writeALONG! 24 December

A TUESDAY FEATURE

hosts: Muskaan Ahuja, K.Ramesh

guest editor: Keith Evetts

Only the unpublished poems (that are never published on any social media platform/journals/anthologies) posted here for each prompt will be considered for Triveni Haikai India's monthly journal -- haikuKATHA, each month.

Poets are requested to post poems (haiku/senryu) that adhere to the prompts/exercises given.

Only 1 poem to be posted in 24 hours. Total 2 poems per poet are allowed each week (numbered 1,2). So, revise your poems till 'words obey your call'.

If a poet wants feedback, then the poet must mention 'feedback welcome' below each poem that is being posted.

Responses are usually a mixture of grain and chaff. The poet has to be discerning about what to take for the final version of the poem or the unedited version will be picked up for the journal.

The final version should be on top of the original version for selection.

Poetry is a serious business. Give you best attempt to feature in haikuKATHA !!

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Tolerance, Forbearance and Forgiveness

It's Christmas Eve. Tolerance and forgiveness are of the essence of Christianity, but by no means its exclusive domain.  The Golden Rule underpins many religions and ethical systems:

Confucius: "do unto others as you would have them do unto you." 

Mahābhārata: "One should never do something to others that one would regard as an injury to one's own self. In brief, this is dharma."

Talmud: "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour; that is the entire Torah.  The rest is commentary: go and learn it."  (Hillel). 

The Zhuangzi has these comments concerning dispute and argument:

"If there were not the views of another, I should not have mine…  Disputation is a proof of not seeing clearly....The ordinary people of the world all rejoice in people agreeing with them, and dislike people being different from them. This rejoicing and this dislike arise from their being bent on making themselves distinguished above all others."

Christmas Eve

an angel descends

from the attic

Let us be forgiving rather than condemning; unifying rather than dividing; humble rather than proud.  Write verses this week that suggest harmony, and love for those who are different from ourselves, in this season.