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It is said that you can tell a lot about a person from their handwriting; we each have our own unique style, even identical twins. A person’s handwriting is similar to their fingerprints: people might be able to copy it, but never in an identical way.

Our handwriting is influenced by the place where we grew up and the first language we learned, together with the way we hold a pen, the pressure to paper and ways of shaping letters and words.

According to Wikipedia, handwriting is ‘done with a writing instrument, such as a pen or pencil, in the hand. Handwriting includes both printing and cursive styles and is separate from formal calligraphy or typeface. Because each person’s handwriting is unique and different, it can be used to verify a document’s writer. The deterioration of a person’s handwriting is also a symptom or result of certain diseases.’

I take great pleasure in looking at famous writers’ handwritten drafts and notebooks. Have you ever seen Shakespeare’s, Dickens’ or Edgar Allan Poe’s handwriting, for example? What did it tell you about the writer?

How did you learn to write? Did you find it easy or was it a laborious task? How has your handwriting changed over the years? Do you write letters, cards or complete forms for someone who can no longer use a pen and paper?

I had difficulty finding prose passages and poems about handwriting, but the two I found might give you food for thought. The first is ‘Handwriting’ by Suzanna Fitzpatrick, which you can read by following the link: http://poetrysociety.org.uk/poems/handwriting/

The other is ‘Pen and Paper’ by Kaysen Fraker at: https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/pen-and-paper-5/

Today, I would like you to write no more than three tight paragraphs about communication through pen, or pencil, and paper, followed by a traditional Haiku that includes reference to a season.

If you are new, here’s how to join in:

  • Write a Haibun in response to the challenge.
  • Enter a link directly to your Haibun and your name by clicking Mr Linky below, where you will find links to other poets. More will join so check back to see their Haibun.
  • Please link back to dVerse from your site/blog.