PANDEMIC DIARY
DO YOU HAIKU?
February 11, 2021
A haiku is traditionally a Japanese poem consisting of three short lines that do not rhyme. The origins of haiku poems can be traced back as far as the 9th century. A haiku is considered to be more than a type of poem; it is a way of looking at the physical world and seeing something deeper, like the very nature of existence. The standard format is counted in “mora” or units considered like syllables except in Japanese the intonations translate to differences in the classic 5-7-5 structure, as used here. Typically, the first two lines express two different related ideas. The third line might refer to nature, seasonal attributes, or spiritual abstractions. I have utilized, as well, ideas relating to the pandemic and experiences and thoughts related to our current circumstance. Haiku should leave the reader with a strong feeling or impression. Have you ever written a Haiku? Maybe you want to give it a try?
Wake up to sunlight
Take endless walks…endlessly
Wander not of heart.I hold her hand near
Did I disinfect with wipes?
April’s showers bring…Religious fervor
Sweet mustard barbecue sauce
Get them while you can.Politicians lie
Comedians make us laugh
A three-humped Camel.Disease, death, and doom
Do not inhale; only exhale
Feel the ocean’s spray.Valentine’s Day soon
Roses display Love’s layers
How little time left.Two plus two is four.
At times it does not add up.
The maze has us choose.Jesus is Saviour
Life is but a Purple Rain
Apple Crumb Donuts.Raspberry preserves
Little seeds caught between teeth
Rinse, gargle, and spit.Pump air in your tires
Dreaming of a White Pizza
Naught’s perfectly round.Ocean’s rolling waves
Dolphins jolly leaping. Splash!
Silence churns beneath.