Speak Up

 

Her lashback at them

spoken with much bravado

causing a great flee.

Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

#speakup #confident #statement #outspoken #empowerment #womensrights #haiku #standup #defendyourself #spokentruth #HaikuJumble #educational #poetry #blog

American Chess Day

Strategy made fun

on a decorative board - 

must concentrate now.

Image by Marie Sjödin from Pixabay

#chess #game #pieces #strategy #gameboard #American #elective #competition #tournament #HaikuJumble #educational #poetry #blog

Happy 4th of July

 

Independence Day

reminds me that lack thereof

as a WHOLE nation.

There's so much more work to do especially for the women who help nurture and build up this country. I cannot help but wonder why it is that the few rights that I can reach for that legal papers say I'm supposed to have keeps getting denied to me or stripped away from me. But for now, we can celebrate togetherness and the shared struggles in solidarity. And you know, enjoy a day off because that's always good too!

#Happy4thofJuly #IndependenceDay #womensrights #solidarity #HaikuJumble #eduational #poetry #blog

First Day of July

 

Zig zags of light zap,

dart from fence to grass and trees.

"Oh, it's fireflies!"

Image by Rondell Melling from Pixabay

What a delight while walking the dogs out today to a brightening surprise of fireflies. I thought that I was seeing things at first. There were so many of them. lol Then one landed near my arm and then was able to see it up close. The dogs were very comfortable around them. Nature can lighten the heart at any time with just about anything.

#July #fireflies #lightningbugs #garden #insects #summer #outdoors #HaikuJumble #poetry #blog

Dangerous Weather

pain thunders throughout

torture flooding all over

shocking lightning strikes

 

#dangerousweather #HaikuJumble #poetry #blog

Mi Primo

 

No, "See you later,"

only time to remember,

each time we bonded.

A man took your life,

some stupid explanation,

too quick consequence.

Written by Andrelyn Izquierdo

#miprimo #notetoheaven #gunviolenceprevention #HaikuJumble #poetry #blog

Earth Day

 

One extra climate

change conscious decision to 

consider daily.

Image by Arek Socha from Pixabay

#earthday #climatechange #savetheplanet #makeadifference #HaikuJumble #educational #poetry #blog

Bananas

 

Hands of yellow moons,

grown from tall tropical plants,

mirroring the sun.

Image by Jonathan Kopka from Pixabay

10 Fun Facts About Bananas:

1. Bananas are the mature fruit of a bulbous perennial plant often referred to as a banana tree.
2. They are related to palms, lilies, and orchids.
3. Banana trees are sun-loving plants.
4. The outside color starts off as green and ripens into yellow.
5. Its peel has been used as a natural fertilizer when combined with water after a week.
6. An individual banana is known as a "finger" and a cluster of them is known as a "hand".
7. It is possible that the banana may be the first fruit to be cultivated worldwide.
8. While everyone knows that bananas are fruits, they are specifically classified as berries.
9. They're a great source of fiber, vitamins, and potassium.
10. Used in the kitchen to make banana bread, muffins, and ice cream.

Sources:

1. McLeod, Jamie. Farmer's Almanac. 10 Banana Facts You May Find A-Peeling: https://www.farmersalmanac.com/banana-trivia-15167 4/20/22.
2. National Day Calendar. https://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-banana-day-april-15/ 4/20/22.
3. Szalay, Jessie; Bryner, Jeanna; Dobrijevic, Daisy. Live Science. Bananas: Health Benefits, Risks & Nutrition Facts: https://www.livescience.com/45005-banana-nutrition-facts.html 4/20/22.

#bananaday #fruit #berries #perennial #plant #horticulture #HaikuJumble #educational #poetry #blog

Garlic

 

Stinking rose lily,

famous for pungent flavors,

good in any dish.

Image by AndrelynWriting

Happy Garlic Day!

Celebrating today one of the most versatile delicious food plant ingredients of all time. It's notorious in pasta dishes and almost every sauce for various plates. Its medicinal property is antibiotic and its strong aroma can carry like the scent of an onion without the crying unless you eat it raw. Which, by the way, is very good for your health.

I've added the dried ground seasoning as well as pieces of it inside of my soup for lunch. How will you enjoy your garlic today?

