiku in the comments is entered into a drawing to win a copy of my book, Life: Haiku by Haiku!

Posted in Haiku | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

National Poetry Month – Day 13: Horse

Posted on April 14, 2026 by Jan Morrill

My haiku for Day 13 of National Poetry Month was inspired by a discarded merry-go-round horse we found on a playground. I was puzzled about how it got there, but was also charmed by my granddaughter’s enchantment with the horse. She carried on a conversation, as if the old horse could hear her.

I found myself wondering what the horse thought about the conversation. Perhaps you, too, could write a haiku about the horse’s thoughts? Or maybe a haiku about what my granddaughter said to the horse?

A young girl in a pink striped shirt crouches beside a black horse statue at a playground, gently touching its nose. The background features playground equipment and trees under a cloudy sky.

______________________________________________________________

New to writing haiku? Here’s the pattern:

Three lines with a total of seventeen syllables:

5 syllables
7 syllables
5 syllables

Anyone who shares a haiku in the comments is entered into a drawing to win a copy of my book, Life: Haiku by Haiku!

Posted in Haiku | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

National Poetry Month – Day 12: Hungary

Posted on April 12, 2026 by Jan Morrill

For Day 12 of National Poetry Month, I want to recognize and celebrate Hungary’s election and the defeat of Viktor Orbán.

We cruised the Danube for Christmas market last November. The embarked in Budapest and were lucky to spend two days there before the cruise began. We fell in love with the people, the history, and the culture. Though it was rare for Hungarians to talk to us about anything political, when they did, it was clear the people did not like the repressive Orbán.

Best wishes to the people of Hungary — may your path ahead be bright.

Night view of the Hungarian Parliament Building illuminated in golden light, with a boat on the Danube River in the foreground and a poetic message overlay.

______________________________________________________________

New to writing haiku? Here’s the pattern:

Three lines with a total of seventeen syllables:

5 syllables
7 syllables
5 syllables

Anyone who shares a haiku in the comments is entered into a drawing to win a copy of my book, Life: Haiku by Haiku!

Posted in Haiku, History | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

National Poetry Month – Day 11: Rose

Posted on April 12, 2026 by Jan Morrill

For Day 11 of National Poetry Month, I wrote about these roses that graced the Tuscan winery we stayed at in 2024. Often when I look at a flower, I’m amazed at its perfection.

If you’ve ever been inspired by a flower, share a haiku in the comments. For each haiku you share, I’ll enter your name into a drawing for my book of haiku, Life: Haiku by Haiku.

Close-up of pink roses surrounded by green leaves, with a soft background and an artistic caption about nature's beauty.

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New to writing haiku? Here’s the pattern:

Three lines with a total of seventeen syllables:

5 syllables
7 syllables
5 syllables

Anyone who shares a haiku in the comments is entered into a drawing to win a copy of my book, Life: Haiku by Haiku!

Posted in Haiku | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

National Poetry Month – Day 10: Splashdown

Posted on April 11, 2026 by Jan Morrill

Welcome to Day 10 of National Poetry Month! I’m celebrating by writing a haiku each day in April, and I’d love for you to join me! Simply share your haiku in the comments. For each haiku you share, I’ll enter your name into a drawing for my book of haiku, Life: Haiku by Haiku.

I watched the splashdown and exhaled with relief when the capsule splashed down! I tried to capture what I felt in seventeen syllables. Not easy, but that’s why I love haiku. It’s a challenge to tell a story in so few syllables.

Give it a try!

Three parachutes descending towards the ocean, symbolizing the return of the Artemis mission to Earth.

______________________________________________________________

New to writing haiku? Here’s the pattern:

Three lines with a total of seventeen syllables:

5 syllables
7 syllables
5 syllables

Anyone who shares a haiku in the comments is entered into a drawing to win a copy of my book, Life: Haiku by Haiku!

Posted in Haiku, History | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments