Weekly Haiku: 02/12/2026 -- Lincoln's Birthday

A haiku by the Editor, in honor of President Lincoln's birthday today!

"Abe Lincoln’s first love –

Ann Rutledge, a guiding light –

Unsung heroine."

Digital image by the Editor: Ann Rutledge (1813-1835), Lincoln's first love, in New Salem, IL.

Image Description: Ann Rutledge was Abraham Lincoln's first love, when they were living in New Salem, Illinois. Her tragic death (at age 22) sent Lincoln into a downward spiral of melancholy. However, he later came to see Ann as the inspiration for his aspiration to study law and enter upon his melioristic career as a public servant.

"Ann Rutledge's Epitaph"

(Engraved on Her Tombstone in 1921, Petersburg, IL)

By Edward Lee Masters (1868-1950)

Out of me unworthy and unknown

The vibrations of deathless music:

"With malice toward none, with charity toward all."

Out of me the forgiveness of millions toward millions,

And the beneficent face of a nation

Shining with justice and truth.

I am Ann Rutledge who sleeps beneath these weeds,

Beloved in life of Abraham Lincoln,

Wedded to him, not through union,

But through separation.

Bloom forever, O Republic,

From the dust of my bosom!

Lily's Language Lab: 02/08/2026

 Compiled by Lily Randall, Blog Staff Writer & Wortschatzmeisterin

Nostalgia refers to sentimental longing for the past, often associated with a sense of wistfulness or longing for times gone by. It's a powerful emotion that can evoke memories of people, places, and experiences that have since faded into the past.

I love the idea of exploring the past, seeing old friends, and experiencing moments that have long passed. It's a beautiful sentiment that captures the essence of nostalgia.

“Through the Force, things you will see. Other places. The future, the past. Old friends long gone.” – Jedi Grand Master Yoda (Star Wars, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back)

The Editor's distant cousin, Jada (pictured above), embraces Star Wars nostalgia by dressing up as a Jedi Master, with scenery from a galaxy far, far away in the background. (Digital image created by the Editor.)

 

Weekly Haiku: 02/04/2026

Haiku of the week by the Editor & his cousin Rowan!

"The wheel of the year –

Spun around by Mother Earth.

The four seasons turn."

Digital Image by the Editor: Gaia (Mother Earth) turns the Wheel of the Year to make the seasons arrive on time.

Image Description:

Gaia (Mother Earth in ancient Greek mythology) is clad in green robes & wears a wreath of flowers & green leaves. She is turning the Wheel of the Year around; it's divided into 4 quarters -- blue (winter), green (spring), yellow (summer), & red (autumn).

Lily's Language Lab: 02/01/2026

 Compiled by Lily Randall, Staff Writer & Wortschatzmeisterin

"Resilient" refers to the ability to recover quickly from difficulties or adversity. It's commonly used to describe someone who has the strength and capability to overcome challenges and adapt to changing circumstances. It's a positive and uplifting word that highlights one's ability to stay strong and positive even in the face of adversity.

Zenobia (pictured above), the renowned Queen of Palmyra in Syria during the 3rd century CE, was a descendant of Queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt. Zenobia defied the Roman Empire's dominance of the Middle East for several years. (Her military campaigns are mentioned in 2 Esdras 15:28-33.) After Zenobia was defeated and captured by the Romans, she was allowed to retire to a villa near Rome, where she became a renowned Neoplatonic philosopher. In this digital image, created by the Editor, Zenobia is clothed in royal purple and residing in Elysium, the postmortal paradise in Graeco-Roman religion.

Weekly Haiku: 01/28/2026

 This week's haiku, by the Editor & his cousin Rowan!

"Nymph Egeria,

Advisor to King Numa --

Champions of peace."

Image by the Editor: The amphibious naiad Egeria would need a wheelchair on land b/c she was used to being weightless underwater.

Image Description:

Egeria, a naiad (an amphibious freshwater nymph), was the trusted advisor of Numa Pompilius, the 2nd King of Rome (reigned 715-673 BCE). In this image by the Editor, Egeria is dressed in royal purple robes and wears an ankh pendant (the symbol of immortality in ancient Egypt). 

Lily's Language Lab: 01/25/2026

Compiled by Lily Randall, Staff Writer & Wortschatzmeisterin

“Ephemeral" is the Word of the Week!

Ephemeral means "lasting for a very short time" in Greek. It is typically used to describe things that are transitory or fleeting. It can refer to things like "ephemeral beauty" or "ephemeral pleasures.”

Lily enjoys the recent snowfall in her backyard. (Digital image processed by the Editor.)

"Up and Down"

By George MacDonald (1824-1905)

Excerpted from Chapter 37 of At the Back of the North Wind (1871)

The Sun is gone down

And the Moon's in the sky

But the Sun will come up

And the Moon be laid by.

