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Carole Roseland's avatar

OK, here goes:

Dubious honor:

I’m always last to leave work

Where is my medal?

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Chris J. Franklin's avatar

That is a dubious honour, for sure! But I've often found, things like that are being noticed. Committed and loyal employees are valuable, especially when decisions are being made about redundancies! 🏯😎🏯

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Carole Roseland's avatar

Sometimes, except when you work for the U.S. government.😬

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Carole Roseland's avatar

And I don’t.

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Chris J. Franklin's avatar

🏯😎👍🏯

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Jeannine Lawall's avatar

Dubious indeed...

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A.C. Cargill, All-Human Author's avatar

A sentiment shared by many!

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Terry A. Fries's avatar

Acts in a flash bang

Honour rides a hot knife edge

Shine turns to tarnish

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Chris J. Franklin's avatar

That is an excellent, cautionary tale! Acting in haste, without fully thinking things through, almost never works out well... 🏯😎🏯

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A.C. Cargill, All-Human Author's avatar

Yikes! That's cutting things fine.

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Caro Henry's avatar

Veils of promise (s)worn

Pledges dance on silver tongues

Trust fades like soft smoke

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Chris J. Franklin's avatar

That first line is constructed beautifully, and sets up the next two perfectly. Very nicely done... 🏯😎🏯

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J. Kyle Turner's avatar

So was it worth it?

This view from an unmarked grave

half a world away?

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Chris J. Franklin's avatar

That is a very powerful depiction of the horror and senselessness of war... 🏯😎🏯

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Jeannine Lawall's avatar

That one hurts.

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J. Kyle Turner's avatar

Yeah, my grandpa was in Vietnam. He never really talked about it, but he did explain to all his grandkids what the POW-MIA flag in his house meant.

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Theresa Greene's avatar

Thanks for the mention Chris !

It takes only one

to stand against the tidal wave

And say, Not this way!

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Chris J. Franklin's avatar

You're very welcome! That is a great take on 'Honour', and such an important message. Sometimes, one person standing up for what's right really can make the difference, and change things for the better... 🏯😎🏯

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Theresa Greene's avatar

Thank you , Heidi and Kathy!

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Theresa Greene's avatar

Thank you , Bill

5hank you , Gloria !

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Theresa Greene's avatar

Thank you, A. C.

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Jeannine Lawall's avatar

Oh, so good!

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Theresa Greene's avatar

Thank you , Jeannine !

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Jeannine Lawall's avatar

You are welcome!

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Theresa Greene's avatar

Thank you, C. J.

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AHaikü4U's avatar

I plant Rhubarb and

red roses to ‘Honour’

my Grandma and Mom.

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Chris J. Franklin's avatar

That's a beautiful way to honour them! Rhubarb is probably the fruit I most associate with my Grandma, too. She used to make some incredible pies and desserts with it... 🏯😎🏯

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AHaikü4U's avatar

I Honour my Dad,

who served duringWorld War II.

And helped save the world… 🫡 ♥️

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Chris J. Franklin's avatar

That is a wonderful tribute! What those brave men and women so selflessly did back then will never be forgotten. They were true heroes, in every sense of the word... 🏯😎🏯

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Phyllis A. Smith's avatar

Every year I plant

Flowers on my mother’s grave

She loved gardening

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Chris J. Franklin's avatar

That is a lovely tribute, and a very beautiful and fitting way to honour her memory... 🏯😎🏯

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A.C. Cargill, All-Human Author's avatar

A great tribute.

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Bill Ferguson 🇨🇦's avatar

Sharing smiles strengthen

Kind words reach out to inspire

Learning grows apace

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Chris J. Franklin's avatar

That's wonderful! Smiles, kindness and encouragement cost nothing to give, and yet they are worth so much to those who receive them... 🏯😎🏯

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Tracy's avatar

There was no one left.

Emptiness, a vast domain

Only pride remained.

