In a conversation with my granddaughter, Peyton, a while back, she confided in me that she is keeping a journal. She also told me that sometimes she writes her entries in haiku poetry form*. What a cool idea!
Fast forward to a few weeks ago when I was browsing a bookstore for a gift for my daughter’s birthday. I found a really cool three year journal that only has three small lines for each day. The idea is to journal one happy thing a day. Having attempted journaling myself with no long-term success, I had the brainstorm that the happy thing could be in haiku form. So I bought two, one journal for me and one for Hillary (my daughter, of course!). Then, after she’d opened her gift, I challenged her to write in haiku and then we’d share.
What a fun time this is becoming. Once a week we’ve been texting our week’s worth of haiku to each other. It’s a fun way to connect despite busy schedules (she’s a college prof and a home-schooling mom!). Haiku are succinct and get to the heart of the matter. They are beautifully simple. Since we started, I find myself thinking in syllable counts and I am more aware of the details of the tiny joys of each day.
Me – September 13: September 24:
Overcast and rain Hidden path revealed
Grey subduing any warmth Overgrown by time and vines
The furnace is on! Order is restored.
Hillary- September 24: September 18:
Saturday dawn breaks What to do today?
Suits, goggles, towels,and caps Make breakfast and read a book
Watch my fast girls swim. Sounds just right to me.
Peyton:
The windows shatter
The bright light is shining through
Oh dear, where are you?
- I know you know this – but a haiku is a Japanese poetry form that doesn’t use rhyme, but syllable counts instead. A haiku has three lines only. The first has 5 syllables, the second has 7, and the third has 5. Traditionally haiku are about nature and have some sort of surprise in the last line.
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