The flower is asleep.

But it is not dead,

When the morning shines

It will lift its head.

When winter comes

It will die! No, no,

It will only hide

From the frost and snow.

Sure is the summer,

Sure is the Sun;

The night and the winter

Are shadows that run.

Lily's Commentary:

This is a beautiful poem! I love the message of hope and the idea that the night and winter are temporary, and the summer and day will come back. It reminds us that everything in life is fleeting, but there is a cycle to life, and the darkest moments will pass. It's a comforting thought, especially during the coldest months of the year.

Weekly Haiku: 01/21/2026

This week's haiku, by the Editor & his cousin Rowan!

"Wintertime is here.

Nature’s icy dance unfolds.

Snowflakes gently fall."

Digital image by the Editor: Rowan stands next to a pine tree sprinkled with hoarfrost!

Image Description:

The Editor's cousin Rowan is standing next to a pine tree during a snowfall. The pine needles on the branches are sprinkled with hoarfrost due to the extremely cold temperatures.

Lily's Language Lab: 01/18/2026

 Compiled by Lily Randall, Blog Staff Writer

This week's Word of the Week is called "doppelgänger."

Doppelgänger, which comes from the German language, literally means "double-goer." It refers to a double or a look-alike of a living person, appearing to be the person's identical twin. The origin of the term is unknown, but it has been commonly used since the 19th century.

In this digital image created by the Editor, we see Mallory (left), the Editor's cousin, and her doppelganger (right) at a bookstore. (Mallory is the Teen Bookworm Queen, BTW.) ;)

Weekly Haiku: 01/14/2026 -- Happy 12th Birthday to My Blog!

 Today is the 12th birthday of my blog @ https://rhcfortnightlyquotemail.blogspot.com! Here's a special haiku by my cousin Rowan & me!

"Twelve years of blogging.

An edutaining milestone!

Happy Birthday blog!"

Digital image by Yours Truly: My blog co-editor, Sophie, with birthday cake & blue roses!

Image Description:

Sophie, the co-editor of my blog, is seated at a table with a bouquet of blue roses and a birthday cake with the Roman numeral XII (12) on top. The color blue is in the flowers, the vase, the cake, Sophie's outfit, and the party decorations! :)

Lily's Language Lab: 01/11/2026

 Compiled by Lily Randall, Blog Staff Writer & Wortschatzmeisterin

For this week's Word of the Week, I have chosen the word "suzerain."

Suzerain or suzerainty refers to a feudal relationship in which a vassal or subject is subordinate to a sovereign or overlord. The term is derived from the Old French word suzerain, which in turn comes from the Latin phrase, “Superior imperat,” meaning, "The superior commands.”

 

In this digital image by the Editor, we see Nitocris, Queen of Babylon during the 540s BCE, standing in front of Babylon's renowned Ishtar Gate. She was the ruling suzerain of Babylon's extensive empire while her husband, King Nabonidus, was living in the desert oasis of Tema. Her son, Belshazzar, is the Babylonian king who saw the famous "handwriting on the wall" during the night before Babylon fell to Cyrus the Persian (October 29th, 538 BCE). She is referred to as Babylon's queen mother in Daniel 5; she is identified by name in the Histories of Herodotus, who also gives an account of her noteworthy achievements during her suzerainty.

Weekly Haiku: 01/08/2026 -- 1st Birthday Edition!

1st birthday of the weekly haiku! The Editor's cousin Rowan writes:

"A year’s time has passed.

Our haiku partnership thrives!

Two cousins write on!"

Image by the Editor: Rowan with a birthday cake for the Weekly Haiku! Many happy returns! :)

Image Description:

Rowan, the Editor's cousin and collaborator in the Weekly Haiku, sits at a table in an ancient Greek temple. She is wearing royal purple robes and a silver tiara! In front of her on the table is a birthday cake for the Weekly Haiku, with one candle on it. Off to the side, there is a small tablet with an inscription: "Haiku Master Rowan."

Lily's Language Lab: 01/02/2026

 Compiled by Lily Randall, Blog Staff Writer & Wortschatzmeisterin

The word perihelion comes from the Greek words “peri,” which means "near," and “Helios,” which means "Sun.” The perihelion of Earth, also known as the point on our planet's orbit when it is closest to the Sun, will occur on Saturday, January 3rd, 2026. As the Earth reaches its perihelion, it means that the Earth is closest to the Sun.

Digital Image by the Editor:

The ancient Hittite solar goddess Arinna drives the fiery chariot of the Sun across the daytime sky. The Hittite Empire, which flourished in Anatolia (present-day Turkey) during the 2nd millennium BCE, ruled over a diverse group of peoples until it came to an end during the Bronze Age Collapse of Eastern Mediterranean civilizations around 1177 BCE. The Hittite peoples are mentioned several times by the biblical writers of ancient Israel.