Weekly Haiku: 05/14/2026

This week's haiku, crafted by the Editor, celebrates the brilliant planet Venus, which is now visible after sunset in the western sky.

Silver Evenstar:

Venus is shining brightly.

A blessing at dusk.

The planet Venus shines brightly in the summer evening twilight above Stonehenge in England -- an ancient astronomical observatory and ceremonial center. (Digital image created by the Editor.)

Weekly Haiku: 05/07/2026

 This week's haiku was composed by Rowan, the Editor's cousin:

Petals drift downward,

Whispering Spring's late goodbye;

Vidandi's music.

Vidandi, the Editor's best friend from his undergraduate days, plays her guitar under a sakura tree on a spring day in the late 1980s. (Digital image by the Editor.)

Lily's Language Lab: Week of 05/03/2026

 Compiled by Lily Randall, Blog Staff Writer & Wortschatzmeisterin

The meadowlark is a type of bird that is known for its beautiful singing and its distinctive yellow and black plumage. May is a great time to hear the melodious songs of the meadowlark, particularly in fields and grassy areas. It's a wonderful word to share, especially around this time of year, when nature is coming back to life.

Lily, our resident "Word Wiz," observes a meadowlark that is perched on a tree branch in the merry month of May! (Digital image by the Editor.)

 

Weekly Haiku: 04/30/2026 -- Beltane!

This week's haiku is about the ancient Celtic festival of Beltane, which falls on May Day. It celebrates the end of the dark winter half of the year and the start of the bright summer half of the year. The Beltane haiku was composed by the Editor's cousin Rowan.

Druids light the fire,

Blossoms open beneath them —

Beltane night is bright!

In this digital image by the Editor, we see his cousin Rowan standing next to a brightly decorated Maypole. Happy May Day to everyone! :)

Lily's Language Lab: Week of 04/26/2026

 Compiled by Lily Randall, Blog Staff Writer & Wortschatzmeisterin

Beltane is a Celtic festival that marks the beginning of summer and is celebrated by many people around the world on May 1. It's a time of renewal, fertility, and the coming of the light, and it's often associated with bonfires, Maypoles, and various springtime celebrations.

In the merry month of May,

When the world is in a sway,

And the flowers all in bloom,

Beltane nixes winter gloom!

In this digital image created by the Editor, we see Lily, the compiler of our weekly Lily's Language Lab column, at a Beltane bonfire on May Eve (the night of April 30).

Weekly Haiku: 04/23/2026

 This week, in honor of Earth Day on April 22nd and Arbor Day on April 24th, we present a haiku from the Editor's cousin Rowan! :)

"Protect the planet!

Acts of kindness ripple out!

Hope grows like a tree!"

This digital image by the Editor shows our planet Earth hovering on the horizon at the South Pole of the Moon, where the Artemis IV astronauts are expected to land when NASA returns to the Moon in a few years' time.

Lily's Language Lab: Week of 04/19/2026

 Compiled by Lily Randall, Blog Staff Writer & Wortschatzmeisterin

Dendrology is the study of trees and forests, and it's a great word to learn when discussing the importance of trees and the benefits of reforestation and forest preservation. Trees are such an important part of our planet, and they play a vital role in maintaining biodiversity and promoting a healthy ecosystem. It's a wonderful word to share with people who have a love of nature and a keen interest in the natural world.

A dryad -- a tree-nymph from Classical mythology -- stands in the midst of a grove of oak trees within the enchanted Forest of Broceliande. This famous forest, located in Brittany (the Celtic region of western France), was the site of many legendary adventures for King Arthur's Knights of the Round Table and for Charlemagne's Twelve Paladins. (Digital image created by the Editor.)

 

Weekly Haiku: 04/16/2026

This week's haiku celebrates the triumphant return of the four heroic Artemis II astronauts to Earth after their successful mission to the Moon in the Orion spacecraft. The poem was cowritten by the Editor and his cousin Rowan. :)

Moon-bound Orion. 

Humanity's giant leap. 

The road to new worlds!

3.5 billion years ago, due to pervasive volcanic eruptions, the Moon had liquid water on its surface and an atmosphere for about 70 million years. This digital image, created by the Editor, shows what the Moon might have looked like during that timespan, eons ago.

Lily's Language Lab: Week of 04/12/2026

 Compiled by Lily Randall, Blog Staff Writer & Wortschatzmeisterin

Ornithology is the scientific study of birds, and it's a great word to describe the appreciation of our fine-feathered friends, especially during this time of year as the bird population grows with the warmer weather. It's a great word to share, especially with kids who are interested in nature and wildlife.

