2018 FiFA World Cup Russia flags, courtesy of FIFA

Did you take time to peruse the Peonies? You bet you did!

Congratulations, haijin:

Haikai Challenge Participants

Powered by… Mister Linky’s Magical Widgets.

Now, for something unique!

I repaired a hedge-trimmer today. Not bad for a poet and teacher–and a slowly evolving home handiman. It only took a second trip to a lawn parts store, a few clips of a pair of needlenose pliers/wire-cutters, some creative insertions and dragging, and a whole lot of patience. With the repair complete, I finally wacked the pesky weeds that had dominated the perimeter of my yard for two weeks! That, and a precious need to relax and read, accounts for my tardy posting of this week’s challenge.

You probably guessed where this is going. Only you’d be mistaken. Because as appropriate a kigo as cutting summer grass could be, there is an even more significant–and timebound–one at hand: The 2018 FIFA World Cup!

I have heard it said that Europe’s true religion is Soccer. Perhaps that’s true of the world. While Soccer remains less popular than in the rest of the world, I like the game.

That said, I have only one dog in the World Cup. The USA, Ireland and Italy failed to qualify. However, my wife and her family emigrated from Portugal in 1980.

So Vive Portugal!

This week, write the haikai poem of your choice (haiku, senryu, haibun, tanka, haiga, renga) that alludes to the World Cup.

As always:

Here’s how the challenge works:

1. write the haikai poem of your choice.
2. post the link of your post to Mister Linky.
3. pingback by posting the link to the challenge on your site.
4. read and comment on other contributors’ posts.

Enjoy, haijin! And Vive Portugal! 🙂