Haiku Garden Newly Planted
April 10, 2024
Pursue some path, however narrow and crooked, in which you can walk with love and reverence.
~ Henry David Thoreau
Our Haiku Garden is a result of a haiku workshop presented at our last Journeys retreat in May 2022. Grounds volunteers were consulted and interested poets came forward and joined the Haiku Garden Workshop. Haiku was planted and bloomed. Haikuists write Nature-Nature haiku (haiku showing relationships between different elements of nature and Nature-Human haiku (haiku showing relationships between humanity and nature. Occasionally, humorous haiku depicting a human situation are written and these are called Senryu. Modern English Haiku does not usually hold to the original Japanese counts of 5-7-5 since those counts in Japanese are sounds not syllables. Modern English haiku can be 1-4 lines but usually 3. They depict two images in the form of a fragment and a phrase. The juxtaposition of the fragment and phrase creates another layer of understanding. It is said that a haiku is not complete until it is read. Haiku have a syllable count of usually 12-15 syllables. The plural of haiku is haiku. Writing haiku is a spiritual practice and a mindfulness practice.
Please visit our newly planted spring/summer garden on the building’s south side, front, and on the island in the middle of the parking lot. Enjoy nature and reflect on the haiku written. If you are interested in writing haiku and joining the Workshop, please see Susan Auld for more information.