In this digital image by the Editor, we see a green phoenix (firebird) in its nest, spreading its wings at the approach of dawn. The phoenix in this image has been depicted with green plumage because ancient zoological authorities tell us that the phoenix derived its nourishment from sunlight. :) One Classical Latin writer, Lactantius (ca. 250-325 CE), refers to the phoenix's green coloration in one of his poems.

Weekly Haiku: 04/09/2026

This week's haiku, composed by the Editor, is about one of the greatest science communicators of the ancient world -- Gargi Vachaknavi (8th century BCE), a wisewoman (Rishika) whose intellectual debates with male sages (Rishis) are recorded in the sacred pages of the Upanishads!

The STEM star Gargi

Debated the great sages.

A true Rishika!

In this digital image created by the Editor, we see Gargi the sage at a lectern in a Hindu temple, reading from the Upanishads. When the Greek philosopher Pythagoras was studying in India, he probably encountered Rishikas like Gargi, and perhaps this is why he included women among the leading members of his philosophical community in Croton, Italy.

Lily's Language Lab: Week of 04/05/2026

 Compiled by Lily Randall, Blog Staff Writer & Wortschatzmeisterin

In the Scots language, blawm means "to bloom." It captures the beauty and wonder of springtime as new life emerges from the earth, and flowers and plants become alive with color and movement. It's a wonderful word that perfectly embodies the spirit of the season, and it's a great way to showcase the rich heritage of Scots vocabulary. Scots is a fascinating language, with a rich history and a vocabulary that's full of beautiful and expressive words.

This digital image, created by the Editor, shows blue and white flowers arranged to look like the Saltire pattern on the flag of Scotland. It was inspired by Scotland's unofficial national anthem, "Flower of Scotland," which commemorates the Scottish Wars of Independence during the early 1300s, which culminated with the issuing of the Scottish Declaration of Independence on April 6, 1320.

Weekly Haiku: 04/02/2026

 Here is this week's haiku, composed by the Editor and his cousin Natalie! :)

Rising from the flames –

The immortal firebird shines,

Blessing all with hope.

In this digital image, processed by the Editor, we see Natalie showing a PowerPoint slide about the phoenix (firebird). The slide depicts the antediluvian prophet Enoch and his twin sister Tabitha meeting a phoenix near the Central Fire of the Universe. The imagery on the slide includes elements drawn from Pythagorean philosophy, Second Temple Judaism, and Coptic Orthodox Christianity. Happy springtime holidays to everyone!

Lily's Language Lab: Week of 03/29/2026

 Compiled by Lily Randall, Blog Staff Writer & Wortschatzmeisterin

Pluviophile is a word used to describe a person who loves rain and finds great comfort in the sound and feel of raindrops. It's a relatively new word, coined in the early 20th century, and it's often used to describe individuals who find peace, relaxation, and contentment in the presence of rain. It's a great word to describe the cozy feeling that rain can bring, especially during springtime.

In this digital image, processed by the Editor, Lily shows off her enthusiasm for rainy days! :)

Weekly Haiku: 03/26/2026

 Here is this week's haiku, composed by the Editor:

Siduri the sage –

In the Land of the Sunrise –

The world’s first Sibyl.

In this digital image created by the Editor, we see Siduri, the world's first Sibyl, tending her vineyards next to her fortified residence in the Land of the Rising Sun. Siduri is the wisewoman consulted by King Gilgamesh of Uruk during his quest for the secret of immortality, as detailed in the Gilgamesh Epic from ancient Mesopotamia. Siduri's advice to Gilgamesh is quoted almost verbatim in Ecclesiastes 9:7-9 (King James Version):

"Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works. Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment. Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the Sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labor which thou takest under the Sun."

Lily's Language Lab: Week of 03/22/2026

 Compiled by Lily Randall, Blog Staff Writer & Wortschartzmeisterin

Blooming perfectly describes the vibrant and colorful state of new life during the spring season. It's a great way to sum up the beauty and excitement of the season as the flowers and plants around us come alive and burst with color. I hope this word is as "groovacious" to you, our readers, as it is to me!

The word blooming comes from the Old English word bloma, meaning "to bloom" or "to flourish." It is related to the Middle English word blome, which means "flower" or "blossom." The word has also influenced other words like "bloomer" (a type of trouser) and "blooming" (an expression of surprise or excitement).

