first light finds its way

the sky spilling its colours

across our counters

Why have I chosen haiku? There are so many reasons, here are just a few:

• I like to write about the natural world and haiku traditionally celebrates that
• to take the time to really notice what’s happening in that world, some detail in particular – the light perhaps (as above) or a bird song 
• it’s short, so I can write it relatively quickly (although editing later is another question)
• it’s shortness necessitates getting to the essence of what I see or feel
• focusing on the form (5-7-5 syllables) paradoxically frees me from over-thinking the content itself, so it can be surprising what arrives

For me, these reasons are what makes writing a haiku so therapeutic. The mindful focus, the attention to a small detail, the chance to step away from my fears and worries and notice what is really happening here in the present.  I invite you to give it a try too, maybe set yourself a seven day challenge?