Hello, Sunny People!
This is a haiku prompt I originally posted back in May. I thought now was a good time to revisit the idea of hope. I’ve added a short essay to this post below the comic.
Today is a new day, what use will you make of it?
burning horizon
sun’s ostentatious climax
sparks hope for new day
The Connection Between Attention and Hope
Writing haiku forces you to notice more details. The details of something is what gives it meaning to us. If you see a dog, you might have a thought or two about it. If you see a black and white dog that walks with a waddle, looks like a walking stuffed animal, and is wagging its tail at you, you have made a connection. It’s almost impossible not to fall in love with the second dog. The difference is in the details.
When you pay attention to something, you signal your brain and body that that thing is important. You can’t help but soak up all the details.
If you want to feel hopeful, you have to place your attention on things that build hope. For me, paying attention to nature is hopeful. Seeing the sunrise and feeling its rays on my face fills me with optimism.
Hope feels better than discouragement and is better for our planet and communities. Only the hopeful work to solve problems.
Poetry and art are not luxury goods. They are our way of building and sharing hope.
There are a lot of things to be anxious about in our world. I try and remember that every new day is a fresh chance for me to make a small difference. Each morning is a call to hope.
Today’s Haiku Prompt
Write a haiku, or series of haiku, about something that makes you feel hopeful. Use any structure you like. Feel free to use the traditional 5--7-5 format or use a more free-verse approach.
As always, I love seeing your poems. Feel free to put them in the comments!
Be the poetry you want to see in the world!
Cheers,
Jason
I believe attention brings what we want from hope into the present. We hope when we feel we lack, and pure attention, such as in your description of the dog, provides what it is we often are looking for. Then, from that place we can take what we experience and move it into future moments!
Love this poem and love the accompanying drawing!
Really beautiful poem and drawing. 🌞✨