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The Tendency

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By Lamar WigginsPublished 2 months ago Updated about a month ago 1 min read
Runner-Up in Small Heat Challenge
The Tendency
Photo by Andrew Measham on Unsplash

steamed breath in cupped hands—

sudden reflex pacifies

bitter, northern breeze

Haiku

About the Creator

Lamar Wiggins

Creative writer in the Northeast US who loves the paranormal, mystery, true crime, horror, humor, fantasy and poetry.

"Life is Love Experienced" -LW

LDubs

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Comments (34)

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  • SAMURAI SAM AND WILD DRAGONS5 days ago

    --🪾🌳🍁🍂

  • WOW--🪾🌳🍁🍂 CongrATS --🪾🌳🍁🍂

  • Congratulations! Love the last line.

  • John R. Godwin28 days ago

    So well done. The emotion of this poem is what I was trying to convey in my entry and you did it brilliantly. Congratulations on your well-deserved win!

  • Susan Fourtané 29 days ago

    Congratulations! Clever haiku.

  • Leslie Writes29 days ago

    Congrats! Clever haiku ❄️

  • Paul Stewartabout a month ago

    Congrats on placing! was great seeing your name alongside my own and so many familiar names!

  • Dharrsheena Raja Segarranabout a month ago

    Wooohooooo congratulations on your win! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊

  • D. J. Reddallabout a month ago

    Congratulations, my friend!

  • Marilyn Gloverabout a month ago

    Congratulations on your win, Lamar! This Haiku certainly appeals to the weather today, here in New York.👏👏💙

  • Gerry Thibeaultabout a month ago

    a day like today where i am congrats!

  • Sandor Szaboabout a month ago

    Congratulations on your placement, Lamar!

  • Amos Gladeabout a month ago

    I can feel the little burst of heat in the chill.

  • Jessica McGlaughlinabout a month ago

    Congrats!

  • Harper Lewisabout a month ago

    How did I mis this one? Oh, that's right I tuned out the world a while back. Congrats, love this!

  • Gabriel Huizengaabout a month ago

    Back to say congratulations on placing - absolutely stellar work, my friend. :)

  • Sandy Gillmanabout a month ago

    Such a small moment, held with so much care :-)

  • The Dani Writerabout a month ago

    I've got some choice expletives for that "northern breeze" that never fit my haiku syllable count. They didn't survive. I will leave a memorial message for them that "Lamar nailed it." You always do, my friend. Well done!

  • Hey Lamar! So sorry I missed this one, and congrats on the leaderboard placement. This haiku is exceptionally written. You have a few complex thoughts in there, such as “steamed breath,” which gives us the visualization of warmth. As I read this line, I imagined the steam of the breath rising in the cold air. Then you have “sudden reflex eases.” For me, this line made me think about when your hands are freezing cold—they clench and tighten up. But now, since they are warm from the steamed breath, that reflex of tightening has loosened. It’s just so amazing how you were able to elicit that much thought from three little words. The last line shifts the haiku from warmth back to the “bitter” cold. This is a display of the perfect haiku. You have it all here, including the kireji (the shift). I see this one as being well placed in the challenge. If it doesn’t, then I will eat my left shoe. Hopefully I don’t have to eat too many left shoes, because I’ve used that line a few times already.

  • Wooohooooo congratulations on your Leaderboard placement! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊

  • The Dani Writer2 months ago

    A beautiful and unique imagery! Of course, this 'Island Gurrl' would certainly rather not have to resort to such. Necessities 🥶

  • Imola Tóth2 months ago

    When I read the middle line, I relaxed my shoulders. Your words are this powerful! haha

  • perfect haiku fitting the season

  • Tiffany Gordon2 months ago

    Fabulous writing Lamar! 💪🏾🫶🏾

  • JBaz2 months ago

    Northern breeze indeed. Anyone who has lived in the cold Knows this meaning

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