Posts Tagged ‘haiku’
September 11, 2014
Remembering 9–11
When it comes to dealing with adversity, accepting it is not always easy, especially when it involves a devastating sudden loss, like what happened on 9-11, (September 11, 2001), 13 years ago today. Many had to accept it, live with it, and over time, hopefully distance themselves from the painful memories of the loss of their loved ones.
Same thing if it’s an ongoing situation, where you see someone you love disappearing before your eyes due to some incurable disease. Maybe it’s not as devastating. I don’t know. Grief is grief; it’s not easy. But our perspective could change over time. And that can be the merciful nature of time. Here is a haiku about it.
The Merciful Nature of Time
Time is kind to us
It lets us get used to change
Then we can move on
© Ken Chawkin
September 11, 2014
Does Time Heal All Wounds?
They say, Time heals all wounds. But does it? Not according to Worth Kilcrease, a counselor who specializes in end-of-life and bereavement matters. He says it’s what you do with the time that heals. Read his article Time Heals All Wounds, or Does It? published on April 24, 2008 in Psychology Today’s The Journey Ahead.
The David Lynch Foundation
One organization helping people deal with adversity and various forms of traumatic stress and grief is the David Lynch Foundation. Visit their website and see how they are Healing Traumatic Stress and Raising Performance in At-Risk Populations http://davidlynchfoundation.org. See DLF executive director Bob Roth speak at Google Zeitgeist 2014.
Tags:9-11, adversity, change, David Lynch Foundation, dealing with loss, death, dying, haiku, healing, healing traumatic stress, Ken Chawkin, loss, merciful nature, mercy, moving on, September 11, suffering, time, time heals, time heals all wounds, Worth Kilcrease
Posted in Articles, David Lynch Foundation, Health, My poems, Peace, Poetry | Leave a Comment »
February 11, 2014
Sitting with Sali on a cold winter Sunday afternoon at Parkview Care Center, looking out the window of her room at the powdered snow being blown off the white roofs in swirls. At one point, with the sun shining through in front of us, you could almost see a rainbow; only it was a snowbow! Made that up. We laughed. I had been in a rough mood, but what I saw, and the spontaneous playful art of composing a haiku, transformed me. The second and third lines came out first, and the first line last. I changed wind blows to winds blow to rhyme with snow. The rhythms, rhymes and meanings of the words sort of sound like what we saw. They’re powerful. Say them aloud a few times and see what happens. Sali seemed to like it. I love it! it’s fun! Here’s the poem.
WINTER HAIKU
The winter winds blow
Swirling whirling dervishes
Of powdery snow
© Ken Chawkin
Feb 9, 2014
Fairfield, Iowa
Tags:composing a poem, haiku, inspiration from a muse, inspiration from nature, Parkview Care Center, powdery snow, snow, sunshine, swirling snow, windy, Winter, writing poetry
Posted in My poems, Poetry, Sally Peden, Writing | 2 Comments »
September 22, 2013
This past Thursday, September 19, 2013, turned out to be an early Full Moon night. For some reason I ended up visiting Sali 3 times that day, twice to drop off things. The first time I stayed with her as she and the other residents were going to be entertained by a country music band. Their gentle songs from the fifties brought back memories when I first heard them as a child. It was very relaxing and healing for us as we listened together. When I returned later that night to read to her, she was already in bed. I leaned in and looked closely into her eyes. We both started laughing out loud, with great joy in our hearts. While sharing this experience with a friend at lunch today, the day of the autumnal equinox, I spoke of experiencing an orgasm of the heart. She repeated that line, and said it was something special. I noticed it also had seven syllables and wrote it down. Later, when we all went out for a walk together, the rest of the haiku easily assembled itself. I shared it with her; it sounded powerful. She said it gave her goosebumps, from head to toe and back.
Haiku of the Heart
for Sali
♥ ♥ ♥
Such joy between us
An orgasm of the heart
Looking in your eyes
♥ ♥ ♥
© Ken Chawkin
Experienced Thursday, September 19, 2013, Full Moon Night
Written Sunday, September 22, 2013, Autumnal Equinox
Fairfield, Iowa, USA
I remember another joyful time Being with Sali, August 1, 2012, also on a full moon night: Capturing an authentic moment in writing.
