Second grade. I follow the exercises in the book. Up and down, up and down, up and down. Then the next set: round and round and round again, left to right on the lines across the page. All to accomplish handwriting the alphabet in script.
first penmanship …
watching outside our window
a cardinal
My best man called my handwriting sanskrit. My mother said I had “doctor’s script.” She wondered whether she’d forced me to write with my right hand, a commonplace practice in her youth. It’s a possibility; I’m quasi-ambidextrous. And my left-handed script is almost legible.
Blue jay scolding
handwritten journals piled
on my desk
Times change. Our school district chose to drop penmanship from the elementary school curriculum. Technology made handwriting “obsolete.” Mira and I tried to teach Frankie on our own, when he was younger. I even bought him a penmanship series similar to mine from second grade.
But to this day, he does not know how to write in script.
windchimes
the last geese
take flight
for dVerse Poets Haibun Monday–Handwriting and Real Toads Tuesday Platform–National Handwriting Day
Share the love. Spread the haikai:
Categories: haikai, haiku community
Frank J. Tassone 
You really do write like a doctor! My analysis of your writing : determined, impatient and serious person😊
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Vivian! You described two out of three of my traits. I leave you to figure out which! LOL! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ok- I’ll go for the positives; determined and serious😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀
LikeLike
I’m so glad you made it, Frank. One thing I noticed, your handwriting is similar to my late father’s. Another thing,we have all been through the copying exercises, for some boring, for others comforting. And all the left-handers who have shared haibun this week had problems with teachers or other adults. I love the first haiku, with the cardinal that is a beautiful distraction form penmanship.And I love the windchimes and geese!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have not written cursive in ages… probably don’t even have a style. I think you should be proud of your style
LikeLiked by 1 person
I loved your story Frank. We had similar instruction in writing. Your imagery of bird tracks in comparison is a nice touch.
Dwight
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Dwight!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Typing used to be the rare skill. Now it’s penmanship.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m curious to know if you feel your son is hindered in any way by his lack of cursive ability. Having worked with doctors for 30 plus years, I can honestly say your handwriting is better than 99% of them! I enjoyed your write.
LikeLiked by 1 person
One of my brothers is ambidextrous, too, and for the same reasons–forced to used his right hand when his left was more comfortable. He got lucky and is able to use both with ease, but for different activities. His handwriting is art… of the nearly abstract sort.
LikeLiked by 1 person