Summer Words
Every now and then I notice someone has looked at my website. They probably wonder where the words are. I do too.
I was almost done with the first draft of an autobiography when COVID-19 hit in March 2020. Plans to go to my daughter’s bridal shower came to a shrieking halt. So did my ability to conjure sentences. I was overcome with shock and anxiety.
When airlines announced that no one over 60 should fly, I was certain they did NOT mean me. They did. I stayed home and masked up for a trip to the grocery store or to get pet food.
I attended zoom meetings for different kinds of support. I bought an electric keyboard and started playing piano again. I cooked more elaborate meals. Still no words.
A week ago, I took a haiku class from the Upaya Zen Center and words started to return to the page. Apparently short passages are easier for me to handle than long passages. Haiku is challenging in a different way; conceptually it can be Zen without being Zen.
Roshi Joan Halifax says it’s ok to write shitty haiku so that’s what I’m been doing. Check out my new haiku page. I hope to improve with practice.
haiku is always the way I move back into writing anything.
I didn’t know that, Tammy. You should have told me!
Hmmm. Writing 27 word poems is what brought me back. Similar practice of being concise. Many if mine are shitty too. That’s ok.
27 words is better than none!