An Autumn in Haiku
I wrote a micro-poem for each day of the past season
At the beginning of autumn, during a meditation retreat, I decided I would write one haiku every morning to reignite my creative habit. I kept the ritual going throughout the season, from the early days with the lingering heat of summer to the preparations for Christmas, with winter just around the corner.
Some poems relate directly to the sensory experience of autumn — falling leaves, morning dew, days getting shorter. Others were inspired by daily life, but still framed by the spirit of the season. Together, I hope they paint a picture of autumn and life. Or, at the very least, my autumn and my life.
Garden weeds, knee-high.
Crushed green patches near the gate,
each step a new path.
Early autumn morning.
The Buddha head statue smiles
covered by tall grass
Countryside zendo.
The neighbor’s sheep chant the sound
of one hand clapping.
Darkening petals.
Overlooking young flowers
the tall daisy bows
Sun through the window.
A monk’s shadow on the floor
reaches the altar.
