your daily rock : write a haiku

May 25, 2013 in Daily Rock, General

For a long time, I wrote book reviews in Haiku.

5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables. Encapsulating meaning in short form.

For example,

Repacking Your Bags by Richard Leider:

A bag full of stuff,
does all this make you happy?
repack and be light.

A Whole New Mind by Dan Pink

Left brain and right brain
which side is most important?
the artsy side wins.

What is it to distill meaning into 17 syllables?

Some think the form is too restrictive. I think the form frees up a new kind of creativity. It invites us to get beyond the surface of the thing to the essence of the thing:

Consider me
As one who loved poetry
And persimmons.

– Shiki

The wren
Earns his living
Noiselessly.

– Issa

What is the essence of this day? Write a Haiku to capture it.

Love,

(These beautifully painted rocks are created by Kim Mailhot, aka The Rock Fairy.

About Patti Digh

Patti Digh is an author, speaker, and educator who builds learning communities and gets to the heart of difficult topics. Her work over the last three decades has focused on diversity, inclusion, social justice, and living and working mindfully. She has developed diversity strategies and educational programming for major nonprofit and corporate organizations and has been a featured speaker at many national and international conferences.

2 comments to " your daily rock : write a haiku "


Liesl Garner

May 26, 2013 AT 8:58AM

Beautiful boy

Art blooms from you endlessly

Happy Birthday, Son

Laura Callaghan

May 26, 2013 AT 2:48PM

Patti, thank you for your daily rocks of wisdom. I learned about your work through my art journaling class. I have since shared your rocks with a colleague at school who then shared with another… Needless to say you have quite a following at F.C. Joyce Elementary in North Highlands, CA! Thanks for brightening our days!