Haiku originated in Japan in the 1700’s. Basho is accredited with being the “founding father of haiku,” as explained in four previous volumes of poetry. Haiku is 5-7-5, three-line verse in praise of nature or terse perceptive observations on the awesome beauty of nature.
A reader from Japan sent me a harsh email message in 2001 telling me I had “no right to use haiku for my political purposes. Poetry is poetry and should only be written as the originator (Basho) intended.”
I responded to the Japanese writer: “Basho was surrounded by an abundance of nature, beautiful lakes, flowers, forests, birds, and running streams. He and the other haiku writers could easily compose poetry in praise of nature. However, in our day, all those gifts of nature are vanishing. I have opted to write haiku in defense of a declining Earth. In the next life I will seek forgiveness from Basho.”
No response was forthcoming from Japan.
Please enjoy my Haiku, posted as below. You may comment on those you wish as well.
Domo Arigato
“For us life is Christ”
To die is eternal gain”*
Never be afraid
(#13,127)
Paul’s letter to the Philippians 1:21
Energy is gift
Flowing forth in limitless
Acts of charity
(#13,128)
Pigeons have freedom
Access to food unknown by
Many New Yorkers*
(#13,129)
*While attending the 2009 memorial service for Fr. Thomas Berry at St. John the Divine church in NYC I witnessed the contrast between thousands of suffering homeless beggars in “the World’s Financial Center” and begging pigeons. The birds were clearly respected and being fed by humans.
Equinox has been
Faithful to the precise day
For four billion years
Daily all will see
More clearly than yesterday
We must grow in Love
Strive for compassion
In all endeavors to find
Harmony with God
Destruction of Earth
Is most devastating when
Humans choose warfare
Haiku always flow
From deepest parts in our heart
Seldom from one’s head
We fail to see cars
Are corporate enslavement
Of every person*
*Although only 600 million vehicles are available to over
6 billion people, those who do not have cars are continually
threatened as pedestrians strive to cross streets. Cars, not
people have the “right of way” in every city and in small
communities as well.
How long to stay here?
Till we reach deep compassion
Then we may go home
If we walk always
With our awesome, loving God
Nothing will shake us
Deeper compassion
Will at times make our lives just
Too unbearable
It has now become
Our “sacred duty” to kill
Although forbidden
Why does our “defense”
Ignore health of common folks*
Who are dying now?
*In the United States over 43 million have no medical protection in a society where healthcare is another commodity. Most cannot afford the cost of hospitalization and visits to physicians. Millions remain in a workplace they do not value, but cannot do without the health insurance provided by employers.
Relics of global
Profit systems collapse prove
Its total failure