"Taking Charge: a journey of recovery" Buy the book

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Taking Charge: a journey of recovery

Why do I write Haiku?

I think predominantly writing Haiku is a kind of meditation.
I belong to a list on Twitter called #Haikuchallenge. Each day they offer a single word, and we all try to give it our best shot. I guess the first bit of the puzzle is 'association' to all sorts of things in my mind. I just let the mind run, while drinking my coffee first thing, and then build from there.
I do try to keep things 'traditional' in the sense of using 5-7-5 as my format. This provides a 'structure and a 'discipline'. However I also try to be traditional in the sense of 'simpleness' or 'everydayness'. I guess this is driven by some of the original Japanese writers (for instance Basho who wrote "Old pond/Frog leaping/ Splash". It is so 'duh', but so amusing, and challenges us to be aware of ordinariness in our daily lives - hence the mindful quality of writing Haiku.
I guess I also have some 'categories' - not that I intentionally write for them, but more I am aware of contexts - every day, family, intimate relationships, psychiatry, meaning of life. Within this, I am trying to build a repertoire of Haiku about Love and Sex - 'Sensual Haiku'. I am currently authoring a book drawing all of my sensual haiku together.
But my final  'category' is just that it is fun. It is such a joy to play with words, try to get them into some sort of order, use the discipline to control the words, but perhaps have a simple surprise at the end.
Today's word was 'itch'. I wrote:

Itch is found in snitch

In pitch, glitch, witch, switch and stitch

Also in body

and then

Itch makes my nose run

Not to do with allergy

Just hearing the word

and then

Number one lesson

Mosquito's main goal in life

To make us all itch

Haiku ('broken' and 'crack')

'Broken'

Long separated

Finally filed for divorce

The contract broken

They came together

Shuddering in wild delight

The long drought broken

Psychiatric care

Skilled mending of broken minds

Or just pill pushing

'Crack'

Looks like its broken

See, there's a crack across here

The end of the line

Marched across the moor

Set a really cracking pace

Fell into a bog

Relationship cracks

Must be fixed before bedtime

They widen in dreams

Haiku from the last two days (absence, yesterday)

Our coldest fearing

Nothingness of existence

The absence of love

We each want to die

Having achieved all our dreams

In absence of pain

Absence of hatred

A world full of light and love

I see it in dreams

All our yesterdays

Wrapped up in who we are now

Signpost tomorrow

Yesterday a boy

Today an ageing poet

Tomorrow just words

Yesterday's Haiku

Clever reflections all gone

Today's word ripples

Recent Haiku Musings: Secure, Upset

Insecure feeling
Lost you on the underground
Can't use phone in dreams

Secure PIN number

No-one will get my data

What was it again?

Secure the castle

Batten down all the hatches

Another cyclone

Gen Y mindfulness

Try to think really deeply

How you support me

A piece of my mind

Upset equilibrium
Need to meditate

Upset apple cart

Fujis, Jonathans, Coxes

Going for cider

Taking Charge - the book

OK, just to let everyone know, the book about my partial recovery from Transverse Myelitis HAS GONE TO PRESS. Woo Hoo.... The book has taken three years to get to this point. It was previously serialized on this site, and many of you have read various chapters and sent me kind comments - for which I am grateful.
I will post further on how you can access the book.

Recent Haiku

'Notice'

Had to take notice

His middle was expanding

Trousers much too tight

Notice the full stop

On this breathless summer's day

Pink slushy not.iced

Robinson Crusoe

Shipwrecked alone on island

Beach Notice: "Private"

'Orange'

Battle of the Boyne

Remembered still in Belfast

Orange men parade

Antioxidants

Mopping up free radicals

Orange zest for life

Slipped on orange peel

Broke his leg in two places

Lost his zest for life

Oranges, lemons

Say the bells of St. Clement's

London children's rhyme

'Live'

We all want to live

Preferably forever

Become a virus?

I have some live kin

And also some who have died

They're akin to kin

Sitting in my lounge

Listening to radio

Oh! Me; live on air