Carpe Diem Haiku prompt today is fortitude, and my choice today is a haibun.
Hotel Room by Edward Hopper
Growing up with a mother addicted to crack everyone thought Donna was destined to a similar destiny, and when she got pregnant at the age of 16 they all expected that she would follow in her mother’s footstep. But Donna had the fortitude of a willow branch, she would bend but not break, and moving out to a cheap hotel she finished high-school. To everyone’s surprise made it through law school as a single mother. Some children have a surprising strength, just like a dandelion flower breaking through concrete.
dandelion child
escaping life in trailer park
with fortitude
—
July 1, 2013
Björn Rudbergs writings 
What a powerful story!
This is a beautiful portrait of a strong character. Love the image of the dandelion breaking through concrete.
This one touches me very personally. And, each haibun I read, I appreciate more the beauty of haibun. Thanks for a wonderful one.
beautiful, Bjorn, beautiful
I really enjoyed this – both the intro and the poem.
Dandelion child. Love that term, Bjorn. I’m a dandelion child ♥ I think this might parallel the story of the woman Senator who just fillibustered in Texas to save women from some archaic legislation. Pregnant at 16 but went on to be Harvard Law School graduate. Great story and magnificent haiku!
Dandelion child is actually a term from Sweden I learned.. The opposite are orchid child… but I grew up talking about dandelion children… it’s a lovely concept actually.
dandelion child
grows into an oak tree
strong and straight
I appreciated the use of haibun with this post. Enhanced your poem!
Courage Under Fire
Bravo Bjorn, perfectly done 🙂
Fortitude
each blade of grass/ sprouting through concrete pavement/ a rebellion for life.
Great one 🙂
May Donna’s kind flourish and flower all over the Earth!
Fortitude
Great one ~ good to read your work again ~ Happy Day ^_^
This is beautiful.
A truly inspirational haibun. 🙂
I very much liked your natural comparisons, of the willow branch and dandelion flower breaking through concrete… apt descriptions of Donna’s strength.
Thank you 🙂 yes those are real strengths to me
Well done.