Back in the spring I had a great idea. As a form of prayer, I would write one haiku each day about something I was thankful for. You know haikus, right? Three lines with a 5-7-5 syllable count.
(I should admit right now that I love the challenge of technical poetic forms. I’m not saying I’m good at them, mind you. But I love the challenge.)
I know I had this brilliant idea, because I came across a notebook a couple of days ago. On the front of this bright yellow spiral notebook I had written “Thankfulness Poems.” And on the very first page, in big hopeful letters, I had written, “Thankfulness Haikus.” (Note the optimistic “s.”)
On this page there are precisely two hiakus. The next page is full of notes on the Grapes of Wrath.
But I still maintain that this is a great idea. I have no more illusions that I will write one every day, but hopefully I will translate my thankfulness into three metered lines of poetry every now and then.
And here is “Thankfulness Haiku #1”:
Whiskers brush my cheek, my hand
Gentlest alarm