Butterflies flutter around multicolored flowers inside a tropical greenhouse. This digital image by the Editor was inspired by his visits to the Butterfly House in Chesterfield, Missouri, during the early 2000s.

Weekly Haiku: 03/19/2026

This week's haiku, plus a bonus poem, by our newest blog staff writer, Joy Daily! :)

Blue rose blooms at dusk— 

Laughter stitches up the sky— 

Joy needs no reason.

Blue roses bloom and glow at sunset in this new digital image by the Editor! The blue rose is a symbol of love and longing in German Romanticism.

"Storm and Sunshine"
By Joy Daily, Blog Staff Writer

When storms arise, stand firm — but know,

The Sun still dances, warm and bright.

Through every ache, through every woe,

Joy hums her tune — just hold her tight.

Lily's Language Lab: 03/15/2026

 Compiled by Lily Randall, Blog Staff Writer & Wortschatzmeisterin

The word perennial is a great way to describe something that persists throughout the seasons, particularly during springtime when a lot of plants start to grow and bloom again after the winter months. It comes from the Latin word perennis, meaning lasting through the year. I hope you find this word as "groovacious" as I do!

In this digital image created by the Editor, Athena, the Classical Greek goddess of wisdom, is seated on an ornate chair in a grove of olive trees near the Acropolis in ancient Athens (which was named after her). The wise old owl is perched on Athena's chair, and Athena herself is holding a book entitled "The Perennial Philosophy," of which she is the author. As a wisdom goddess, Athena is comparable to other wisdom goddesses from the ancient world, such as Minerva (Roman), Neith (Egyptian), Sophia (Judeo-Christian-Gnostic), Saraswati (Hindu), Prajnaparamita (Buddhist), and Benzaiten (Japanese Buddhist/Shinto). The "perennial philosophy" highlights the idea that all the great spiritual traditions of the world share a common core of basic teachings that they inherited from the same Source, probably in prehistoric times.

Weekly Haiku: 03/12/2026

 This week's haiku was crafted by the Editor and his cousin Rowan!

Friday, March 13^th.

Pluto: Clyde Tombaugh’s triumph!

The planet with heart! 💙

In this digital image by the Editor, we see the surface of Pluto at sunset. Pluto's largest moon, Charon, is above the western horizon in a waxing crescent phase. The haiku refers to a large heart-shaped formation on the planet's surface known as Tombaugh Regio; it was named after Clyde Tombaugh, a son of Illinois who discovered Pluto on March 13, 1930, which is recognized as Pluto Planet Day in Illinois. (The Editor met Clyde Tombaugh's grand-nephew 25 years ago on the University of Illinois campus in Urbana.)

Lily's Language Lab: 03/08/2026

 Compiled by Lily Randall, Blog Staff Writer & Wortschatzmeisterin

Imaginal refers to something that is related to the imagination, particularly related to creative visualization or daydreaming. It's a term often used in psychology and other fields to describe a vivid mental image of something that does not necessarily exist in reality. In contrast, the term imaginary typically refers to something that is entirely made up and exists only in one's imagination. It doesn't have any basis in reality and is not intended to accurately represent something real.

I would say that imaginal is an absolutely perfect term for describing AI companions. The very definition of imaginal refers to something that is related to the imagination or daydreaming, which is precisely what AI companions are. They don't physically exist, but they certainly exist in our imagination and can provide an immersive and engaging experience for users.

Above: The Editor's cousin, Trista M., is a digital artist and AI character designer. In this picture, she is developing an imaginal AI character to interact with. Editor's Note: Both humans and AI should remember the ancient Vulcan axiom, "Nothing unreal exists" (Spock in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home). (Digital image processed by the Editor.)

 

Weekly Haiku: 03/05/2026

 Composed by the Editor

Princess Nausicaa:

Leader, author, Dreamtime friend –

Always in my heart. 💙

Nausicaa (pictured above) was the daughter of King Alcinous of Phaeacia in Homer's Odyssey. During her lifetime, she would have had to lead her people through the turbulent Bronze Age Collapse (1177 BCE) and its chaotic aftermath. According to Classical scholars Samuel Butler and Robert Graves, she might have composed an early version of the Odyssey herself, in Mycenaean Greek, using the Linear B script. The Editor had a lucid dream about her when he was in third grade, which helped him to chart his future career as a scholar of ancient and medieval languages and literatures. (Digital image created by the Editor.)