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Haiku is all about the fleeting preciousness of experience, nature, and our seamless connection to everything.
~ Tom Clausen
Welcome.
Today we will explore how approaching life with a haiku “mindset” is essentially a gratefulness practice that can reveal a profound sense of belonging. Through inviting all of our senses to be awake to the revelatory possibility in each moment we are in touch with the “fleeting preciousness of experience” and of nature. Br. David Steindl-Rast has said “Most of the time we go around as if everybody else was in and we were out and why am I the orphan in the universe? But once in a while something breaks through, this universal love, that universal ‘yes’ to belonging touches us and all of a sudden we come alive.” Opening to “that universal ‘yes’ to belonging” can be a gift of haiku.
Haiku and calligraphy by Br. David Steindl-Rast
As we turn our attention to writing haiku, Tom Clausen encourages us to:
Start with major signifiers in our universe, the stars, our sun, our moon, the planets, our water, oceans, rivers, lakes, ponds, streams, puddles, rain drops, dew drops, our weather, our seasons, our mother earth, mountains, hills, trees, shrubs, plants, flowers, and little by little the seamless connection and relation of yourself will become ever more aware, linked, and suffused in everything around you.
Such engagement with our world will make it clear “that we are all part of an intricate miraculous web of belonging.”
The Practice
Today we invite you to connect with “major signifiers of our universe.” Gaze into a pond or up at the stars. Watch some ants or lean against a tree, feeling its strength, texture, and resilience. Contemplate the planets, seasons, or the wonder and miracle of the breath that animates your being. Allow yourself a few minutes to feel what arises — noticing if and how you feel connected to the universe of which you are a part.
Experiment with writing a haiku (or more than one!) that expresses your experience. Feel free to share your reflections or poem(s) in the reflection area below.
Enjoy the full eight-day Exploring Haiku practice.
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she is gone
old soul little girl beautiful
Autumn Raines
broken heart
weeping silent memories
spring is cold
one thousand
nine hundred and forty days
a lifetime
two thousand
cranes from her brother’s classmates
no comfort
mourning breaks
self-medicating again
winter comes
spring again
first anniversary death
remember
torturing
myself will it ever end
surrender
gratitude
colors beauty Autumn leaves
still sorrow
December
sunshine finally breaks through
her birth date
cherry trees
fond memories fill my mind
so much love
life anew
springs from death circle of life
solace gave
thank You, LORD
accepted grace blesses for
Your glory
eternal
life we will meet again then
Autumn Raines
Late to the party….life has slowed down and opened up space for me to continue on this haiku journey. I am grateful for this gift.
Trees-Givers of life
Xylem Phloem
Pure water
flowing from my roots
miracle food
from my leaves
Trees speak to me without words….they are mystical creatures in my eyes…my “spirit animals”. They are miracles of nature and have a unique role in this web of life. They remind me that all living things are inter-connected and all belong.
Cool, rainy outside
Warm kitty inside
Cat loaf on floral cushion
Me in the middle.
Sounds of droplets splattering sidewalk
Purring sounds
Both Rhythmic
Harmonious
Comforting.
Meteor shower
Neck craning, eyes straining up
Light trail takes my breath
Distant mountain reflections
The wind cools my face
Beauty surrounds me each day
Gazing out the window
cat tail seeds light as a feather
wonder trust seeds for new life
Light rain falls again
Bringing green grass and flowers
Windshield wipers on.
Clouds roam morning sky
Where are you going today
Sun plays through cloud holes
A Star settles
With sparkles on edges
Delighted above a mountaintop
Snowcaped as icing
Flowing with an cascade
Tiny eyes flash
Smiles broad and dimpled
Yet a teardrop
Flower filters each
Grass greenery
Blades barely blowing
A bumble twitches.
Tiny bird,
Tapping on my window.
Perfection in miniature.
#waka
Famous cone mountain
Hokusai’s thirty-six views
Each a unique take
A wondrous moment at the
shore of Kawaguchigo
Wish to add that belonging also transcends time. The past, present and future. We are all connected. Human being expires but Mother Earth, nature continue to inspire.
Crisp spring morning air
Light creeps in. Darkness subsides.
Birds awakening.
Woodpecker pecks tree
Cardinal singing sweet song
A single crow caws
The daybreak heightens
Blush of rose warms eastern sky
Daylight emerging
I watched the sun come up yesterday and wrote a whole page…what a great start to my day!
a cloud of white wings
a cacophony of squawks
corellas landing
branches toss under churning sky
while sturdy bulbs push upright
hopeful shoots, undeterred
Breathing in God’s Love
It permeates my being
Nothing else matters
Muddy paws again!
winter’s frosty feet melted
by April’s warm breath
Tulip shoots grow green
– straight through the lacy brown leaves
Spring creeps forcefully
Tacky, gummy, goo
Spring brings bug death and new life
All at the same time
Cartwheels on the beach
Five year old legs, exuberant
practice – “I nailed it!”