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Chris J. Franklin's avatar

That is a brilliant reminder of what can happen when pride is clung on to at all costs, instead of seeking reconciliation... 🏯😎🏯

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Jeannine Lawall's avatar

😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥

We honour the flag

But make the States kind again

We are not great now

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Chris J. Franklin's avatar

That is a beautiful, heartfelt message. Kindness, and empathy for others, is what is sadly lacking in many parts of the world these days... 🏯😎🏯

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Jeannine Lawall's avatar

Thank you, but it's hard to explain in 17 syllables.

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Chris J. Franklin's avatar

Ahh, I just typed something very similar below! It can definitely be a real challenge to keep things so concise, for sure. Especially with more complex ideas. Which is all part of why it's such great exercise, of course. I love changing a word here, and a word there, and trying to make everything click... 🏯😎🏯

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Jeannine Lawall's avatar

I guess I made a botch of it. I was trying to describe the current political tension in the U.S. I love our country, but not the current leadership, which is not promoting kindness... therefore the U.S. is not great, as Trump promised it would be if people voted for him. (I did not). It was supposed to be a play on Trump's "Make America Great Again" campaign.

Maybe this might be better:

Honour our country

But not the greed of tyrants

Kindness, not greatness

Or maybe not.... that kind of sucked, too. 🤨

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Chris J. Franklin's avatar

It's definitely tricky to tackle emotive subjects in so few words, but this conveys a very powerful message, for sure. A wish for more kindness in the world is a wonderful thing... 🏯😎🏯

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Jeannine Lawall's avatar

Thank you. I really miss all the "Be kind" signs people displayed during the Pandemic... though there are still a few out there.

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Chris J. Franklin's avatar

The way we all seemed to naturally pull together and become more 'neighbourly' was wonderful to see. It's definitely a shame a lot of that was lost again, once everyone went back to their normal lives... 🏯😎🏯

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A.C. Cargill, All-Human Author's avatar

Actually, no, you hit the mark. I was just surprised that what was meant to be something fun was turned into a political platform. I appreciate your opinion, but maybe something lighter? Just a thought. Your choice, of course. And here’s a little something to contemplate:

Give not a thought here

To that which binds and drags down

Freedom is the goal

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Jeannine Lawall's avatar

Ah, now I get it.... how's this?

🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝

Please learn to be kind

To help everyone in need

Make the world happy

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A.C. Cargill, All-Human Author's avatar

Nice. Not sure it’s about honor. But doesn’t really matter. Best wishes.

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Jeannine Lawall's avatar

Oops... I'd kind of forgotten the prompt word by this point. Let me think on it and I'll try again later. Thank you for the feedback, it is very helpful.

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Richbee's avatar

Honor the sun light

Passover dubious clouds of doubt

Teach children truth now.

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Chris J. Franklin's avatar

Absolutely! "Teach your children well", as Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young said... 🏯😎🏯

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A.C. Cargill, All-Human Author's avatar

My word is my bond

My handshake conveys my truth

Trust both without doubt

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Chris J. Franklin's avatar

That's fantastic! They're both powerful symbols of honour and trust that have remained relevant and meaningful for centuries, despite how much the world has changed... 🏯😎🏯

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Heidi Zawelevsky's avatar

Walk on hallowed ground

Every step along the way

Honor Planet Earth

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Chris J. Franklin's avatar

That is such an important message, and you've expressed it brilliantly! We definitely do need to honour Planet Earth and appreciate it more, so it can be here for many more generations to enjoy its beauty and the wonderful things it has to offer... 🏯😎🏯

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Kerry Sutherland's avatar

honor the seasons

of your life - respect nature's

willful change and grow

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Chris J. Franklin's avatar

That is a beautiful perspective! The changing seasons of life do bring changes, for sure, but also fresh opportunities, and definitely chances to grow and discover more about yourself... 🏯😎🏯

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Jeannine Lawall's avatar

Your haiku is a comical look at the foolishness of duels. Well done!

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Chris J. Franklin's avatar

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Amazingly, they only stopped being a thing relatively recently, in about 1900 or so. But they went on a lot before that, and when they did, it was almost always because of matters of honour... 🏯😎🏯

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Jeannine Lawall's avatar

It was so Darwinian and stupid. I'm amazed that it was still going on relatively recently.

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