Today is Haibun Monday. The prompt is, what are your plans for your writing?
Man Poses
My mother died in June of this year. It was a long hard death for her. And watching her die broke my heart. But…she wanted me to continue on with my education (I have three degrees but hey, I never cared for odd numbers!) and to continue writing my poetry. She wanted me to continue to grow and to shake up the world.
In honor of my mother, I am going to do just that. I am going back to Duke University to get another degree (MA as opposed to my original MS), I am going to be writing, critigueing, and continuing to critique, I am going to get my chef recertification (I was originally certified in 1986), and I am going to be howling down the roads in my 916. I am planning on publishing a book of haibun and I am going to be visiting other poetry sites and not just those that are safe and polite. I am honoring my mother who was *onnabugeisha” long before I was. I am honoring myself. I am honoring my poetry.
autumn turns to winter –
winter turns to spring – horizons
open before me.
*Japanese for woman warrior or samurai
kanzen sakura 
Nov 27, 2017 @ 16:18:51
I love the ambitions… and writing a book on haibun sounds like a perfect idea. Going back to university is something on my mind as well…. ha, sounds like wonderful plans, but take care on your bike
Nov 27, 2017 @ 16:21:26
I will. I will be very careful. Lots of stupid people out there! It will be for weekend jaunts out in the country or for drivers along the interstate in the black reaches of night when I cannot sleep.
Nov 27, 2017 @ 16:19:34
Wow–I’m thrilled by your plans, and with your drive and talent, I suspect big things are brewing, and will come to fruition. It is great to launch such ambitious endeavors it keeps you young, looking forward to each dawn.
Nov 27, 2017 @ 16:20:12
I agree Glenn. totally. and thank you for your faith in me.
Nov 27, 2017 @ 16:31:58
And a warrior you truly are! Your haiku seals your conviction!
Nov 27, 2017 @ 16:32:35
Thank you Vivian. I take after my mother.
Nov 27, 2017 @ 16:34:25
Perfect! Her spirit lives on😊
Nov 27, 2017 @ 16:45:30
🙂
Nov 27, 2017 @ 16:49:46
Oh yes, mothers inspire their children in so many ways and achievement is one of them. I also write for and about my mum, and I understand where you’re coming from Toni. I shall be looking out for you and I’ll buy that book of haibun when it comes out – you know I love your autobiographical ones. 🙂
Nov 27, 2017 @ 16:51:14
🙂 I would love to read some of yours as well! Our mothers do inspire us. And we honor them.
Nov 27, 2017 @ 16:57:15
So true.
Nov 27, 2017 @ 17:27:09
Best wishes on your book of haibun. Thank you for the haibun prompt today.
Nov 27, 2017 @ 17:28:15
Thank you for responding to it. It is tops!
Nov 27, 2017 @ 18:23:29
When my FIL passed away he left me a box of westerns. I had never read westerns but for almost 18 months that is all i read. In a way it was to honour him but it also gave me an appreciation of a kind of writing i would not have chose otherwise.
I appreciate the desire to hone your craft and try new things. Otherwise we can get stuck. It doesnt mean we have to stick with them. Many will probably be uncomfortablr and feel clunky at first. But we push forward and find our art.
None of us has arrived. If we have then we have probably plateued.
So what is the new degree?
I am working on my doctorate in education.
Nov 27, 2017 @ 18:27:58
My new degree is an MA..i have bs, ms, and PhD all in the sciences. I am looking forward to getting an MA…i have enuff credits to be about halfway through one. Oddly enuff, I am taking it in the Beat Poets.
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Nov 29, 2017 @ 19:10:04
Love it!
Nov 27, 2017 @ 18:48:06
I would love for you to write more about food. That is such an art to me — combining flavors, textures, scents, and colors to create something that brings the eyes and tongue together in such a magical way.
The mention of your chef recert. jumped out at me. My oldest daughter has that gift.
Nov 27, 2017 @ 19:02:04
How wonderful for her! It really is a gift. On my website, Kanzensakura, I actually did blog about food and cooking, recipes. I am currently cooking in a soup kitchen downtown. It is one of my most rewarding paid or unpaid job.
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Nov 27, 2017 @ 19:03:51
I’m sorry for your loss. It sounds like your mother was a warrior, and that you take after her. Good luck with your education and writing plans.
Nov 27, 2017 @ 20:14:28
Thank you. Mama was quite a warrior. Years ago when it was quite different, mama went to work and Papa stayed home with me. We did okay!
Nov 27, 2017 @ 21:13:32
I love your excitement for the journeys ahead — both educational and road trip. And the hope that winter turns to spring makes me smile. 🙂
Nov 27, 2017 @ 21:47:19
I*’m sure it does! Thank you Linda!
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Nov 27, 2017 @ 22:46:49
I love the spirit of honor that you are giving your mother. She must have been a really special person. Wishing you the best as you start your new pursuit at Duke.
Dwight
Nov 27, 2017 @ 23:10:16
Thank you!
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Nov 28, 2017 @ 01:49:45
Your plans are truly inspiring! To have your plate full with so many things to do is certainly challenging but enjoyable. Good luck with your plans.
Nov 28, 2017 @ 08:03:56
Go slay them, Toni 🙂
Nov 28, 2017 @ 08:07:20
such beautiful plans Toni and I hope you get to accomplish all of them, especially in your mother’s memory. seeing someone leave us must be the most painful thing to endure, sheer helplessness, I understand the restlessness of your soul. I have had a similar experience and it changes our urgency with life. Wishing you a grand journey ahead.
Nov 28, 2017 @ 12:11:25
You have made wonderful plans, drawn your map, I know your Mother would be pleased. And I am pleased for you.
Nov 28, 2017 @ 12:37:12
Thank you.
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Nov 28, 2017 @ 14:44:29
Yes! Good luck with all of your future pursuits. Thank you for sharing. It motivates me.
Nov 29, 2017 @ 19:14:40
What a wonderful way to honor yourself and your mother. When things settle down, the thought of writing to honor my mother sounds like such a good way to deal with her loss. I’ve toyed so long with the idea of a novel about a WWII widow but can’t seem to find a plot or the will to make it happen. Or the time for that matter.
Doesn’t it feel like we are, in so many ways, on parallel paths. I lust for an MFA. But 74? Maybe just to audit.
I did finally post a haibun.
Dec 01, 2017 @ 13:09:02
Hey, I hear all the time about folks who “elderly” get ther first degrees and M’s and PhD’s. I’m going back to my chef recert at 66…that is pretty amazing because it is a younger person’s work – standing for long hours, lifting stuff, relentless hours of steady put out work…I’m ready for it!!!