19 Comments

Reading this aligns so much with how I see poetry and paying attention. It's scary because I've been thinking about it a lot this week so reading this is like someone picked the notes from my brain and wrote this. Love the colourful comics. Haiku is relatively new to me. I have to remember to get the nature aspect in somehow. Love the weekly haiku challenge you run. This week, I've challenged myself with three different prompts from different creators just to get out of what I normally do with my poems and prompts. Thank you for sharing these insights!

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Thank you for your kind words. I'm a big believer in synchronicity and feel that you and I, and so many other creators on Substack, are in a new arts & literature scene together and so the same ideas are widely circulating among us.

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You make some great points. You can meditate while doing the dishes as long as you pay attention a with single-mindedness that is gentle and nonjudgemental. Just see what's there and don't attach any preconceptions to it.

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I love finding a zen state while washing dishes! I often get great ideas for creative work immediately after finishing that beautiful, monotonous task.

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You had me at poetry (haiku & Mary Oliver are favorites of mine, too), but the reminder about mindfulness/meditation and walking is a powerful & timely gift. I’m inspired to get busy noticing again instead of stressing inside. Thank you ◡̈

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Thanks for reading! The world needs more Mary Oliver!

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Thank you for sharing! I really needed to read this right now. It boosted my spirits!

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I'm so happy to hear that! Thanks for stopping by here!

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How delightful to hear of the connection for you between haiku and mindfulness. And a lovely bonus to add your art to that. Thank you!

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I'm thrilled that you enjoyed this! Thanks for reading!

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I too use walking and writing as a meditation of sorts. For the walking/hikes in Nature are one long meditation. I've found that my ability to focus on the present moment is highest when in Nature.

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Nature is magic! I remember reading that trees may increase the amount of oxygen they respirate when humans are around, and that fills me with so much delight.

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I do find writing haiku helpful because it keeps me connected to the land I love so much. (Nature, not country.)

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I hear you. I've never felt more disconnected from my country than at the present moment, but I do find that getting closer to the land (Nature) helps me find more joy in life.

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I was searching for the haiku week suggestion word or theme

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I do the haiku prompt every Monday. Here's the link to this week's prompt:

https://weirdopoetry.substack.com/p/week-5-of-52-haiku?r=9m30k

Next week's prompt will be out in a couple of days.

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I’m not receiving the newsletter

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Thanks for your perspective, Jason. As a teacher, a schedule was imposed upon my work, and I was ok with that. Now that I am retired, though, I find it hard to create a schedule let alone stick to it. I do walk almost daily and have a haiku practice that I started over a year ago. Both are a joyful places to put my attention. I don't write a poem daily, but save lines in my "poetry boneyard", a new concept I love. The collection of poems is growing. I get to re-experience the season changes and fleeting moments of my life.

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Thanks for reading, Marlee! It sounds like you have a lovely creative practice!

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