Photo by Andrew Measham on Unsplash
steamed breath in cupped hands—
sudden reflex pacifies
bitter, northern breeze
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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Instructions Included Challenge Winners
For the Instructions Included challenge, we asked writers to tell a story through instructions and to trust the form to carry what could not be said outright. Across the top entries, that trust paid off in many different ways.
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Comments (32)
Congratulations! Love the last line.
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!
Congratulations! Clever haiku.
Congrats! Clever haiku ❄️
Congrats on placing! was great seeing your name alongside my own and so many familiar names!
Wooohooooo congratulations on your win! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
Congratulations, my friend!
Congratulations on your win, Lamar! This Haiku certainly appeals to the weather today, here in New York.👏👏💙
a day like today where i am congrats!
Congratulations on your placement, Lamar!
I can feel the little burst of heat in the chill.
Congrats!
How did I mis this one? Oh, that's right I tuned out the world a while back. Congrats, love this!
Back to say congratulations on placing - absolutely stellar work, my friend. :)
Such a small moment, held with so much care :-)
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! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
A beautiful and unique imagery! Of course, this 'Island Gurrl' would certainly rather not have to resort to such. Necessities 🥶
When I read the middle line, I relaxed my shoulders. Your words are this powerful! haha
perfect haiku fitting the season
Fabulous writing Lamar! 💪🏾🫶🏾
Northern breeze indeed. Anyone who has lived in the cold Knows this meaning
Exactly what a Haiku does, captures the moment! Love it!
Wow. That’s exactly how felt this morning venturing out my front door into the frigid new year! Great haiku, Lamar! Good luck in the challenge!