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Gratefulness
Enjoy this practice as a stand-alone experience or as the sixth of an eight-day series 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.
Enjoy the full eight-day Exploring Haiku practice.
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Clouds move above them Sacrifice this moment now Savor simple breath
Wind in the trees, waves lap the beach, an osprey cries.
~~ After the vibrant presence of another being silence.
The second one captures that post presence silence beautifully
Seeds are planted in silence Plants grow in silence Silence IS
Nature enfolds us in Wisdom. Silence is our Teacher. Shut up, please. Ears are grateful.
Flames engulfing, gathered, watching… In silence we stand.
Letters and words climb onto the page from inside nowhere. Who sent them?
nowhere now here
counting seconds shhhhh hearing her painful inhale she is still with us
now the stillness within
Shafts of sunlight stretch into smoldering darkness stardust swirls within ~
early morning birdsong juliennes dreams into a path to daylight
Golden silent air Pressing humid heat of day Graceful finch flutters
Still harbor waters become a rushing river white-capped, whirling winds ~
Branches blowing, cars roll by. Sun gleams off metal rims. Cool air flowing in, a distant humming; sad inside, today.
Fireflies flushed crystals rise.
Painfully the scar drinks sparks too late
Fragrance at dawn valley sings permeating fields in their dreams.
friendly hummingbird I await your busy silent presence
Listen more Talk less The sounds of silence…
Owls fly From perch to perch On silent wings
Warming campfire blaze Crackling flames tell ancient tales Fur-wrapped men in caves.
Smoke and embers Ignite sorrow in every land Notre Dame’s ashes.
One is listening To the music of the stars. The answer deafens.
Sun shining on me I awake to a new day Nature calls to me
Wake to quiet house Yawn.Stretch. Smile. Give thanks. You’ve made it another day.
Write an entry in your private gratefulness journal
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