OK, November is Adoption Awareness Month. It seems we ought to recognize it in some way, but you know already that I don't do exclusively happy-happy-joy-joy stuff about adoption, and oftentimes that's the narrative of Adoption Awareness Month. I don't mind happiness and joy (really!), so long as folks recognize that adoption isn't ALWAYS happiness and joy all the time for all members of the adoption triad. So, I've decided to institute a month-long Haiku poem contest in honor of Adoption Awareness Month. I've always loved Haiku -- seems perfect for pithy sarcasm as well as more heart-felt emotions!
A haiku is a non-rhymed verse genre, conveying an image or feeling in two parts spread over three lines. There are 5 syllables in the first sentence, 7 in the second and 5 again in the last sentence. Here's my poor example:
November is here
Adoption Awareness Month
Reminder of loss
Haiku is simple, so everyone can play! Post your poem in the comments. Prize is an adoption book of your choice from Amazon.com! I'm the sole judge, but will consider words of praise from other readers.
Girl named me Audrey
ReplyDeleteThey changed it to Patricia Ann
What is in a name
What is family?
ReplyDeleteCommitment, love and giving
Not blood type and genes
"Is that your sister?"
ReplyDeletePart of me isn't like them.
Do I belong here?
Child of mine is gone
ReplyDeleteMy pain remains forever
And all was for naught
-----------
Some other suggestion for those of us Not Feeling Celebratory This November About Adoption at:
http://tinyurl.com/notadopt
or:
http://familypreservation.blogspot.com
/2009/11/not-feeling-celebratory-this-
november.html
November Haiku
ReplyDeleteLight leaks out of sky
Leaves like life's blood drained, fall now
I gave you away
adoption took you
ReplyDeletemy heart ached and cried for you
your pain was greater
Birth mom still visits
ReplyDeleteOvercoming the upsets
Joined for latte cheers
torn from mothers tit
ReplyDeleteBarbie bought and sold for show
you kill the false self
This totally sucks
ReplyDeleteI hate haiku
But adoptees should have their rights
WTF
ReplyDeleteI said WTF
Did you hear me
I never attempted haiku prior to yesterday, when it was suggested here, as a way to express our loss and unending grief during National Adoption Separation and Loss Month. I am not sure if any of these "right" or proper haiku, but I have written a bunch:
ReplyDeletetaken far too soon
sacrificed at the alter
summer secret shame
mother's milk unsuckled
unending tears engulf me
babe gone but ne'er forgotten
child of mine no more
others claimed her and renamed her
payment for my sin
in winter's snow she left
in heavenly peace at last
i remain in hell
Wow! I'm so impressed -- one day into the contest and already over a dozen entries. ALL of which have the temerity to be tons better than mine! Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteIs there a big prize
ReplyDeletefor the most awful haiku?
If not, forget it.
Your Chinese mother
ReplyDeleteWonders what's become of you;
Wish we could tell her.
If she came by theft, what now?
ReplyDeleteMother is unseen.
Her choice or not, what to do?
Find and love her first family?
We have their child. How
Could they ever forgive us?
Is mother angry, hurt, shamed?
Not our doing, but
What is right action now?
If grace is unearned merit,
Is this grace? this beloved
Child of another’s body?
Lost was long ago
ReplyDeleteToday is found, open door
We go on from here
Barren womb rejoiced
ReplyDeleteProfits made at every stage
muted mother cried
Four long decades pass
ReplyDeleteBrother I've never known
Do you even know?
Birthed from childless pain
ReplyDeleteDaring to overcome fear
With you I am whole
You will be four soon
ReplyDeleteMy joy is another's pain
How to reconcile?
Here is my second go at a haiku:
ReplyDeleteAdoption's puzzle
Questions inevitable
A lifetime of work