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Gratefulness
The seventh of an eight-day practice celebrating National Poetry Month and inspired by Br. David's appreciation of and experience with haiku.
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.
Haiku and calligraphy by Br. David Steindl-Rast
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!’”
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.
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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
he sings a plaintive song one note long–this toad seeking love in my pond
Black, black as night Soft, soft as silk A lap full of poodle–gently snoring
Climb up on ladder Vegetables on rooftop Surprising delight
#waka/tanka
First time on horseback To a delightful prairie On a mountain plain Almost like paradise land Blue sky,green field and a lake
Late for work! Playing hooky to write haiku Capturing each moment, by moment.
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…
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We are delighted to announce the release of Kristi Nelson’s book Wake Up Grateful