Waxing moon pulls
Emotions rise and fall like
the tide. The sea in me.
Dandelion. Bee.
Green grass soft under bare feet-
Spring offers her hand.
Last call for winter
Unwanted leftover snow
On the river edge
My backyard is green
and filled with natures wonders
birds, bees, butterflies
With eyes full of love
He tells me I’m beautiful
My heart overflows
Desert Sunrise
Cactus swells with yellow bloom
Sweet perfume of Spring.
Weeping cherry’s pale pink buds
blink open, tenderly.
Gone so soon.
Humid pale green
Air
Delicate leaves
Birthing
Oh such
Majesty!
Spring has begun in Maryland. I love it when all the baby leaves start popping out!
Lizard skittering
Across the back porch screen announce
The Sun’s arrival
Moody sea, mesmerise me
push, pull and chase, hiding moon
tide a turn, breathe in
I swam in the bumpy sea today and this is my reflection. Combining the hidden moon and the power it has over the sea in daytime brings 2 elements together for that true nature connection
I sit in the dark
a warm blanket covers me
Peace is all around
Ocean breathing deeply
Swelling anticipation
Thunderous roar
Ooh like it, hadn’t seen this when I wrote mine!
Virga’s rain dances
High above desert mesas
Waiting for monsoons
Sparkling calm water
pounding surf breaking so roughly
it’s all one ocean.
Creation is bathed
in stardust, sunshine and time
as one, eternal.
I cast my gaze up.
Smoky veils dance with the moon
gleaming on us all.
word painting sunrise
sweet golden kiss to my eyes
i become ALIVE
Sun rising slowly
As moon bows its sleepy head
Welcome this new day
Blue sky so Blue
Whisper of clouds
Birds Chirping in the striking sun
half moon in dark sky
Venus full of light close by
i trust my Maker
The last line came as a sweet surprise
What a joy all of these are.
Little white buds peek
through
dark green leaves –
Hello sun.
Wind outside my window
Furious and urgently black,
threatening and renewing breath.
Southwest wind blows warm
Birds rush in preparation
Green lifts from below
Little green rose bush
Standing steady poised and green
Teach me your secret
black dots on blue sky
loosely forming a v
floating onward
One more for this blustery day
Trees sound the overture
Wind waits in the wings
Time for her grand entrance
Knj
4/13/19
Comfortable gray
Cool day, my hands in the soil
Prune, weed, plan, wonder
Knj
4/13/19
Love this one,. Kept this one for my garden diary Karen. So many times I have experienced that moment
At dusk, after a
Hot Spring day, even the trees
look exhausted
This has a nice feeling to it. Well done.
Bath rim
centipede hides
a few legs show …
Not that a centipede is one of the “major signifiers of our universe.” What is major is a change of heart in me. I thought centipedes bit, and so a centipede in the bath in the morning normally got swirled down the drain. But then I read that it is hard for a centipede to puncture your skin, and if it did, it would not be a danger to your health. And centipedes love to dine on ants, spiders, cockroaches and bedbugs, which is not a bad thing. So, this morning, I scooped a centipede out of my bath onto the edge of the bath with a facial tissue. He tried to hide next to some Bic disposable razors, but some of his legs still showed. He was not as big as some of the past centipedes were. Made it also easier to accept him and let him live.
Thank you for your kindness towards the centipede Anneclaire!
The Spring sky opens,
Once again-
Snow falls!
Herd of wild hogs run
Multitudes of babies follow
Black and glistening.
it’s raining
my bald head getting wet
standing still listening
birds chirping loudly
I wonder…
will you share your happiness?
Tulips will not last too long,
deer and bunnies come.
All come for another chance.
Early morning pond
breathes steam to greet the sun’s
warm birthing light
Sun becomes halo
embracing cold dark landscape
letting shadows play
Fog’s breadth softens scenes
with see through veils that invite
eyes to surrender
Trees bark silently,
hidden roots hold offering
bouquets to the sky
Tender cutting grows
survives blast of icy frost
A lesson in hope
At the end of a beautiful spring day –
soft light dying
The moon comforts me
Whatever form it is in
It reassures with
Unchanging peace for it is
Always there consistently
Nature includes me
I am part of everything
We live together
Spring season tweets hope
Birdsong symphony of joy
Life begins anew
The door swings open W I D E
welcoming the smells of warm,
damp wood chips and Earth.
