Polar Bear Pon - Polar Bear Parent and Child's Gift [Haiku x Short Short]
The submission period for the Polar Bear Cup has ended❗️
Thank you all so much for participating (｡-人-｡)
Now, this tournament has gathered many works.
From here on, why not play with Arbitrary Awards, where you share your 'likes' with your favorite works, or Polar Bear Pon, where you create new works based on the entries?🐻❄️
Starting on the 27th, haiku voting will begin from the official account, Min-Hai.Voting is easy❗️ Just press 'like' on your favorite haiku. Please join in on this as well😊
⬇️From here on is the Pon story.
Churchill in Canada
｜Inhaling the frozen air, a winter morning｜
A white horizon stretches out as far as the eye can see. Looking up, looking down, a world of white. Yet, no two whites are the same. The polar bear stared intently at her own body. My body isn't white at all, is it? It looks kind of dirty.
If I don't hunt from early morning, I won't be able to get enough food for the children. The polar bear checks that there are no seals in the area and dives into the sea. Although she was lucky enough to catch one, she hadn't eaten since yesterday. The moment she realized that, her stomach growled. Should I just eat it right here...?
No, no.
The polar bear shook her head vigorously. The cubs were waiting at home, hungry.
｜Deeply falling snow, only six-petaled flowers｜
Snow began to flutter down, and our home, visible in the corner of the iceberg, started to look a little further away. I wish I could eat this snow. If I could, both the children and I could be full. I hate how there's so little prey in winter. I sighed as I watched the children innocently rejoicing at the falling snow.
When the snow lands on the tips of the polar bear's fur, it stays there, as if blooming into countless tiny white flowers. Is this a gift from the sky? The polar bear remembered yesterday.
｜On a snowy night, I surely heard the sound of bells｜
Yesterday was Christmas.
Yet this year, Santa didn't come.
Even though the children had been such good kids and were waiting so excitedly. When I went outside at night, I felt like I heard the sound of bells from somewhere. But in the end, Santa didn't come.
The shock of being let down after having such high expectations made me feel so depressed, but then the children cheered me up, and I couldn't help but laugh. It felt like the tension I'd been holding onto since my husband passed away was crumbling, and I found myself crying while laughing.
| Oh, empty wind, things never go right |
It's no use after all.
No matter what I do, I just end up spinning my wheels.
Even the things everyone else can do,
I can only manage about half of.
To have my own children worrying about me, I'm a failure as a mother.
Before her tears could freeze, the polar bear shook her head vigorously to blow them away and threw open the front door.
🐻❄️ "I'm home! We're having a feast today."
❄️ 🐻❄️❄️ 🐻❄️ ❄️🐻❄️❄️
"Mom! Oh no, oh no!"
The children greeted her, looking quite excited. They had been hungry and dejected before she left, so what could have happened? She noticed a cardboard box by the entrance that hadn't been there before. That's strange; she hadn't ordered anything.
When she looked at the sender of the package,
| Why is it, I wonder? | Tangerines in the kotatsu | Me for you |
🐻❄️ "Oh my, it's from my friend, Ryuka. Thank you so much! Now we can enjoy tangerines in the kotatsu this winter 🍊"
🐻❄️ "Oh, there's another box. Who is this from?"
| Snow on the window | Minestrone, full of ingredients |
"Oh my, it's from my friend, Pukkukun. Thank you so much! Warm minestrone, and even hand cream—how very thoughtful."
Then, a sweet scent began to drift through the room.
Oh? Where is this coming from...
| Snow showers, the scent of simmered beans fills the room |
🐻❄️ "Oh my, it's from my friend moe. Thank you so much! I wonder how she knew I loved simmered beans."
Then, a piping hot pot appeared right next to it.
| Beef tendon and potatoes in our oden |
🐻❄️ "Oh my, it's from my friend Sora Aono. Thank you so much! The beef tendon looks delicious, soaked in flavor! It's my first time having beef 🐻❄️"
Still, where on earth did all these feasts come from?
Just as they tilted their heads in wonder, the doorbell rang and the door opened. There are no keys in the polar bear's house. After all, it's a polar bear town where no one else lives.
| Soot-covered, Christmas Eve after the work is done |
🎅 "Merry Christmas!"
His prized bright red suit was covered in soot and tattered; the Santa, exhausted from running around all night, had finally arrived at the polar bear's house.
🎅 "Sorry I'm late. There were so many this year that I was late getting here. In return, I brought a lot of gifts from the polar bear's friends I met on the way. Can you forgive me for being a day late?"
🐻❄️ "🐻❄️❗️"
|Drawing a white circle, snow falls on Christmas|
When Santa goes outside and draws a large circle toward the sky, snow begins to flutter all around. It catches the wind, sparkles, and paints a picture in the sky. Centered around the brightest star, Polaris, are the friendly polar bear and her cubs. Furthermore, the aurora begins to dye the night sky with colorful hues.
Even if it is only a fleeting moment of brilliance, it feels as though it is cheering us on. Tears spill from the polar bear's eyes and run down her fur. The polar bear hurriedly wipes away her tears so they don't freeze.
|The polar bear dreams and draws the North Star|
🐻❄️ "Santa, thank you. This is the best gift I've ever received."
The polar bear and cubs, drawn by Santa's magic, became constellations just as they were. Life is hard, and we can barely manage tomorrow's meals, but we have people who stay close to us even from afar. There are stars watching over us.
I had been trying to do everything on my own, but I wasn't alone. I will raise these little ones into fine polar bears.
|The life waiting for spring is already right there|
If we can just endure the harsh winter, a warm spring will come.
When spring comes, the ice will melt and we will be able to catch more food. Let's try to endure until then. Because everyone is cheering for me, I am truly here. If I cherish this place where I belong, I should be able to see what to do next.
"Mom, can I eat this tangerine?"
"What is this sweet thing? I want to eat it now!"
🐻❄️ "Yes, yes, wait a moment. It's precious, so I will divide it up properly for you."
The polar bear family filled their stomachs and hearts while wrapped in the sweet, lovely scent that filled the room.
When these children grow up next year, let's go visit everyone. I want to thank them, too.
The polar bear's heart is full of the joy of meeting friends she has yet to see. May the stars watch over us until then.
I chose this haiku from the list while it was still anonymous. Thank you to everyone whose work I was allowed to use (*ᴗˬᴗ)⁾⁾
Knock knock 🚪 Since I made this before the polar bear one, it might feel similar 💦
🌟 Polar Bear Pon is accepting entries until the 31st 🐻❄️🐾
Why not weave a new world from the haiku, tanka, and senryu of the Polar Bear Cup? Novels, poems, illustrations, music—anything is okay! We are waiting for your sensibility.
🌟 A cheering video from Mr. Polar Bear
Polar Bear Pon
🐻❄️ Recommendation for an unofficial award
Awards aren't just for the official ones! Why not send an unofficial award to the haiku or tanka you like?