Observation - 31

The closer the year gets to the sun, the cooler the weather becomes...

Observation - 30

Beauty has its season, it will not last forever. I aspire to serenity; vastly more dignified than tenuous good looks.

Observation - 29

The arts of waiting and patience are one and the same; patiently waiting or waiting for patience.

Observation - 28

The scent of baking bread fills the house and makes me feel hungry.

Pure Haiku

Recently I had a number of my haiku rejected from a specialist magazine that only publishes haiku. The reason given was that my haiku were too traditional! 

When I stopped laughing in disbelief I examined the samples of what is now accepted as haiku written in the English language. To me, they had ceased to be haiku. The reason given as to why the traditional syllabic structure of 5-7-5 is no longer necessary, is that writers of English find it hard to achieve. 


Um, if you're wordsmith, then surely you're always aiming to aspire and conquer new forms of writing? At least, that's what I do! If it doesn't succeed the first time, throw it away and try again!

Now, I know that many other magazines still accept haiku written in the traditional form and I actually have no problem with this new form of haiku. My point is that if it is not traditional haiku, then surely it should be given another name? Also, why reject the traditional form completely? Surely that is throwing the baby out with the bath water!

The result of all this is that I have taken the plunge and started up a second blog called Pure Haiku. In it I will endeavour to write traditional haiku (5-7-5 syllabic structure) and I would like to build up a network with other people who think the same way as I do. 

So, if you enjoy writing traditional haiku, please pop in and say hello and let me know what your website / blogsite link is. Even if you don't write haiku but are interested in something different, I look forward to meeting you. 

There isn't much on the blogsite yet as I've only just created it. But I look forward to preserving a beautiful poetic form by demonstration and invite you join me. 

Observation - 27

Tight green buds on the Tumbler. How long before they open up into delicate yellow flowers that in their turn produce round, red fruit?

Observation - 26

The wind is an uneasy being, stirring trees in his passing.

Observation - 25

Men are grumpy if not well-fed and watered regularly.

Observation - 24

Pons. That is the key to brain message disfunction. But how to persuade it to function normally?

Observation - 23

You get one problem sorted out and then another one or two (at least) appear. Like weeds, problems must be dealt with thoroughly. See them as challenges...

Observation - 22

Tempered steel is stronger because it is beaten hard and put through the forge fire repeatedly. I feel like that. But for what purpose am I being tempered? And, who is forging me?

Observation - 21

Lack of bright sunshine doesn't necessarily mean coolness. At lunchtime today I sat out beneath heavy, grey clouds, enjoying the warmth.

Observation - 20

The more space one has, the more one fills it. I don't seem to like emptiness. But empty can be good; I must choose what to fill it with, with great care.

Observation - 19

Invisible bird sings a song like quicksilver; liquid, vivacious, note combinations no human throat could ever achieve.

Observation - 18

Cold breeze, chill air; perfect view to the distant ocean with tankers showing long and low against the pale horizon.

Observation - 17

I exist in a bubble unless I choose to connect with the world.

Observation - 16

Despite the presence of Summer, gloom hangs low, weighing us down. We need colour and laughter, flamboyance and escapism! Wear pink, orange and yellow, clashing reds and violets. Don't let Them get you down...

Observation - 15

Dust always returns. So why do I bother cleaning it away? Because my partner occasionally suffers from eczema. Because dust annoys me; I don't like all that dead skin hanging around!

Observation - 14

The sun shines and we peel off our winter clothes to expose our white, lumpy limbs. What must the sun think of us?

Observation - 13

I remember the first rose bud of 2011 blushing red and yellow, bursting from the green covering that protected it. A splash of noisy colour in a garden dominated by green, white and blue.

Observation - 12

Men are always a lot easier to deal with if you keep them well-fed and supplied with tea...

Dragonscale Clippings - why?

Dragonscale Clippings

Dragonscale Clippings is the blog belonging to me, Freya Pickard. If you want to get inside the mind of a writer, this is the blog to read.

Firstly, what is a blog? A blog is like an informal diary that is kept online and is available for the world to see. So you have to be careful what you write…! I’m fairly new to them but have slowly begun to understand how they are a way of communicating with the rest of world. Through my blog I have reached people I would never otherwise have come into contact with.

Secondly, what do I blog about? Mainly I write about writing. Sounds boring, but I’m interested in the creative process. It is fascinating to receive feedback from people in response to my blogs. Sometimes I express my opinions. At other times I just capture a moment in time. Also I reflect on everyday life and how ordinary or fascinating it can be.

Thirdly, why bother reading a blog? For sheer enjoyment! I do not write long entries. Most of the time I write two or three sentences at most. Occasionally I write more if I’ve reviewing something or having a rant!

Fourthly, how do you find my blog? If you have internet access it’s simple. Simply go to http://dragonscaleleggings.blogspot.com/

Have a look around. Leave a comment or two if you wish. Follow me if you want!

I was recently awarded The Versatile Blogger Award which you can read about here http://dragonscaleleggings.blogspot.com/2011/05/versatile-blogger-award.html

If you would like to be updated every time I blog (I usually blog once a week, maximum is 3 times a week) then please send an email to Freya.pickard@gmail.com with Blog in the subject line.

Comments left by readers of my blog: -

A beautiful description and an appreciation of how to be aware of the miracle of nature

I am loving your resolutions, they are so on the ball.

This is great – I can almost see the “word-ships”

Lovely little gem

Love this – I am reminded of the mist that so often hangs above the fields beyond my house

Observation - 11

Homemade crusty rolls with mayonaised tuna; soft, meaty, delicious. Who needs fast food?!

Observation - 10

People will always disagree with my point of view. I won't always agree with others. This shouldn't drive us apart. We should recognise and respect our differences and get on.

Observation - 9

Being organised is a lot less stressful than panicking about everything. One thing at a time. Tick it off the list. Doesn't matter if it doesn't all get done.

Observation - 8

If I concentrate on one thing at a time I am more productive in all aspects of my life. Multi-tasking is a fallacy.

Observation - 7

Barometer falling; warm wind blows up the valley bringing humidity and the promise of rain, in a sunny, clouded sky.

Observation - 6

If I wait long enough with quietness in my heart, the robin will appear, hopping from branch to branch within the hedge.

Observation - 5

Something I remembered today...

Like drifted snow, frozen mid-slide, May blossom drapes the hedgerows. Later, red fruit will develop. 

Observation - 4

Green fire clothes the hedgerows, consumes the trees, shrouding the earth in the colour of Summer.

Observation - 3

Three lettuces turn their faces towards the sun, expanding leaves spread out, lengthening, growing.

Observation - 2

The pink flower with trefoil-like leaf turns out to be Oxalis. Still, the plant remains in my mind as "Mistletoe's Bed" for that is where she liked to sleep.

Observation - 1

Where the trumpet flower blazed triumphant, the misty bluebells swarmed victoriously, now grows the uncurling fern and bracken, straight spears of ragged green.