Haiku About Ireland

When we were in Ireland I put my novel on hold, but I took a small notebook with me to hopefully capture some of the beauty in words. I wrote about 150 haiku on the trip. I post my favorites here with the exception of a few I have set aside for submission. Many others will be featured on my haiku blog: Four Leaves Haiku in the upcoming months. 

shamrock on the plane

headed in

the right direction

the old library 

too many books

for one lifetime

other tourists

my comrades

with cameras

cathedral arches

whispers turn

to echoes

stained glass windows

ancient faces

with light shone through 

driving on the left 

grazing sheep 

on the right

a chill 

in the air

august in galway 

rainbow

reminds me

how lucky i am

church ruin

the ghosts

of all who prayed here

irish dancers

spirit in 

their toes

same language

different accents

miscommunication

ice cream

in the rain

sweet afternoon

bed and breakfast

good bed

better breakfast

the ring of kerry

namesake

mountains

where the 

mountains meet

...waterfall 

jaunting car

a horse named

jesse james

elephant rock

grazing

near the water

tattoo

a permanent 

souvenir

morning coffee

brown sugar

a splash of cream

flight attendants

the final 

irish accents 











"Travel is more than the seeing the sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living." - Miriam Beard 

Published in bottle rockets press

This post is long overdue, but I had four haiku published in the most recent volume of bottle rockets press. Two I wrote a long time ago back in college and two are more recent. 

writing only
sad poems today
pms

another late night
food dehydrator
infomercials 

painting outside          sun stroke

back yard
sun cuts
across the grass

"And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves..." - F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby 

A Quote...

A Quote...

Book Research in Saint Peter, Minnesota

This past weekend I flew to Minnesota to visit friends and family. While there my mom and I drove down to Saint Peter to do some book research. 

Here are some future book locations: 

Saint Peter Water Tower

Nicollet County Courthouse

Gustavus Adolphus College

Minnesota Security Hospital 

I have a much better feel of this small town and can't wait to do more writing. 

"Conditions are never just right. Those who delay action until all factors are favorable are the kind who do nothing." - William Feather 

Published by Issa's Untiy Hut

Lilliput Review is a publication of short poetry. Last week, I was published on Lilliput's poetry blog, "Issa's Untidy Hut." Each week the blog publishes two Wednesday Haiku and my haiku was chosen for #119. It was posted on June 13th, 2013, an early birthday present. 

Here is the Link. Take a moment to read the comments: 

Issa's Untidy Hut Wednesday Haiku #119

"First say to yourself what you would be; then do what you have to do." - Epictetus 

Published in Modern Haiku

The volume of Modern Haiku that features my poem was published in the winter, but my copy was lost in the mail. The important thing is that it came today. 

between the pages 

of a self-help book

four-leaf clover

-Modern Haiku, Volume 44.1, Winter-Spring 2013

"The only journey is the journey within." - Rainer Maria Rilke 

Published by Cuento Magazine

More Twitter poetry/fiction for your enjoyment!

Bio: Kerry J. Heckman @kerryjheckman lives and writes in Chicago. She blogs at kerryjheckman.blogspot.com. (#287)
— Cuento Magazine (@CuentoMag) April 16, 2013 

candles on the table / a conversation between two men in pointy hats / blowing smoke //@kerryjheckman
— Cuento Magazine (@CuentoMag) April 16, 2013

Bio: Kerry J. Heckman @kerryjheckman lives and writes in Chicago. She blogs at kerryjheckman.blogspot.com . (#289)
— Cuento Magazine (@CuentoMag) April 23, 2013

His waistline and hairline didn’t match her slender figure or long blond hair, but she put the ring on and made the promises. @kerryjheckman
— Cuento Magazine (@CuentoMag) April 23, 2013

"When you are lucky enough to find a way of life you love, you have to find the courage to live it." - John Irving 

Published by One Forty Fiction

Yesterday I was published by One Forty Fiction. 

Check out today's story, "Almost Home," by Kerry J Heckman: wp.me/p1CmVy-HZ
— One Forty Fiction (@onefortyfiction) April 9, 2013

To see it on the website click here: Almost Home

"The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned." - Maya Angelou

A Quote...

"Gay rights are human rights, and human rights are gay rights." - Hillary Clinton 

Story of the Month in Long Story Short

A short story I wrote was chosen for the March "Story of the Month" in the Long Story Short Ezine. You'll see my name right smack in the middle of the webpage. There is also a short interview with me following the story. And the website publisher wrote to me: "Kerry, you are an excellent writer!" Joy.

Long Story Short Ezine

"Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary." - Steve Jobs

Published by Seedpod Publishing

Seedpod Publishing posted my twitter fiction today.

The snow swirled around her and she swayed in the wind, just like that kitschy hula dancer he had on his dashboard. @kerryjheckman
— Seedpod Publishing (@seedpodpub) February 12, 2013

"What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it." - Unknown

Published by Cuento Magazine

On February 5th and February 8th I was published by Cuento (means "Story" in Spanish) Magazine on Twitter.

Bio: Kerry J. Heckman @kerryjheckman lives and writes in Chicago. She blogs at kerryjheckman.blogspot.com. (#270)
— Cuento Magazine (@CuentoMag) February 5, 2013

Whenshe plays it back she changes the details. She thinks everyone doesthat, rearranges the pieces so they can live with the picture.
— Cuento Magazine (@CuentoMag) February 5, 2013

Bio: Kerry J. Heckman @kerryjheckmanlives and writes in Chicago. She blogs at kerryjheckman.blogspot.com . (#271)
— Cuento Magazine (@CuentoMag) Feb

Decatur is not far from Clinton, but no one will know me there. My crime is a crime of this town; everyone else has forgotten about it.
— Cuento Magazine (@CuentoMag) February 8, 2013

"Twilight drops her curtain down and pins it with a star." - Lucy Maud Montgomery 

Published by Seven By Twenty

I've discovered the most amazing thing: twitter fiction. Fiction in 140 characters or less. My first piece of twitter fiction was published today on Seven By Twenty. 

The noise in my head against the quiet clatter of the city train: at any time in the years that followed did you think of me? @kerryjheckman
— Seven By Twenty (@7x20) January 29, 2013

BIO Kerry J. Heckman @kerryjheckman lives and writes in Chicago. She blogs at kerryjheckman.blogspot.com.
— Seven By Twenty (@7x20) January 29, 2013

"Twitter provides us with a wonderful to discuss/confront societal issues. We trend Justin Bieber instead." - Lauren Leto

A Quote...

Free Rice

I'm sure many of you have heard of Free Rice, but I wanted to give it a plug on my blog. Free Rice is a free and easy way to fight hunger, while making you smarter at the same time. All you have to do is go to freerice.com and answer questions. For each question you get right Free Rice donates ten grains of rice through the World Food Programme (I'll ignore the way they spell programme) to help end hunger. I usually do the English vocabulary questions, but there are many other subjects to choose from. Teachers: use it with your students. Easily one of my top ten favorite websites.    

"If you can't feed a hundred people, just feed one." - Mother Teresa 

A Quote...

Published by Six Sentences

My six sentences story "Fresh Start" was published on the wonderful flash fiction website Six Sentences today.  Read it and decide if you think it is good, great, or six-tacular!

Here is the link: "Fresh Start" on Six Sentences

"Sometimes I've believed as many a six impossible things before breakfast." -  Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass