Ups and Downs

sheilanewton on Jan 23, 2012

Tags: Fibonacci poetry, Haiku, highs and lows, nature, philosophy, Poetry, Samurai Warrior, society, squirrel, ups and downs of life

My response to the “Duality of the Samurai” poetry challenge.

Could I Be a Samurai?

The very idea that I could be a Samurai is a mighty notion indeed. Although I don’t think I could ever be a Samurai warrior, perhaps I can rise to the Samurai heights of being a philosopher and a poet!

Describing a Dual Nature – High or Low, Up or Down

In response to Triond writer, Philly Dreamer’s poetry challenge, ‘The Duality of the Samurai’, I chose to write about the dual nature of places high and low in society - with two haiku entitled ‘Ups and Downs’.

Viewing life from a low place, gazing upward, gives an entirely different perspective of self to viewing life looking down from on high.

Keeping within the essence of nature in haiku, I chose to look at these perspectives from the point of view of a squirrel!

Ups and Downs – Two Haiku

I look down on you

from my lofty place up high

and I am a god.

I look up at you

You look enormous – and me?

I’m just a squirrel

©Copyright Sheila Newton 2012

Dedication: This post is dedicated to Philly Dreamer who inspired a group of Triond writers to join in the challenge of writing a Fibonacci poem – and then setting us this challenge of the Duality of the Samurai. Hope there’s lots more challenges to come from Philly Dreamer.

Links to Philly Dreamer’s articles on poetry challenges:

Poetry Challenge: Fibonacci Poetry

http://scienceray.com/mathematics/poetry-challenge-fibonacci-poetry/

The Fibonacci Poetry Challenge was a Success

http://writinghood.com/writing/the-fibonacci-poetry-challenge-was-a-success/

Poetry Challenge: The Duality of the Samurai

http://bookstove.com/poetry/poetry-challenge-the-duality-of-the-samurai/

Catch up with Sheila on her blog at:

Writing for my Life

http://sheilanewton.blogspot.com

and her website, with links to many of her published online stories, articles and poems at:

Writeangleswithsheila’sBlog

www.writeangleswithsheila.wordpress.com

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Comments (89)

girishpuri on Jan 23, 2012
very nice indeed
papaleng on Jan 23, 2012
good Haikus.
ginav19 on Jan 23, 2012
A lot philosophical, nice
Margaret Boseroy on Jan 23, 2012
Very nice entry to the challenge. That’s just like a squirrel.
observer1 on Jan 23, 2012
Yes, you certainly sound busy and rise to a challenge!
Lady Sunshine on Jan 23, 2012
Cute! From the perspective of squirrels. Made me smile.
dazzlejazz on Jan 23, 2012
Sheila what a wonderful job you’ve done! Philly should be very proud of you
pruelpo on Jan 23, 2012
Great contribution for Philly poetry challenge.
Lisa Marie Mottert on Jan 23, 2012
images are soooo adorable!
Great perspective… very good Haiku!
LadyElena on Jan 23, 2012
Lovely Haiku and I like the photos. Thanks.
“Bravo” to Philly Dreamer.
realityspeaks on Jan 23, 2012
Beautiful…
ImKarn23 on Jan 23, 2012
O, Sheila! Have you received the gold medal yet? This was brilliant yet simple. Balance – i love it! Cred to Philly for motivating you to create!
Kristie Claar on Jan 23, 2012
Fantastic!
sheilanewton on Jan 23, 2012
You know, guys, I\’m just loving this sense of a great community we’ve got going with Philly’s incredible challenges. Wow!

Thanks for the fab comments. I so enjoyed writing this.
Mark Gordon Brown on Jan 23, 2012
Fun poems, fun challenge.
Socorro Lawas on Jan 23, 2012
The photos are just adorable and I loved reading this samurai stuff. Very creative.
PHILLY DREAMER on Jan 23, 2012
This is awesome. I love the metaphor of humility, and arrogance. If there was a prize it most certainly would go to you. Hopefully you will be rewarded with a great number of views.
MJRapp on Jan 23, 2012
Wow! Who knew a squirel could be so introspective?
Wrath Warbone on Jan 23, 2012
Very wise squirrels..
touchmenot on Jan 23, 2012
PRUDENT IDEA! BRING BACK TO GLORY TO GOD! AMEN…
lyan08 on Jan 23, 2012
nice
erwinkennythomas on Jan 23, 2012
amazing accomplishment
ittech on Jan 23, 2012
interesting writing again . Thnx for sharing .
Jsqc Writer on Jan 23, 2012
Brilliant Haiku poems my friend! I have much respect and appreciation for all your work. Thanks for sharing
ittech on Jan 24, 2012
TX 2 share
Hazel Crowther on Jan 24, 2012
Enjoyed thank you.
zulfikar on Jan 24, 2012
how could you be a samurai if you don’t believe you could? viewing life from different places gives different understandings and knowledge of nature.
and thanks for nice dedication to philly dreamer.
Christine Ramsay on Jan 24, 2012
Those haikus are just perfect. I think you have really succeeded with the challenge.
sheilanewton on Jan 24, 2012
Love all your comments, my friends.

