As a poet, I want to give you, the reader, a ping of surprise, of recognition, even if that ping is subterranean and not immediately apparent. The kind of surprise that is itself a surprise. The ohhh that comes hours or even days later.
But the real surprise that keeps me going is the kind I give myself. For example, I really struggled with one of this week's haiku. Walking the dog, the words came to me as if fully formed. Finally! After days of trying to sort it out! I quickly spoke it into my phone so as not to lose it.
But the real surprise came later, when I sat down with my notebook.
The haiku that came out of my pen was entirely different. A new arrangement for lines 1 and 2, and an entirely different -- and much better -- line 3.
In such moments, I wonder where the poem came from, if I can even take credit. Maybe that’s why I mail my haiku to people, even strangers. To assuage my guilt.
Anyway… Here are the week’s haiku, and where I sent them.
haiku 20221003 > New York, NY USA
the blue jay always surprised to see me our new house
haiku 20221004 > San Francisco, CA USA
the perfect name
for this place at sunset --
gold country
haiku 20221005 > San Francisco, CA USA
into the mountains our ears pop at each green elevation sign
haiku 20221006 > Sausalito, CA USA
old picket face
powdered rust
rubs off on my jeans
haiku 20221007 > Cheltenham United Kingdom
after the move rediscovering our lives box by box
haiku 20221008 > Missoula, MT USA
amtrak morning still some snow on mount shasta
haiku 20221009 > Stittsville, ON Canada
october sky jupiter and the moon together again
I hope you enjoyed the haiku and the photos. Remember, I’d be happy to send you one of these cards. Just DM me and I’ll put your name in the hat.
That’s all folks! See you next week! Meanwhile, time to lean, time to write haiku…