As a little girl, I began to keep a diary, and not long after, I also began to write poetry. Journaling remains a daily habit with me, as does poetry. Journaling is good, because I can pour my thoughts out unedited and unmeasured. But poetry is better because it is beautiful. My styles vary because I love to experiment with new forms, both rhymed and unrhymed. I use poetry to connect with others on such universal topics as love, dating, marriage, family, God, nature, life, death, and just plain fun. Some of my poems are dark, but most are not. I write much about hope because I experience it daily. I write about patience and waiting because I have learned much in that department as well, and am learning still…. Mostly I write because sometimes I feel alone in my struggles, and reaching out to others—connecting with you the reader, and having you touch me with your comments and other feedback—helps me to realize that I’m not really alone. And hopefully it will help someone else out there to realize that you are not alone either.
Autumn’s morning gusts
Break open billowy clouds.
Sunshine in my eyes
Written in response to Hayes Spenser’s article “Haibun Monday — Why?” on dversepoets.com. I had never heard of this form, and the article piqued my curiosity. Yes, I know, it’s up here every other Monday, but this is the first time I actually paid attention. 🙂 I read first this, then did a little online research to learn more. In fact, I spent much of the day reading about Haibun and reading other people’s works. It has been nice to get out of my own nook and explore the work of other authors for a day. I have been producing a lot lately (that you will not see just now), but needed a break.
And since I’ve categorized this in “About Poetry,” I will briefly describe Haibun, for those of you who, like me, were not previously familiar with this verse form. It’s actually a combination of prose and poetry, but the prose should also be succinct.
Bruce Ross, in How to Haiku, says that “haibun is prose writing that is expressed poetically, with figures of speech and rhythmic sound values, and is full of emotion, like the writing of a diary… sometimes the haiku will illustrate the insight of your narrative and sometimes it will extend the implications of your narrative” (poetrysociety.org).
Dark Side of the Moon 
I don’t keep a journal except for notes which I don’t keep after the small book is filled. Perhaps I should. I agree with you that poetry requires revision and looking for the best way to say something. It does aim more for an audience and that provides connection which is a good cure for feeling alone. I liked the last line of the haiku about sunshine and eyes, a positive perspective.
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Thanks. Some people would think sunshine in their eyes as an unpleasant thing, but I see it as a connection between myself and the sun.
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I used to keep a diary but not anymore. I like the journaling habit, pouring out one’s thoughts in all its rawness, unmeasured. Nice to meet you and glad that you are trying the haibun form. Admiring those billowy clouds, when the sunlight opens up. My favorite time of the day.
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So nice to meet you, Grace. Thank you very much for stopping by. One thing I like to do, when I have time, is revisit old journals to review things that have happened and how I reacted to them. Sometimes I edit for brevity. Sometimes I remove things are better left in the past. I don’t see this as changing my history, but as moving on. Otherwise, I can get stuck reliving old hurts and raw emotions. Though I’ve never had a problem glorying in past victories. Those are always good. 😉
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I wish I had kept a journal. I’ve tried and always give it up a couple of days in. It would be so gratifying to look back to important (and not important) moments, what brought them about, what happened because of them. You’re fortunate to have those journals. So much food for your feasts of poetry. I love the definition you found for Haibun too. I copied it so I would remember it.
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Don’t give up on your journal. Every time you start over is a day remembered. Even I miss some days here and there, but I choose to be thankful for the memories I can cherish, not weep over the ones I’ve lost.
And oh, there is so much more to the haibun than what meets the eye! It is not a strict form at all, where structure is concerned. For instance, the poem(s) can appear anywhere: beginning, middle, end, staggered, etc. There can be more than one poem. I even saw a haibun that was 6,000 words long!
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I have never kept a journal but admire everyone who does… I feel that your poetry is a bit like sieving for nuggets of gold from your journal..
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That’s a very good analogy, since they both reflect life, but the poetry picks smaller portions and polishes them to make them shine.
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I started out journaling long before I stared to write short stories and poetry, too. No doubt it is the ‘why’ and ‘how’ we now are here. 🙂
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To me it is the foundation for my writing. A very good place to start. 🙂
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As long as the “sunshine” remains in your eyes, your words will touch and inspire us, Linda.
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Aw, thank you, Walter. I shall try not to blink. 😀
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The haiku really opens up the prose. (K)
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It was love at first sight for me. From now on even my journal entries will look like this. 🙂
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Thanks so much for sharing about how and why you write. I always love to hear how it works for others. So glad you decided to start writing poetry since I absolutely love your poetry!!!!
Chuck
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Thank you, Chuck! The admiration is mutual.
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You are too kind, as always!
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Hallo
You write with honesty and clarity and it was lovely to read. XX
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