Aware, Observant, Open

braided, cascading
roots in a forest--
the coolness of shade

In a 2006 interview conducted by Robert D. Wilson in Simply Haiku, Scott Metz described how taking up the art of haiku had changed him, "Since finding haiku and its path, I'm more aware, observant, peripheral, open, watchful, both of the nature outside of me and the nature inside of me..." I love the way Metz used the word "peripheral" here. It's not a word that focuses on the straight arrow, the goal directed, the unveering route. Rather it's more like the erratic path of a Brood X cicada, cumbersomely flying off to your left, then by some amazing feat of heat-seeking, executes a quick strike to your shoulder or chest.

When interviewer Robert D. Wilson asked Metz what appeals to him about haiku, he said that he felt, that haiku "awakens the child inside of me. Haiku can give us back the child that was once in all of us."

"Aware, observant, open" these are really important characteristics to work toward in writing haiku. And in fact, to live life fully and in communion with the world around us.

Yesterday, in Equality, Illinois, I sat on a bench outside a bank, enjoying the first warm sunshine of an autumn morning. Two older woman walked past in turn and shared their thoughts of the day. All three of us felt lucky to bask in the October warmth knowing how quickly it would fade. There was a moment of receiving nature's grace, two moments of sharing, followed by the sound of a cane tapping down the sidewalk.