Source:

1. National Day Calendar. NATIONAL GARLIC DAY - April 19 - National Day Calendar 4/19/22.

#GarlicDay #bulb #plant #gardening #seasoning #HaikuJumble #educational #poetry #blog

El Mejor Flor del Jardin

  

La rosa habla

con el viento y llueve - 

dulce petalos.

Image by AliceKeyStudio from Pixabay

English Translation in haiku form:

The rose is speaking

with the wind and the raindrops - 

petals of sweetness.

#rosa #flor #planta #jardin #rose #flower #plant #garden #HaikuJumble #educational #poetry #blog

Noose

 

Destruction woven

tightly with every strand -

racial corruption.

Image by Siggy Nowak from Pixabay

Facts About Lynchings:

• According to NAACP records, 4,743 lynchings occurred in the U.S. between the years 1882 and 1968.
• Not just African Americans were lynched, but Latinos/Hispanics, Native Americans, and those who are White were also lynched too. Race intersects with the other identity demographics like gender and age to be included in these lynchings as well.
• Most sentences carried out for lynchings, if there were any, were wrongful allegations and nonsense, such as robbery and asking for a drink of water.
• White children were included in the lynch mob audience watching African Americans struggle during their hangings and African American children were lynched too.
• At the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, AL, there's a section that was nicknamed as the "wall of tears" that had this inscription: "THOUSANDS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE UNKNOWN VICTIMS OF RACIAL TERROR LYNCHINGS WHOSE DEATHS CANNOT BE DOCUMENTED, MANY WHOSE NAMES WILL NEVER BE KNOWN. THEY ARE HONORED HERE." (Why Did They Hate Us?)
• Before, during, and after the executions, the slaves were also tortured by stripping, burning, beating, muzzled, etc.

Image from History.com / Human Pictures - Equal Justice Initiative

Sources to read more information and view photos:

1. Without Sanctuary - The title of this website speaks for itself. There are many recovered images displaying the various kinds of lynchings and what they looked like. Very graphic with descriptions. https://withoutsanctuary.com/
   
   
2. Statista - Title: Number of executions by lynching in the United States by state and race between 1882 and 1968 - https://www.statista.com/statistics/1175147/lynching-by-race-state-and-race/
   
   
3. NAACP - Title: History of Lynching in America - https://naacp.org/find-resources/history-explained/history-lynching-america
   
   
4. History.com - Title: 'Why Did They Hate Us': Explaining the Lynching Memorial to My Son - https://www.history.com/news/lynching-museum-visiting-children
   
   
5. This just happened today. President Joe Biden signed an antilynching bill by the Equal Justice Iniative. Title: Antilynching Act Signed Into Law - https://eji.org/news/antilynching-act-signed-into-law/

Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

#noose #BlackHistory #execution #racialinjustice #HaikuJumble #educational #poetry #blog #AndrelynWriting

Foxgloves

 

Tall garden columns,

symmetrical lineage,

efflorescence bells.

Image from Andrelyn Izquierdo.

These were in my garden during the summer. Young plants were emerging in each color while they were sunbathing too. It was such a pretty sight. 😀

#foxglove #bellshaped #flowers #garden #nature #plant #HaikuJumble #educational #poetry #blog #AndrelynWriting

Ketanji Brown Jackson

 

Merciful gavel,

accomplished and qualified,

admirable stature.

Image from Whitehouse.gov

My personal reflection on Ketanji while watching the days of hearings:

While I have not watched all of her entire hearing yet, I am taking my time getting through it to carefully examine the verbiage of the criticisms, Ketanji's answers to some exceedingly tough questions, and actively listening to her report by the review committee who did her background check on her reputation and competency. Hearing such positivity in positions she's worked in that were tough and then also following procedures by the book every case she's worked in with the law to back her up, is jaw-dropping and yet, inspirational. Having to be a woman of color and being a rule follower, my reputation at times, can be tossed to the ground and then stomped on. But for Ketanji, the defendant, probation office, AND the PROSECUTOR all had such wonderful things to compliment her and gave genuine feedback on her work performance. How she did that, I do not know. But this is a recognizable achievement that hit me like a ton of bricks that is hard not to think about her color during that moment. Yes, we shouldn't consider everything that she is of the Black race. But I cannot help but notice how important it's to do the exact opposite and recognize that this woman has nothing, but remarkable things mentioned about her and she's a Black woman. She's achieved so much as a Black woman. This is not to be ignored. That itself is so fascinating and then you get to see her in the hot seat and how she dealt with that. Then to hear her speak, taking her time to make sure she has gathered herself before responding to questions at times, what seemed like insults. I commend this woman for all that she is, what she does, and how she carries on her work. She gives me hope for the possibility that my problems can turn around in the court of law someday which may encourage me more to report unlawful behavior done to me in horrible situations. While there is still such a long way to go. She's the glimmer that's not going away. And I know this having heard her record of how many times she's been confirmed on that very floor in the Senate House. How many times does someone have to be there and still get questioned like that and still not lose her patience? She does something that I don't think I could even do in those toughest moments. She truly is amazing and that is why I chose the word admirable to describe her in the haiku.

Her record is like a polished diamond that sparkles.

Image from ABA Journal

She is currently in the waiting period for confirmation as Associate Justice in the US Supreme Court from the Senate. Her hearings were on Monday, 3/21 - Thursday, 3/24/22. There are many all over YouTube. One will be listed below to help you catch up.

10 Fun Facts About Ketanji Brown Jackson:

1. Born in 1970 as Ketanji Onyika Brown in Washington D.C. to parents, who were educators.
2. At 4-years-old, her family moved to Miami, Florida for her father to enroll in the University of Miami School of Law.
3. Jackson is the first generation in her family to "benefit from the Civil Rights Movement Legacy," meaning she did not have to live within the challenging times of our segregated nation when it was considered lawful. (Part of her quote from the hearing)
4. She was elected Mayor of Palmetto Junior High and student body president in Palmetto Senior High School (1988).
5. In her senior year of high school, Ketanji was awarded the national oratory title at the National Catholic Forensic League Championships in New Orleans. This tournament was the second-largest debate competition in the US.
6. At Harvard University, she studied government and led a protest against a student who displayed a Confederate Flag in his dorm room window.
7. During her first year of college, she was a reporter for Time Magazine and later, was the Editor of the Harvard Law Review.
8. Jackson graduated in 1992 with an A.B. magna cum laude. For her senior thesis, she wrote a piece titled "The Hand of Oppression: Plea Bargaining and the Coercion of Criminal Defendants".
9. In 2005, Ketanji worked as an assistant federal public defender in Washington, D.C.
10. Nominations from The White House: In 2012, President Obama nominated her to be in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. On February 25, 2022, President Biden nominated her to be the 116th Associate Justice in the U.S. Supreme Court.

Her Quote from the Senate Hearing

WATCH LIVE: Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson Supreme Court Confirmation Hearings - Day 4

Another Ketanji Quote from the Senate Hearing

Bibliography:

1. Lande, John. Indisputably. The Hand of Oppression: Plea Bargaining Processes and the Coercion of Criminal Defendants: http://indisputably.org/2022/02/the-hand-of-oppression-plea-bargaining-processes-and-the-coercion-of-criminal-defendants/ 3/27/22.
2. PBS NewsHour. YouTube. 
3. The Associated Press. U.S. News & World Report. Quotes on Ketanji Brown Jackson's Supreme Court Nomination: https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2022-02-25/quotes-on-ketanji-brown-jacksons-supreme-court-nomination 3/27/22.
4. The White House. President Biden Nominates Ketanji Brown Jackson to Serve on the U.S. Supreme Court: https://www.whitehouse.gov/kbj/ 3/26/22.
5. Weiss, Debra CassensAmerican Bar Association. Jackson Showed No Signs of Bias in Criminal Cases, ABA Evaluators Tell Senators; Uniform High Praise Compelled Top Rating: https://www.abajournal.com/web/article/jackson-showed-no-signs-of-bias-toward-criminal-defendants-aba-evaluators-told 3/27/22.
6. Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia. Ketanji Brown Jackson: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketanji_Brown_Jackson 3/27/22.

#WomensHistoryMonth #KetanjiBrownJackson #judge #law #senatehearing #supremecourt #HaikuJumble #educational #poetry #blog

Maya Angelou

 

Always looking up,

her words uplifted our souls,

sweet inspiration.

