The Art of Pausing is a fascinating little book. The subtitle is Meditations for the Overworked and Overwhelmed. I thought, those words “overworked and overwhelmed” is how I feel at times. How about you? The book is essentially a collection of 99 haikus written by three authors “who inhabit very different worlds.” Brother Paul Quentin is a Trappist monk at Gethsemani. He’s a talented writer and photographer. Michael Bever, a retired educator, is an ordained Disciple of Christ minister “who was drawn later in life to Catholic traditions.” And last, there’s Judith Valente, a broadcast journalist for PBS-TV, writer, and retreat leader. Happenstance brought them together and they began exchanging haikus. Eventually they decided to write a book together, a book of haikus based on the 99 names of God referred to in sacred texts.
I’d like to share three of their haikus with you. They all follow the classic English-language haiku: three lines of five, seven, and five syllables. The first haiku, by Judith Valente, focuses on “God, the Designer”:
Neutrons seek protons
they hold the world together
for what, if not love?
Valente says that what she finds fascinating is “how all things, from protons to planets, collaborate, like the components of a perfectly calibrated watch.” She likes to think that “it is the universe’s love for us that holds things together in such a delicate balance.” As for me, I like to think that everytime I am attracted to someone (a friend, a stranger, a tree, a puppy) or something (a poem, an ocean, a concerto, a pizza) I am participating in the great dynamic of seeking–a seeking which permeates the universe–a seeking which eventually leads us to one another and ultimately to God, the Greatest Seeker of them all!
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The second haiku, by Michael Bever, is entitled “God, the All-Aware.”
Redbud branch in breeze
pale enticing afternoon
erases thinking.
Bever says there are many forms of prayer: the liturgy, the recitation of the psalms, the rosary, to name a few. But some people, like Thomas Merton, believed that the deepest prayer “needs no verbiage.” He maintained that there is so much talking that is “utterly useless. It is in the sky, the sea, the redwoods that you will find answers.” Says Bever, “I am grateful for those lazy afternoons when I can slow down long enough to notice a redbud tree’s branches swaying in the wind. A time of thinking about not thinking.”
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The third poem is by Brother Paul Quenon, OCSO. It focuses on the day in Jesus’ life when the religious elders brought him a woman caught in the act of adultery. It’s called “God the Utterly Just”:
At a cruel moment
Jesus stooped, scrawled in dust
Best haiku ever—
Says Brother Paul, “To this day, no one knows exactly what Jesus wrote.” Whatever it was, it was enough “to send the crowd slinking away.” Brother Paul sometimes imagines that “Jesus wrote a short poem, perhaps even haiku-like, that struck at the heart of our human propensity for condemnation and judgment.” Jesus’ simple gesture has the power “to open up a wider vision of the world–one shaped by forgiveness and a divine judgment utterly new to our understanding.”
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For reflection:
Did any of these haikus speak to you? Is so, which one and why?
Have you ever had experiences that “erase thinking”? Describe one of those experiences and how you felt afterwards.
Do you think God is the “Greatest Seeker of them all”? If so, what leads you to believe that? If not, what leads you not to believe that?
I invite you to try your hand at writing a haiku below. It can be about anything you want. And it doesn’t have to be perfect. When I taught high school, I’d sometimes make myself do the assignments I gave my students–to remind myself of how challenging an assignment could be for my students. So I thought I would do this suggested “assignment” I just gave you! Here’s my haiku:
“Blogging”
Hard work coupled with
the Spirit’s inspiration:
joy-filled partnership.
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PS: A BIG thank you for all you planned and attended and prayed for the “SHINE Women’s Summit” in Toledo, Ohio last Thursday, sponsored by the Sisters of Notre Dame. This year’s event, with the theme of creativity, honored five women in the area who S – support, H – honor, I- inspire, N – nurture, and E- empower others in a wide variety of ways: as art educators, media experts, advocates for the performing arts, professionals at the Toledo Museum of Art, and internationlly recognized artists. I was privileged to be one of the panelists who shared ideas on the importance of creativity in our lives. I came away from the event inspired, encouraged, and with a deep sense of renewed hope! Special thanks to the Advancement Office staff–especially Kerri–and the three SND’s who provided me with their gracious hospitality, Carol, Sally, and Karel.
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Michael Bever spoke about wordless prayer. So today’s music video (5 min.) has no words. And there are no lovely nature pictures in the background to “distract” you from the piano solo. There’s only pure pure sound… pure music… pure song. In this case it’s Chopin’s “Nocturne in E Flat Major (Op. 9, No. 2). You might be fascinated by “seeing the sound”on the video. I know I was… or you might want to close your eyes and just let the pure sound enter into yourself…
I invite you to respond to this blog below. I hope a few of you will write your very own haiku… don’t be shy…
58 Responses
I like the idea of “seeking”. Seeking God in nature, people and events in our lives. I have never written verse of any kind, but was inspired to write this after reading your blog and based on a recent experience.
Cool mountain breezes
Hiking in nature’s beauty
God is truly here.
