Write a Haiku Poem for Fundraising Project

The theme is anything related to the
foot or feet--running, walking, dancing,
skipping, swimming, jumping...

My friend, Toby Salk, is participating in her third Team in Training to raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. She will walk 13 miles in the Nike Challenge half marathon this October in San Francisco.

Toby hopes to exceed a $5000 3-year total this year. I am helping with the fundraising effort by creating a limited edition of boxes filled with individual cards printed with each haiku submission, the writer's name, city and state. Completed Box of Haiku sets will be available in September for a small donation. Proceeds will go to Toby Salk's Team in Training fund.

Most people likely have known a friend or family member touched by a blood cancer (leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma). The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society funds research, education, and patient assistance for people with blood cancers (Leukemia, Lymphoma, Multiple Myeloma). At a time when medical costs are rising and medical insurance coverage is diminishing, organizations such as LLS are needed more than ever.

What is Haiku Poetry?

The ancient art of haiku poetry is a simple and profound form that focuses on a single insightful moment that is rooted in the physical world of the senses and presented in a 17-syllable format.

Haiku is sometimes humorous and it often suggests the deep mysterious nature of all existence. It is a practice that is frequently introduced to school children. 18th century haiku poet, Issa, wrote…

A GIANT FIREFLY

THAT WAY, THIS WAY, THAT WAY, THIS—

AND IT PASSES BY.

Creating haiku calls upon you to become still and present in order to notice the truth of the moment.

1) Jot down of few notes about your immediate experience. What do you see, hear, feel, and smell?

2) Central to the beauty of traditional haiku is a reference to the season--either the actual word naming the season (summer, fall, winter, spring)--or a word that suggests it, such as the name of a month or a characteristic of the particular season (such as snow, heat, withering leaves, fresh blossoms, fire fly).

3) The basic haiku format is three non-rhyming lines. The first line is 5 syllables. The second line is 7 syllables. The third line is 5 syllables. There is a long hyphen at the end of the first or second line, wherever you choose to place an emphasis.

I wrote this during our summer heatwave...

FEET SINK IN SOFT SAND

FLUTTER AND KICK IN WARM WAVES--

LAKE OF HAPPINESS.

Haiku may soothe your soul and it is fun to play with. Be warned...once you start creating haiku, it may be hard to stop.

Enjoy!

Please support this effort by emailing one small poem to...

boxofhaiku@gmail.com

Your help with this project will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Pat Pendleton