Haiku is essentially a recognition of the miracle of existence and our gift is to report in words anything that can help another person feel this too.
~ Tom Clausen
Welcome.
According to poet Tom Clausen: “Haiku contain as subjects nearly everything! Nothing is too big or small to be included.” The entirety of existence is available for our focused attention, our delight, and celebration.
In a lengthy list titled “Why Haiku?” Tom includes the following: “to show the ‘aha’ moment and suggest the wonder of existence; to exercise a spiritual communion with our place in this world; to have an epiphany; to give a voice to nature and discovery; to celebrate our connection to nature and all that is non-human; to praise the life in the inanimate…” and much, much more. We see that haiku can indeed be a grand celebration — a profound honoring of the great fullness of life and the gift of helping others to feel that too.
In a brief description of haiku, Br. David Steindl-Rast writes, “The best among them capture a moment of intense awareness; they awake your senses. No comment by the poet; simply one given moment which is fully – and thus gratefully – perceived.” And of peak experiences, out of which haiku are often born, Br. David says, “Not only is our intellect aroused by its truth, and our will by its goodness, but our emotions respond to its beauty. And what do the emotions say? ‘Let’s celebrate!’”
The Practice
Today we invite you to welcome a celebratory spirit into your day and allow it to influence how you see the world and how you will craft your haiku. Remember, nothing is too big or too small to be included and fully — thus gratefully — perceived. Experiment with writing a haiku that expresses your experience of expansiveness, appreciation, and celebration. Feel free to share any reflections and/or your poem in the reflection area below.
Enjoy the full eight-day Exploring Haiku practice.
Amid the rushes
A blue heron barely seen,
Breathlessly takes flight
Planting seeds in soil
Tiny shoots unfurl and grow
Life appears to us each day
spring downpours lessen
drizzle falls on green mountains
sun glows in high mist
Oh! a spinning world!
Joys of ceiling fan wonder
Through baby’s bright eyes
Tracking a 7 month’s eyes leads to constant appreciation and celebration. Awe-struck by Jackson Scott!
looking up above
slow moving along away
expanding snow clouds depart
Lilacs in bloom today
The color bursts inside me
Go forth in the world
I AM sounds listen
to ring the bell prevailed
awakend silence
Apothecary
Shelves bursting with nature’s gifts
Alchemy at work
May my life force be
as strong as those crocuses
slicing through the snow.
When the snow gives off
a million points of light I thank
the ones who gave me life.
Birds on morning walk
sing their celebration loud
dogs in single file
A QUEST for Balance
Not found thru a rock Cairn
Gratefulness is Key
Opens locked doors to
a life of
Possibilities
Skies the Limit!
tiny little wren
greeting each new day with song
way more voice than size
So true!
There’s no school today,
A young woman took her life.
Glad her mission failed.
flashes of gold, flashes of red
one cherry blossom floats
sunshine warms my back–at pond’s edge