Thank you for the inspiration!
Beverly, I loved your haiku! The form is perfect! The last line captures the essence of your message! Congratulations! Thanks so much for sharing it with us! Melannie
Thank you for this thought about the calmness that I shared with my students when we created haiku poems! They would work diligently on their creations, and I would write my own, as well. I remember the calm enthusiasm we had if you chose to share with others. Some students readily shared their gifts and others kept them in the silence of their hearts. My creative students and I loved haikus!
Thanks for a beautiful memory
Word patterns form
Peaceful calm meditation
Tiny messages
Karen, Thanks sharing your memories of teaching the haiku with your creative students! And thank you for your haiku too! Melannie
Good morning, Sr. Melannie…
Good morning, fellow haiku masters!
I am very familiar with Br. Quenon’s work. “In Praise of the Useless Life” is well worth the read!
Shadows slant early
The wind undresses the trees
Soon we’ll dream of green
John, Thanks for the additional book recommendation! We had our first snow during the night. The first one is always welcome! But we have some trees that need “undressing.”…Thanks for your contribution! Melannie
Thank you again today. Pausing is indeed so important. The video is perfect.
In honor of my new (3 day old) grandson:
Brand new Life
Continuation
Of ourselves
Kathy, Congratulations on the birth of your new gradnson! Prayers for him and his family. He’s lucky to have you for a grandmother… I like how your haiku highlights your grandson’s newness, while reminding us that he is a continuation of yourselves! Thank you! Melannie
Hands and feet
Fastened by nails
Constructing salvation
Greg, Wow! Beautiful! Thank you! Melannie
Good morning Sr. Melannie! I love poetry and loved teaching my junior high students to write it. Thank you for bringing this memory to me with today’s blog. Yes, I always did the assignment with them.
Music
Eyes tightly closed
Music washes over me
The Seeker is found
God bless you Sr. Melannie and each of us!
Martha, A perfect little haiku! Thanks so much! Melannie
Very lovely
Thank you for today’s post
Music brought peace
Diane, How nice to be thanked with a haiku! Thanks for writing! Melannie
Reading a new poem
Brings life to my weary soul
I inhale new love.
Patrick, Your haiku is perfect in every way. I resonated with your message–how poetry can bring new life to our weary souls. Thanks so much! Melannie
I love the ability of not thinking. It is more challenging than one would expect.
Hearing Chopin’s Etude was a wonderful deviation from not thinking. My mind took a break listening to this.
Kristina, I’m so glad you found that Chopin’s piece gave your mind a break! Music can put us into a different world! Melannie
I made a shameful mistake stating I found Chopin’s Etude relaxing to my thoughts.
It was Chopin’s Nocturne !
You see how effective the music was to me?
It relaxed my habit of being exacting and perfect.
Kristina, Who cares what category we put this peace in? More importantly is the power it possessed to move you so deeply! Melannie
While I am not graced with the ability to write Haiku, I do enjoy he message.
But I enjoy even more the serene moments of timelessness with the Lord.
Blessings,
FAther John
Father John, It’s okay if we aren’t blessed with the gift to WRITE poetry. An even greater gift is to APPRECIATE poetry and to be moved by it! You have that gift. And another gift you have: “to enjoy even more the serne moments of timelessness with the Lord.” Thank you for your wisdom! Melannie
Wow! These are all so beautiful. Too tired to think that much about writing poetry but still enjoying the rhythmn of the words. God bless.
Kathleen, Thank you for pointing out another aspect of poetry: the beauty and power of the “rhythmn of the words.” It’s fun to read poetry aloud to appreciate the poem’s rhythmn. Thanks for writing! Melannie
I think I have a new pastime
Advice
This is what you need
No, oops, maybe something else
You choose I will hope
Cynthia, What a clever little haiku. I really enjoyed it! It’s easy to give advice. But we must humbly admit, our advice is not always what a person needs… Thank you! Melannie
Melannie I so enjoyed your writing today and all the additional Haiku Poetry. Thank you
Maureen, You’re welcome! I too am enjoying my readers’ haikus! Melannie
This Afternoon
Clouds roll out snow streams,
Maple leaves dance in the wind —
November nocturne.
Mary Seton, This is lovely. Not only did you capture yesterday’s weather, you related it to the nocturne… an “evening song” which is so appropiate for November (if you live in the northern hemisphere) as we move into the darkness of winter… Thank you for sharing your poem with us! Melannie
Thank you Sister, for Haiku practice.
I live on a lake with reeds that sway in the wind; their gentle bend to the wind of God’s breath reminds me that he asks me likewise, to bend at the prompting of His Holy Spirit.
I’d call this: Bending to His Breath
Wind upon the reeds
Swaying in obedience
A call to follow
Celeste, What a beautiful poem! I liked especially your word SWAYING in obedience. We’re not MARCHING in obedience. We sway back and forth… ever moving… ever alive… sensitive to the Spirit’s breath! I’m so gad you took advantage of this “haiku practice.” Melannie
Melannie: here’s my favorite haiku: ”
“On leaving the House of a Friend”
Out comes the bee
From deep among peony pistils,
Oh, so reluctantly.