Image from Twitter: @DrMayaAngelou

10 Fun Facts About Maya Angelou:

1. Born in St. Louis, Mississippi as Marguerite Ann Johnson.
2. Maya Angelou American poet, storyteller, activist, singer, dancer, composer, and autobiographer.
3. At seven-years-old, she was raped by her mother's boyfriend, which turned her into a mute after her uncles murdered him. She remained mute for 5 years, but developed her language through reading books by Black authors and poetry. At 12-years-old, an African American author by the name of Mrs. Flowers encouraged her to speak again and inspired Maya's love for poetry.
4. In the West Coast and Hawaiian nightclubs, she sang during the late 1950s.
5. She worked with Martin Luther King and Malcolm X during the Civil Rights Movement as an activist.
6. One of her poems published in 1971, Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'fore I Diiie, was written about her stance against the Vietnam War and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 1972.
7. During her career in film and television, she produced a screenplay called Georgia, Georgia making her the first Black woman to have one.
8. She served on two Presidential Committees for Gerald Ford in 1975 and Jimmy Carter in 1977.
9. During the '90s, Maya Angelou wrote several children's books including Life Doesn't Frighten Me in 1993.
10.  She was awarded twice at the White House by President Bill Clinton receiving the National Medal of Arts and President Barack Obama the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

On January 20, 1993, she read her poem, On the Pulse of Morning, at the Inauguration.

Raw: Maya Angelou's Poem from Clinton's 1993 Inauguration

Her Twitter Page: @DrMayaAngelou

"Just like moons and like suns,

With the certainty of tides,

Just like hopes springing high,

Still I'll rise." #MayaAngelou pic.twitter.com/fo8IV5ovmp

— Maya Angelou (@DrMayaAngelou) March 20, 2022

Maya Angelou Receives Arts Humanities Award from 

President Clinton 2000

 Maya Angelou Receives Presidential Medal of Freedom

A Writing Piece She's Authored

Caged Bird

BY MAYA ANGELOU

A free bird leaps

on the back of the wind   

and floats downstream   

till the current ends

and dips his wing

in the orange sun rays

and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks

down his narrow cage

can seldom see through

his bars of rage

his wings are clipped and   

his feet are tied

so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings   

with a fearful trill   

of things unknown   

but longed for still   

and his tune is heard   

on the distant hill   

for the caged bird   

sings of freedom.

The free bird thinks of another breeze

and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees

and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn

and he names the sky his own.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams   

his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream   

his wings are clipped and his feet are tied   

so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings   

with a fearful trill   

of things unknown   

but longed for still   

and his tune is heard   

on the distant hill   

for the caged bird   

sings of freedom.

Maya Angelou, “Caged Bird” from Shaker, Why Don't You Sing? Copyright © 1983 by Maya Angelou. Used by permission of Random House, an imprint and division of Penguin Random House LLC. All rights reserved.

Source: The Complete Collected Poems of Maya Angelou (Random House Inc., 1994)

Maya Angelou Quarter

Image from mayaangelou.com

Maya Angelou Becomes 1st Black Woman Featured on 

US Quarters

Bibliography:

1. Caged Bird Legacy, LLC. Continuing the Life Work of Maya Angelou: https://mayaangelou.com/ 3/24/22.
2. Poetry Foundation. Maya Angelou: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/maya-angelou 3/24/22.
3. YouTube. CMG Worldwide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2wNfRPVcUo&t=238s 3/24/22.
4. YouTube. CNN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ecWterxtq0 3/24/22.
5. YouTube. Maya Angelou: https://www.youtube.com/channel/
   UCowCXhKPULDkFiec3Blckzg 3/24/22.

#WomensHistoryMonth #MayaAngelou #HaikuJumble #poetry #educational #blog 

War on Ukraine

 

Sparked by some nonsense,

a deadly rage consequence,

needs to be ended.

