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Gratefulness
Enjoy this practice as a stand-alone experience or as the second of an eight-day series inspired by Br. David's appreciation of and experience with haiku.
To make the three lines of a haiku 5, 7, and 5 syllables long is a merely superficial conformity to the Japanese original. What counts is the spirit. ~ Br. David Steindl-Rast
Welcome.
Shape and structure are often what first come to mind when we think of haiku — which is usually presented in three lines (sometimes in one or two lines) of typically less than 17 syllables. Poet Tom Clausen sees the structure as encouraging us to “express something meaningful in as few words as possible” and inviting us to “maintain a healthy focus and awareness” as we aim to express what is in the heart.
Haiku and calligraphy by Br. David Steindl-Rast
For those of you interested in the purest form of haiku, Tom Clausen offers the following:
The purists believe a haiku should always have a ‘season word’ and should be a short, one breath poem of less than 17 syllables. They are often of the opinion it should be present tense, direct, and not just a sentence….It should not be a statement of an opinion or a soap box to present an argument or a position. It is typically not a type of poetry that uses metaphor.
Today our invitation is to experiment with the basic shape and structure of haiku.
We invite you to close your eyes and take one or two slow, deep breaths. In this place of presence, feel that which is in your heart. You might consider a moment that felt particularly meaningful for you today. Spend some time feeling into this experience then experiment with capturing the moment in a one-breath, direct, present-tense expression. You might play with trying to write in a three-line format, striving to have less than 17 syllables. You might incorporate a season word. You might puzzle over the order and arrangement of your words and lines to arrive at what intuitively works best.
In the remaining days of the practice, we will suggest a specific focus for you to consider as you craft your haiku. For today and all days of the practice, we invite you to choose the degree to which it feels right for you to use the purist form. Checking off all the “criteria” is certainly not a requirement, and we encourage you to find flexibility within the discipline. As Br. David Steindl-Rast encouragingly says, “What counts is the spirit.”
After you have experimented with writing your haiku, we invite you to reflect on your experience in a notebook or in the reflection area below. If you’d like, you may also share your haiku!
Enjoy the full eight-day Exploring Haiku practice.
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The dog cries softly As he waits on the back porch. It must be time for a walk.
Sun Shines Heart in bloom Soon flowers fragrant
Snow falls sticking its landing softly
Daisies teardrops of dew Smiling rainbow Beside the long stem
The gentle waves of passersby Sunset in the horizon Pastures green hues
Longevity wishes for the evening Silent tea time brews A flash of a smile settles
Daylight between the slats in the blinds as I wake, knowing I slept late
The cat stretched out long…. SOFTLY in front of a roaring fire Watching the bird fly by
It is a chilly day that has landed upon the Pacific Northwest. Flynn, is stretching toward the glowing fire
Perennial and evergreen trees, side by side autumn splendour
Eternal morning: The sun has turned the night’s frost into sparkling thaw
Have faith! Feed the soul. Relax into the current. Enjoy the journey.
Magical number Five petals, five elements My orchids just bloom
Muffled consciousness. Distant rumblings behind closed door. Ease into morning.
Old firs creaking A walk in misty spring Ahhh! Sparkling wonder.
Spring horoscope said time to see something new, view another landscape
Fierce wind pummels the unsettled soul. Sleepless agitation. Grief.
Spring horoscope said You are stuck in your routine Time for change of scene.
I tried to let go of the 5-7-5 structure, but find it difficult because it keeps my wandering brain from wandering too far. 😉 I like the confines of the pattern, like the structure of a daily routine. I am going to explore that more…
Ripples of clouds in ever-widening circles spilling from sunbeams
Mother says hello in petals of yellow- Rose blooming in the sun
surprise! they announce. blossoms sway in long cascades. this tree is alive!
I wrote this haiku about a recent sweet, startling discovery when the tree I’d thought was dead suddenly bloomed vibrant delicate blossoms!
Love this! Thanks for sharing!
“What counts is spirit” Listening deeply for truth then recognize it
fried fish AROMA table of joy abundance granddaughters SMILE
white-pink fringed blossoms open to golden sunshine an apple prelude
Write an entry in your private gratefulness journal
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