Mary Ann Flannery
Mary Ann (my writing buddy), Thanks so much for sharing this powerful haiku. You capture one of the feelings we experience when we’ve spent some time with a friend… We’re different because of just being with someone who loves us… Thank you! Melannie
On watching the first snow of the season:
First snow falling light
Heaven-sent, calming, peaceful
Quiet, Spirit-like.
Marge, You capture so beautifully how I feel (and many others) watching the first snow of the season. It’s always so calming–except perhaps if it occurs during morning ruch hour… After we received a couple of inches yesterday morning, the sun came out. I was almost blinded by the brilliant light! Thanks for writing! Melannie
“Where is God?”
The chills of autumn
With the sun hidden away
Where does one find hope
Brandon, Your haiku demonstrates another quality of this verse form. If the poem has a title, the poem itself illustrates that title. Your poem reacts to the chill and the absence of the sun. But the real question is the last line: where can one find hope? And another name for hope is God. At least that’s how I read your poem. Many poems, like your, start with a specific, concrete experience and end up talking about something far deeper and more profound. Thanks for sharing your haikue with us, Brandon! I sense many readers might be struggling to answer your question… Melannie
Swiftly moving fingers
Forming music for my soul
Relaxing interlude
I enjoy your newsletter. Thanks.
Peggy, Thank you for capturing this week’s video in a haiku! Precious! Melannie
FALL in Minnesota
Color here today
Winds roar through – whirling dervish
Color sadly gone
This year it happened just that fast, but it was spectacular for the weeks prior. God’s coloring pages were His gift to us.
Patt, your words capture what occurred in Northeast Ohio too! Absolutely colorful one day… and then all gone… I appreciated your sentence: “God’s coloring pages were His gift to us.” Amen to that! Melannie
whenever feet waltz,
polka, tap, or foxtrot the
Lord of the Dance smiles
I smiled, too, this evening as I read this week’s blog post. Thank you!!!
Annmarie, And I smiled when I read your words! I like to dance–despite the fact that I’m not very good at most dances. But I also love to watch other people dance who are good at dancing–whether on a stage or on the dance floor at a wedding reception. I like to think that everyone will be able to dance in heaven–and sing too! Thanks for your comment! Melannie
Thank you, Melannie, for the time to PAUSE & LISTEN …………
The Gift of music:
Wonderful to listen to,
I enjoy and play.
I look forward to your blog each week…. Blessings Rita
Rita, I’m glad this reflection gave you enjoyment and led to play! I couldn’t have asked for more. A BIG thank you for your playful haiku! Melannie
Smiles
Downy wisps of love
Like dandelion feathers
Blown to grow anew
Lynn, I especially like your “dandelion feathers.” I could picture then flying through the air. Their sole purpose? “Blown to grow anew.” And we know how successful they are in achieving that purpose! Thanks for your profound little haiku! Melannie
A newborn sleeping
Me marveling at his birth
GOD”S perfected Joy
This inspired me to write a poem after my second child was born…”A Bonding Love”
It’s a poem for all 4 of my children.
Roberta, Thank you for sharing this special haiku with us! It captures beautifully that special bond between mother and child… Melannie
My sister’s birthday
Feel we were born together
Not twins but one heart
Missy, Wow! You capture the closeness two sisters can feel even if they aren’t twins. I could certainly apply your words to my dear deceased sister, Mary Ann. Thank you! Melannie
I really enjoy how relatable and connected you are! You bring a new dimension of understanding every week!
Jean, Thank you for your kind words! I’m surprised and delighted this week how many readers responded with a haiku of their own. (I hope you and your branch on the Svoboda family tree are well!) Cousin Melannie
I love Haiku. Here are some of mine:
Listen with your heart.
See with open eyes, fear not.
bathe in healing water.
Healing is your touch.
O God, you are my strength.
Make me whole again.
Crosses in my life.
God’s grace poured out to strengthen.
Rising to new life.
Margaret, I liked all three of your haikus! Your strong yet simple verbs in the first one especially appealed to me: listen…see… fear not… bathe… And when we’re experiencing crosses in our lives, your reminder “God’s grace poured out to strengthen.” Lovely! Thanks, cousin! Melannie
Good Morning Sr Melanie! 🙂
Rarely do I get to read your blog in a timely manner, eventually I do and thus, I am always learning and seeking from what I read. Never heard of haikus before so, looked it up on the net. Cool and thank you for this topic. Here’s a stab.
A walk in the park
Young and old playing and smiling
The job of clearing (out) cobwebs
Have a lovely day Sister, Colette
Colette, Thank you for your haiku contribution–your first ever! You said, “Here’s a stab.” And it was a good one! How a walk in the park, and seeing young and old playing and smiling, would be a way of “clearing out cobwebs”… nice comparison! Thanks for writing! Melannie