I have finished the article mentioned in the second post of the day. However, having sat down at the computer without a clear plan, I have rather blown the last few hours. It all started when I checked my emails. Another rejection!

My January submissions have now gathered two acceptances and two rejections .The first one, I admit, was down to me trying to be too clever.  I should have spotted it, but you get caught up in the poem, become word blind and send off something you regret. It’s not the first time. That’s why we need editors.

The second unsuccessful submission was, I thought, quite strong, It had to be because it was going to a journal that habitually rejects me. They seem to have some secret directive on what a haibun should be and they aren’t sharing it with me. This time, it seems, my haiku weren’t up to standard. They were actually much better than most of the ones I write. I had sent them off with high hopes and yet again the broken body of a poem flutters to the ground . . .

However, I have finished the article I wanted to finish and that is now sent.

We had a proper lunch today  – home made tomato soup and fresh baked (still warm) soda bread. I pushed the boat out a bit and made cheese, onion and garlic soda bread. It was very good with the soup. And very good after the soup too. That’s why we hardly have any left.

Julia had said yesterday that, by the time I had completed sleeping for most of the day that I had turned pink again. She says I go grey, then white, when I am ill.  It was good to have some energy, even if only lasted long enough to make soup and soda bread.

As a result of four quick answers I already have quite a stock of material to send out again. I will have a look at it in a minute and add some final polish. The one that was rejected on the grounds of complexity will be drastically simplified. Apart from that there’s not much to do.

This isn’t arrogance, it’s just recognition that even if it takes three, four or five attempts I can generally place a poem. The choice of editor has as much to do with it as the choice of words.

Photographs are soda bread. I was careful about keeping the dough a bit drier this time, and cutting the cross deeper.  It looks like ana lien brain exploded in my cooker but it tastes OK. Some of it looks a bit light, but it was a dull day and I needed flash.

First post of the day is here, and second is here. I must be catching up now.