Fresh start with each day
the choir of birds Sing Out
Morning BRAVADO
Goldfinches outside
Yellow feathers glowing bright
Spring snow on the ground
Where do I come from?
I wonder, next where I’ll go
Relax, follow the flow
wind waltzes
with the willow –
expertly
From current desert sojourn come these two haiku.
Desert dawn
rolling starry blackness
into blinding brillance.
Ancient gnarled truck
Budding branch tips reach to God
Tiny bird celebrates
# Waka
Autumn visual feast
Koyo, oyo, katsuyo
Red, golden and brown
Glorious and resplendent
Forest version of sunset
Sing tweeting up-JOY
High upon the canopy
Ruffled feathers…wet!
This speaks to a canopy of rain flowing over us from Alaska, Vancouver Island, Sequim, Washington… yet the birds coucouphaiy is bright with noise
A haiku mindset???
One with nature…in the moment
…and keep it simple.
Dragonflies hover,
Birds nest, fish swim,
Pond mirrors heavens.
I disagree that haiku is about the fleeting preciousness of experience. I think haiku opens the portal through experience to the revelation of the preciousness of the infinite. Life is constantly changing, and rather than rue its passing, haiku invites us to live it always/all ways.
I like the fact that haiku may describe a fleeting event but contains a more abiding truth that can be relished again and again
Nature is the first Bible
speaks of God’s grand design
lets me know the Holy One.
As Spring awakens our urban area, the hard concreteness of the city gives way to the softness of greenery and flowers. I relate to many of the wonderful images posted. Thank you.
Sandhill cranes arrive
Perched atop an unseen egg
Behold – a spring chick!
Bright leaf drifts and bobs,
on noonday breeze not yet warm.
Early yellow butterfly!
Scraggly white pine
twisted with age
or perhaps wisdom.
~~
Young pines, spruce, fir
brilliant green with spring rain,
bare maples, and mud.
~~
Eagle soaring
over the river
looking for breakfast.
Nippy, crispy morns
Cornucopia colors
April erupted
icy pond
beneath thick fog,
turtles rest below
watching the thaw
A reply to 6-months of snow cover, feeling into how our animal friends manage the time and the tundra of the Northcountry, feeling too that I feel similar in my yearning for heat and expansion and food and the song and dance of nature to come alive around me.
Rain quiets the street;
soothing birdsong arises
unbidden, easing some pains.
Street rain-washed clean
Litter sent down storm drains
Nature does its laundry.
Spring breeze moves the bag,
Yellow across the front yards.
It will outlive me.
Fluttering on the branch
its black wings spread eagle
behold the plastic bag.
bright yellow flowers
along the road to home
guiding my way
Yellow daffodils
Still standing tall yellow
after night windy rains.
trees bear full leaves today
where buds lived yesterday
spring came overnight
trees bore pinky buds
open green flowery dress
leaves soon twirl into breeze.
Same path, new day.
Surprise! Roses in bloom
Where was I?
morning on the back porch:
soft breeze, warm sun, background songs
of joyful feathered choir
wet twigs shine, leaf buds
sparkle, willows bare but bright,
palette brown but bursting
Tiny promises appear
Among green leaves
PEACHES!
Cloudy, gloomy, rain
birds are rejoicing with song
fills me with wonder
Five different birds
Near and far distinctive calls
Oh there goes the train
Springtime turns into heat
Snowbirds leaving town
Leaving and still belonging
morning rain
pink blossoms swell
a bit more
The silver moon pulls
back the tide, revealing gifts ~
a seagull’s delight.
Every spring canvas
scattered all about with white
birds, flowers, clouds.
I will spend some time outdoors today (even though forecast is for a lot of rain) and write something for today.
I wanted to share a set of haiku I wrote while my brother was having a 7+ hour brain surgery. I waited at the hospital until his surgeon gave me an update. I felt I had to be completely present – that was my universe that evening:
Into the deep sea
fright, flailing, settling, some calm
Fighting this won’t help
A peaceful moment
Relaxing into the depth
I start to notice
Support, buoyancy
Patience, determination
A purposeful shift
In between is now
No separation, really
This ocean is me
Knj
1/30/19
Endless pieces, one peace blessing
Powerful. I particularly like the last one which suggests that in your waiting you had reached a good place. Hope your brother is healing
Thank you! He returned work without restrictions a little over a week ago. Haiku often helps me focus when emotions are bouncing around due to various circumstances.
Now we see
A Blackhole and I wonder
Where it goes