It’s Friday and time to learn a new word and use it in a Haiku. Though I must admit that the 5/7/5 verses that I come up with are not “true” haiku. By definition, a Haiku is “a Japanese poem of seventeen syllables, in three lines of five, seven, and five, traditionally evoking images of the natural world.”

There have been a few words of the day that had something to do with nature. Although I do strive to maintain the form and the “in the moment” impression and “ah-ha” revelation aspect in each Haiku I write. And I might add that I am not Japanese. At least that’s what my DNA tells me….

This piece, though, and my other Friday forays might better be defined as a “Haibun”. Defined as “haikai writings, a prosimetric literary form originating in Japan, combining prose and haiku. The range of haibun is broad and frequently includes autobiography, diary, essay, prose poem, short story and travel journal.” (from Wikipedia)

Ah, but, I divagate, pronounced dahy-vuh-geyt not ‘dee-vuh-geyt’ as you might be tempted to say it, today’s word of the day at Dictionary.com. Although the word “diva” is hard to miss in the first part of this word, its etymology will clarify everything for you. First used late 16th century: from Latin divagat- ‘wandered around,’ from the verb divagari, from di- ‘widely’ + vagari ‘wander.’ (from google under ‘divagate etymology’)

So you see, divagate is not ‘diva+gate’ (sounds like a beauty pageant fiasco, doesn’t it?! 😉), but rather it is ‘di-vagate’ which accounts for its unique pronunciation.

And finally, what does all this mean? I’m glad you asked! According to dictionary.com Divagate means “to wander; stray, or to digress in speech.”

Does the fact that someone is prone to divagate make them a diva? Perhaps. If only to illustrate that said divagator likes to hear themselves talk while demanding that everyone around them listen with rapt attention to their gibberish!

But alas, there I go divagating again. I have been accused of this before, not because I am a diva mind you. Blame it on a short attention span and my tendency to become easily distracted. 😜

And if you have read this far, the very least I can do is reward you with a Haiku or two, the part two of this haibun, which I learned is also Japanese…which I am not…😊

Have a great weekend…and for my US friends, enjoy your Independence…4th of July Celebration Day…emphasis on “independence” while it lasts!!! 😳

one hundred forty
divagating tweeted blips,
known also, as spin

follow if you can
divagators who drivel
look! a butterfly!
~kat