The NaPoWriMo prompt for Day Ten, created by the poet Eileen Tabios and named by Vince Gotera, the hay(na)ku is a variant on the haiku. A hay(na)ku consists of a three-line stanza, where the first line has one word, the second line has two words, and the third line has three words.
You can string them together an/or try a hay(na)ku sonnet, invented by the aforementioned Vince: Four hay(na)ku, adding up to twelve lines, and then a couplet of three words per line. Each stanza, in whatever shape, contains six words. A total of 30 words for the whole poem.
opossum strode across my deck last
night on a mission from god
her determined stride and low hanging
belly said she would birth soon
safe haven here all creatures welcome
And lest you think I am foolishly nature-loving:
“A single opossum can hoover up and kill an estimated 5,000 ticks in a season… Sometimes referred to as possums, they are a benefit to ecosystems and a healthy environment beyond eradicating ticks. They will catch and eat cockroaches, rats and mice – in addition to consuming dead animals of all types (also known as carrion). Gardeners appreciate opossums’ appetite for snails, slugs and for cleaning up over-ripe fruit and berries.
Opossums are also resistant to snake venom and actually prey on snakes, including venomous species such as copperheads and rattlesnakes. Having opossums around can minimize chances of encountering venomous species close to your home.”
~JANE KIRCHNER
Mused by Magdalene 