See our Privacy Policy
Gratefulness
The sixth of an eight-day practice celebrating National Poetry Month and inspired by Br. David's appreciation of and experience with haiku.
The Haiku is, paradoxically, a poem about silence. Its very core is silence. ~ Br. David Steindl-Rast
The Haiku is, paradoxically, a poem about silence. Its very core is silence.
~ Br. David Steindl-Rast
In his book, A Listening Heart: The Spirituality of Sacred Sensuousness, Br. David Steindl-Rast writes:
The Haiku is, paradoxically, a poem about silence. Its very core is silence. There is probably no shorter poetic form in world literature than the classical Haiku with its seventeen syllables and, yet. The masters put these seventeen syllables down with a gesture of apology, which makes it clear that the words merely serve the silence. All that matters is the silence. The Haiku is a scaffold of words; what is being constructed is a poem of silence; and when it is ready, the poet gives a little kick, as it were, to the scaffold. It tumbles, and silence alone stands.
Haiku by Br. David Steindl-Rast
We can almost hear the first big raindrops falling one by one. But this is already the moment after the decisive one; the moment after the one that held its breath in limitless anticipation. This is not a poem about rain, but about the silence before the rain. A strange poem, the Haiku! It zeroes in on the here and now which is nowhere. It celebrates the all-oneness of aloneness in all the bliss of its poignant pain. It stakes out territory for discovery precisely where life is most daily. And while setting up landmarks of adventure, it wipes out its own footprints. It denies itself. For it shoots words like arrows at the target of silence. Every word that hits the mark returns to the silence out of which it has come.
Today we invite you to explore silence around and within your haiku. How might every word that speaks to us then return to the silence from which it has arisen, leaving us touched but not taken away from our experience?
This is an experiment in full-bodied listening. An exploration of the silence through which words (and all else) arise. Don’t think too much about this but rather tap into the open space of wonder as you play with words and how words coexist with the absence of words. If it helps to reread the passage by Br. David above a few times and feel into what he is pointing at, please do.
When you are ready, write your haiku in a notebook and/or share it below along with any reflections about your experience.
Please log in or Create a Profile to post a comment.
A serene wind flows Catching sunlight on the pond Hungry osprey dives.
A sudden cool wind In desert monsoon season Then, distant thunder
Inhale, wave pulls back Exhale, soft crashing on sand My breath times itself
Listen to the dark Comfort abounds from within Pleasure exists in noise
a place to embrace fall into familiar arms a refuge a home
first hot sun of spring beats down on winter white skin smell rain on west wind
Into nothingness Disquiet or luxurious It’s in your being
The power of silence It is like The Eye of the storm The calm in calamity
Deafening silence Be like snow, silent and cold Awaken stupor
Luxurious silence Indeed a grand finale Live well and leave well
Infinity view The sea kiss the crimson sky Luxurious silence
A THUNDEROUS CLAP Shakes the house and rumbles by Silence is shattered
Soon after the storm The stillness returns and I pull my covers up.
cool air the owl prays the blushing moon
Words filling in the embarrasing silence, embarrasing me.
We’re on a holidays trip. My husband is outgoing, while I’m introvert. I’m at ease with silence if I feel I have nothing to share. My husband likes saying something provocative, to see people reactions, to avoid silence & boredoom. I felt embarrassed by the things he said today. I know silence embarrass many people as well.
Winters nighttime sky stars sparkling brilliantly crystal clear silence
your scream looks like a yawn to a deaf person
I can visualize and not hear this at the same time… Lovely
Night watch at sea. Sails gently flap. Dolphins pass by in swirls of blue light.
noises within and out while centering my prayer just let them float on
The deep blue sky just is.. No need for proclamation.
Puppy swallows soft Stretches one leg, then one more Swallows again. Sleeps.
Morning mist rises from the river dancing in the atmosphere
I enjoy my drive along the rivers edge.. the sunlight dances on the water and the mist from the river rises to meet the day.
Write an entry in your private gratefulness journal
“The seed holds a very great secret—it never gets old. It is the eternal YES…
“This is the time to fly, to create, to investigate, to listen, to invent together.”…
“At first, we might feel awkward creating a ritual from scratch. But we can trust…
This site is brought to you by A Network for Grateful Living, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. All donations are fully tax deductible in the U.S.A.
© 2000 - 2021, A Network for Grateful Living
Website by Briteweb
We are delighted to announce the release of Kristi Nelson’s book Wake Up Grateful