Image by Luisella Planeta Leoni LOVE PEACE 💛💙 from Pixabay

Here are some news articles to read about what's happening now:

• Twitter - articles, maps, and saving pets too -
  Title: Russia Continues Attacks on Ukrainian cities: 
  https://twitter.com/i/events/1483255084750282753?s=20

• NBC News - video and news articles - Title: Ukraine-Russia War Live Updates: Biden meets with NATO allies as war hits one-month mark: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/ukraine-russia-war-live-updates-biden-meet-nato-allies-n1292873

• Atlantic Council - news article - Title: Vladimir Putin's Ukraine War Ends in Only Two Ways: Genocide or Defeat: https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/vladimir-putins-ukraine-war-can-end-in-only-two-ways-genocide-or-defeat/

Photo from atlanticcouncil.org

• LinkedIn - statistics and news articles - Title: US Will Take 100,000 War Refugees: https://www.linkedin.com/news/story/us-will-take-100000-war-refugees-4681361/

#ukrainewar #peaceforukraine #HaikuJumble #educational #poetry #blog

First Day of Spring

 

bulbous stems arise

geese and bird flocks surf the sky

cherry trees turn pink

#firstdayofspring2022 #wakeup #HaikuJumble #poetry #blog #haikujumble #poem #blogger

White-Throated Sparrow

 

Sings atop branches,

notice its sleek white hairband,

picturesque features.

Image by Tim Harris | Audobon Photography Awards

This cute little bird caught my eye while reading the Audubon Newsletter earlier today. Here is the link to the article to read about it further:

Here Are 10 Fun Facts About the White-Throated Sparrow - 

https://www.audubon.org/news/10-fun-facts-about-white-throated-sparrow?ms=digital-eng-email-ea-x-engagement_20220320_eng-email_white-throated-sparrow-fun-facts&utm_source=ea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=engagement_20220320_eng-email&utm_content=white-throated-sparrow-fun-facts

#whitethroatedsparrow #WorldSparrowDay #NorthAmerica #bird #Audubon #HaikuJumble #poetry #blog #haikujumble #poetry #blogger

Pi Day

 

Not the pizza pie,

but a symbol learned while in

mathematics class.

π

from pisymbol.net

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

The Pi symbol, is Greek and equals 3.14 when rounded and is recognized today on March 14th, 2022. Some scientific calculators have the symbol ready to push which will reveal this number. Others, you will have to perform the calculation manually since they are the basic calculators.

#PiDay #mathematics #recognition #education #HaikuJumble #poetry #blog #haikujumble #poem #blogger 

Ash Wednesday

 

Unconditional

embrace of deepened solemn

love that can fulfill.

Photo by Episcopal Relief & Development

#AshWednesday2022 #religious #holiday #recognition #God #HaikuJumble #poetry #blog #haikujumble #poem #blogger

Harriet Tubman

 

Nicknamed conductor

of the Underground Railroad

led slaves to freedom.

Photo by National Women's History Museum

10 Fun Facts About Harriet Tubman:

1. Harriet was born during the slavery era, which is the main reason her birth date is unknown. It is estimated to be between the years 1820 & 1822.
2. By the time she turned 5-years-old, she was sold around her neighborhood as a slave to several Masters having been beaten repeatedly throughout her childhood.
3. One of her Masters gave her a head trauma causing her a lifetime of pain through headaches, dizzy spells, and epilepsy.
4. Her religion was Methodist, and she was a deeply passionate religious follower even though she was illiterate.
5. Harriet Tubman has been known as the "Moses of her people" for her courageous act of having helped many slaves as an Abolitionist.
6. She nicknamed herself the "Conductor" while leading waves of slaves through the Underground Railroad from the South to the North for 8 years through the evening while most of their owners were asleep. 
7. After the escape, she became an activist even though there was a warrant put out for her from the South.
8. She's the first African American woman in the military as an armed scout, spy, and guerrilla soldier.
9. Before carrying a weapon, she started out as a cook and nurse.
10. During the Civil War, she nursed other soldiers with herbal remedies who were injured in the war.

Photo by BlackAlliance.org

Photo by edi.nih.gov

Photo by BlackAlliance.org

Sources:

Black Alliance. Harriet Tubman Quotes on Slavery, Freedom, God, Every Dreamer, + We Out: https://blackalliance.org/harriet-tubman-quotes/ 3/2/22.

https://www.edi.nih.gov/blog/news/harriet-tubman-underground-railroad-visitor%E2%80%99s-center 3/2/22.

Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Harriet Tubman: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Harriet_Tubman 3/1/22.