On August 31, 2017 I posted this related entry: ‘In Our Loving Eyes’ a poem by @kenchawkin remembering a special love with Sally Peden.
Tags:autumnal equinox, being together, fifties country music, full moon night, haiku, healing music, nostalgia, the power of poetry
Posted in Music, My poems, Poetry, Sally Peden, Writing | 4 Comments »
August 29, 2013
The recent blog post Redwood Forest Haiku, two versions, inspired by a photo my sister took in a Redwood Forest Park inspired other haiku.
Here’s one from GD
In Redwood forest
Giants standing grand and still
Holding the Silence.
Norman Zierold suggested changing the last line to my second version to Guarding the Silence.
In Redwood Forests
There are Giants among us
Guarding the Silence
Paul Stokstad sent two versions, the last one, i reminded him, required an extra syllable, which he added. It turned into a beautiful third haiku.
~1~
In redwood forests
there are giants among us
tall, holding silence
~2~
In redwood forests
there be giants, in silent
cathedral light
adding a missing syllable turned into
~3~
In redwood forests
there be giants, in silent,
soft, cathedral light
If you are so motivated, leave your version in the Comment section.
Tags:forest giants, haiku, paul stokstad, Poetry, redwood forests, redwood trees, silence in nature
Posted in Other poems, Poetry | 1 Comment »
August 24, 2013
I signed up with Instagram so I could see the pictures my sister took on her vacation to Mendocino in Northern California. They drove north to Humboldt County to see the California Redwood Coast Park Forest. Among the beautiful photos she posted, this one of the Giant Redwoods, considered the largest trees in the world, inspired me to write this haiku. Here is that photo, and two haiku versions, for your enjoyment.
Redwood Forest Haiku
~1~
In Redwood Forests
There are Giants among us
Who Hold The Silence
~2~
In Redwood Forests
There are Giants among us
Holding The Silence
© Ken Chawkin
Fairfield, Iowa
written 8/23/2013
posted 8/24/2013
See Being in Nature, a gift from a tree, with links to other tree poems. See Redwood forest photo and haiku inspire others.
Tags:california redwood coast, giant redwoods, haiku, humboldt county, inspiration, nature, nature poetry, outdoors, photographs, photography, redwood trees, silence, tallest trees in the world, Writing
Posted in My poems, Poetry | 1 Comment »
March 20, 2013
Haiku With My Muse
You are my soul mate
With you, I can be mySelf
Together, We Are
© Ken Chawkin
With Sali at Parkview
Sunday, March 17, 2013
See Celebrating Paul Horn and his Contribution to Jazz, World Music, Meditation and Spirituality.
(more…)
Tags:Ann Mortifee, arts, Celebrities, entertainment, flute, George A. Ellis, haiku, Literature, love, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, meditation, Music, new age music, Paul Horn, Sali, Symphony of Silence, Transcendental Meditation
Posted in Music, My poems, Poetry, Sally Peden | 3 Comments »
September 2, 2012
History Haiku/Tanka
Past is a Story
Partially made up by you
As is the Future
In between is the Present
How much are you living Now
© Ken Chawkin
September 1, 2012
Fairfield, Iowa, USA
Tags:autobiography, fabricating reality, false memories, fiction, haiku, history, interpreting the past, memories, now, point of view, projecting the future, remembering the past, storytelling, tanka, the present, truth
Posted in My poems, Poetry | 2 Comments »
June 17, 2012
These two haiku were composed spontaneously while talking to my friend Sali. She’s also my muse, and keeps me, both of us, amused.
I
Our body’s a purse
containing the universe.
Can you spare some change?
II
The bib testifies
to the lunch that was eaten—
Boy, that was good food!
© Ken Chawkin
Fairfield, Iowa
Phrases come out spontaneously while talking with Sali. I count the syllables and realize they make up the first two lines of a haiku, then come up with the third line. Don’t know where they come from, but the juxtapositions make us laugh. The first haiku was composed mid-morning, and the second while feeding Sali her lunch, on Saturday, June 16, 2012. Posted them today, Fathers Day, Sunday, June 17, 2012.
Tags:amusement, haiku, humor, spontaneous creation, writing poetry
Posted in My poems, Poetry, Sally Peden | 1 Comment »
The Uncarved Blog 