A Thought

The spirit is the abstract joining humanity with nature. KJ

Many times we think we know what and where we are to be. Then, nature presents itself in a surprising way and we are pushed to go another direction. That push is not always a sudden event, it can be a slow nudging of the spirit that is difficult to identify.  

The Riot

after the riot --

such a perfect

moonlit night

Hekigodo Kawahigashi

This writing simply reminds us that conflict is part of the natural cycle of life. We strive for the contentment of the perfect moonlit night. And yet, we cannot feel the moon until we experience the riot. It is like the riot is necessary for us to appreciate the perfect.

On the Patio

on the patio

the afternoon drifts along

with the butterfly

Patricia J. Machmiller

I live in a conundrum. I want to drift like the butterfly and at the same time feel a need to accomplish something. I am trained to "do" and not "be." Yet, it is when I am simply being that I am most authentic. And when I am most authentic I can do what I am intended to do. 

Humor

the warbler poops

on the slender

plum branch

Onitsura Uejima

This is an example of the humor that may be found in Haiku. We all experience something this haiku expresses. I also think about popular phrases of the modern use of language to express events in life like “shit happens.” I personally think that the poet’s choice of words is a more creative visual.

Healthy Release

letting go

of a slanderous heart --

while shelling the beans

Hosai Ozaki

Expressing emotions is natural. Unfortunately, as one becomes a member of a culture one learns which emotions are acceptable, which are not, the way one in which one is expected to experience it, and just how much that community of people with tolerate the release of that emotion. When an individual acts differently with their emotions than the tribe well, I think I'll let you the reader recall your own observations.

Suppression of emotions can become a primary coping mechanism. The problem with this is that a point comes after the suppression for an extended period time when the emotion eventually surfaces in a contorted way. Then that response and situation is frequently misunderstood.

So culture has created its own emotional dilemma and the phrase, "I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't," comes to my mind. I wonder if the poet is reminding us the value of allowing the emotion to exist in its natural state and then it is a healthier release. 

Herbs Green

picked

by an old woman’s hand

herbs green and glowing

Soen Nakagawa

I thought of a friend when I read this. We are now older, seeing life differently than during our youth, and she understands the herb garden with a clarity I am still learning. I avoided getting my hands in the dirt for a long time. She explored different herb gardens.  I am figuring out what I want mine to be like during this season of life. Eventually we all have to get our hands in the dirt. The plant is only as strong as the soil.

Perspectives

holding the water,

held by it --

the dark mud

William J Higginson

I have not been mentored in the craft of poetry. I do enjoy relating the words of others to my own experiences. The above haiku is poignant to some recent events. There is also an American culture phrase, "Until you've walked in those shoes, you can't know." Well, that may be true and at the same time I like this haiku on perspectives.

Recently I was in a boating incident. The skilled driver of the river boat was in essence "holding the water." He was managing his boat with control. And then for an instant nature informed him and me and the other passengers that we were "held by it." We were all tossed by the power of water and the result was some physical discomfort. One could say, "we experienced the dark mud." In the poem however, I haven't decided if the purpose of the words "the dark mud" is to represent the experiences in life or simply the object in the water. I do believe our perspectives of boating on the river changed. And, all of us also have different perspectives because of our different experiences. 

This haiku also reminds me of an event that has occurred in more than one of my friends' lives. The past experiences of my friends and me have some commonalities and differences. That is a given. We are traveling the same river, just in a different boat. I can feel the same "dark mud" even though I am in a different place nearby along the river. My reference to the "dark mud" refers to the things that can occur in relationships. The mud is necessary, part of nature, can act like a bonding agent, and has unique properties. Sometimes mud is a healing agent, sometimes it causes us to get stuck, sometimes it feels good, and unfortunately it can also be painful.

While on my boat trip another boat was actually observing ours with a video camera. They felt the water throw us because they were nearby. They likely had a similar experience or could relate to the situation because they had similar challenges and choices. I know this from the observers' expressions when they offered their help in the aftermath.  

I cannot walk in someone else's shoes. I can still feel the mud trodden through. My natural response is to attempt to understand the different perspectives of that mud.