Zulkfikar – thank you for making me believe I CAN be a Samurai!!
Frank on Jan 24, 2012
Great share. Thanks
Martin Kloess on Jan 24, 2012
works for me.
girishpuri on Jan 25, 2012
again here
Nidhi Rai on Jan 25, 2012
Excellent.
Buzz J on Jan 25, 2012
Wow, Sheila. You’ve got some wonderful moment here. Proud of you, my dear! Yeahhhhhhhh!!!!
avissado on Jan 25, 2012
brilliant! Wow you’ve really captured it so beautifully while meeting the S Challenge. well done!
conundrum on Jan 25, 2012
Tremendous! And kudos co’z I think you surpassed the challenge! Next time I’ll try to defy myself if I could do what you did! Enthralling!
Dora77 on Jan 25, 2012
Your Title “Ups’s and Downs” got me here……

Very inspiring to continue on triond…..Thanks Sheila
xphantoms on Jan 25, 2012
the Samurai, like it
vladimire popovski on Jan 25, 2012
Very spectacular!
mhassanmemon on Jan 26, 2012
Very creative
Nidhi Rai on Jan 26, 2012
Nice share.
yes me on Jan 26, 2012
Well done like that chaeers
multiplenews on Jan 27, 2012
Cute! From the perspective of squirrels. Made me smile.
Rosettaartist1 on Jan 27, 2012
I love watching squirrels. One ran up my trouser leg once as it thought the little toggles on my jacket might be hazelnuts. So funny!
Martin Kloess on Jan 27, 2012
dropped by to say hi
sheilanewton on Jan 27, 2012
Rosetta – I’ve got a phot or two of a squirrel climbing MY leg at St James’s Park in London. Cute little feller! Wanted me nuts!!!
Val Mills on Jan 28, 2012
Really nice response Sheila. I’ve not been here much and have missed seeing this challenge.
Nidhi Rai on Jan 28, 2012
Very nice.
R.A. Graves on Jan 28, 2012
Nice, I like that.
And that squirrel looks well fed compared to the ones we have around here.
avissado on Jan 28, 2012
came here to read it again today because I really liked it! Very nice …My husband thinks so too!
ittech on Jan 28, 2012
well written
tonyleather on Jan 29, 2012
A really good post Sheila. Great work.
ittech on Jan 29, 2012
quite good
Vinaya says good bye on Jan 30, 2012
wonderful haikus
prsol46 on Jan 31, 2012
Very nice work!
crazyjenn33 on Feb 2, 2012
Now this I like! I am a big poetry fan!
Safa on Feb 4, 2012
Inspiring. Good job Sheila.
aheed411 on Feb 5, 2012
A large share
FX777222999 on Feb 9, 2012
Good and nice share.
Thell Stars on Feb 10, 2012
nice article
Dora77 on Feb 10, 2012
Revisited to click “I LIKE IT”
Audrey Howitt on Feb 10, 2012
Aww! Nice!!
Ixodoi on Feb 12, 2012
Wonderful poem.

“I look down on you

from my lofty place up high

and I am a god.

I look up at you

You look enormous – and me?

I’m just a squirrel”

It is so true, for some people we are god, for others we are nothing.
bryan21764 on Feb 13, 2012
Ha Ha!!!! this was a good one. My wife and I joke are all the time about squirrels. A lot of people do not knwo that they bark “not like a dog….but search barking squirrel on youtube”. Either way we have Barked at each other countless times just to get a laugh out of the other person…. We have been known to do it in public on accident and then we realize……….humm everyone is looking at us.

Bryan
Adam Henry Sears on Feb 13, 2012
Hi, Sheila. Good job with this one. I like squirrels a lot, we have them around our place. They certainly do seem a little arrogant sometimes, though.

As for your haiku, you did well enough, though I don’t see any season-word. As for the kigo, (turning point) I suppose the end of the first and the beginning of the second could constitute that. Good job though. I really enjoyed these. The pics are cool too. Thanks for sharing.
sheilanewton on Feb 13, 2012
You’re right Adam – I didn’t include a season. But I honestly thought the season was optional. Well – now I know better.

And a note to Bryan – woof-woof!! yap-yap!!
ittech on Feb 15, 2012
nice piece
ittech on Feb 18, 2012
Very nice article.thanks..
ittech on Feb 19, 2012
Very well presented.
obikelvin on Feb 19, 2012
Another wonderful piece.You’ve done it again.Bravo!
nita kusuma dewi on Feb 19, 2012
nice article
ittech on Feb 19, 2012
Very well presented.
Angelji on Feb 22, 2012
Sheina you are so innovative ..
Safa on Mar 1, 2012
Excellent work!
girishpuri on Mar 4, 2012
Again here , Sheila
Angelji on Mar 5, 2012
beuatiful haiku it conveys a lesson,,yes yes ,,humility !
UncleSammy on Mar 11, 2012
thanks for sharing
A Bromley on Mar 13, 2012
Excellent. I love this. Two thumbs up on another great piece of work. Bravo my friend.
Nayan Basu on Mar 18, 2012
loved it
jennyreeve on Apr 8, 2012
Very nice indeed, I lie this.
Tiki33 on Apr 16, 2012
Quite impressive. I really enjoyed reading this and thanks for sharing it.
CHIPMUNK on Apr 21, 2012
so adorable
lauralu on May 5, 2012
Good One I love squirrels, except in my attic, lol
Elove Poetry on May 6, 2012
nice share
Fran DeLauraSmith on May 9, 2012
Nice work as always!!!
vickylass on May 11, 2012
It’s true. It all depends whether one’s up or down and the perspective changes completely. Good share!
Eiddwen on May 13, 2012
Wonderful !!Oh how I love youyr work and I can see that so many others agree.
Take care and have a great Sunday.
Eddy.
KittyK on May 20, 2012
Wow – your work is just beautiful – everything. I am going to crawl into my hole now….
Lisa Marie Mottert on May 27, 2012
Lovely piece with adorable pictures:) Thanks!

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