Necessary Storms

The storm's presence looms;
seeds magnetized await bloom…
Water ignites life.

Today may be the ideal day to begin this new healthy practice commemorating National Haiku Poem Day.

This poetry-writing activity can be done with your family — serving as a means of strengthening family ties — or independently.

The Haiku Structure

As seen in the poem titled "Necessary Storms" displayed above, every conventional Haiku arrangement uses the five-seven-five syllable formula to successfully meet the specific structural requirements set forth within this poetic style.

How the syllable count works

  • Line 1: 5 syllables
  • Line 2: 7 syllables
  • Line 3: 5 syllables

That tight constraint is part of what makes Haiku such a powerful mindfulness practice — you can't be vague. You have to choose each syllable carefully.

The Japanese Origins

Having Japanese roots, Matsuo Bashō — a 17th-century Japanese poet — made use of this well-liked poetic device, and it became the centerpiece for his career and existence.

Interestingly, in the past, Haiku poetry frequently dealt with:

  • Nature
  • Insights
  • Emotions
  • The seasons
  • Other aspects of nature

Bashō and his contemporaries used Haiku as a window into a single, fleeting moment — the changing color of leaves, the moon over a mountain, the sudden flight of a bird. The structural compression forced the poet to see the moment clearly and report it precisely.

Modern Topics

Haikus are now used to describe a variety of topics and subjects — which is an interesting departure from traditional nature-focus, while still preserving the core mindfulness function.

Modern Haikus can be about:

  • Coffee mornings
  • Conversations with kids
  • Commute observations
  • Office moments
  • Relationship feelings
  • Anything that captures a present moment

The form is flexible. The discipline of attention is what matters.

Why Haiku as Mindfulness Practice

When utilized to investigate life and its deeper meaning, the examination that takes place in writing poetry or mindful journaling can lead to some of the most expressive reflections of a person's true nature — and can be quite constructive.

The practice produces several cognitive and emotional benefits:

1. Inner sense of harmony

Creating poetry leads to an inner sense of harmony related to growth, empathy, perspective, and world views.

2. Cognitive improvements

Improvements in cognitive and critical-thinking abilities — and the capacity to follow simple instructions (which is a crucial social skill for young children and teens) — are linked to writing.

3. Improved concentration and analytical thinking

Have also been associated with regular writing practice — including the focused observation Haiku requires.

4. Emotional regulation

The discipline of capturing a feeling in 17 syllables forces you to identify what you're actually feeling — which is itself a regulation skill.

A Family Practice

For families looking to bring mindfulness into shared time together — Haiku writing works beautifully:

  • Sunday morning practice — each family member writes a Haiku about the week ahead
  • Family travel journals — Haikus capture moments without long writing sessions
  • Dinner-table activity — write Haikus together about the day
  • Holiday traditions — Haiku as a Christmas or New Year ritual

The practice scales from young children (who love syllable-counting) to adults (who appreciate the contemplative depth).

Starting Your Own Practice

For someone new to Haiku as a mindfulness practice:

1. Choose a quiet moment

Morning coffee, evening before bed, a walk outside.

2. Notice one thing

Don't try to capture everything — just one observation, one feeling, one moment.

3. Count the syllables

5-7-5. The constraint is the point.

4. Don't worry about being "good"

The practice value comes from the focused attention — not from producing publishable poetry.

5. Keep them somewhere

A small notebook, a phone notes app, a journal. Over time, they become a meaningful record of mindful moments.

Words of Encouragement

I hope you all write Haiku this month as a way to engage with the world around you with greater attention and care.

Whether you write one Haiku today and never write another — or you start a daily practice that lasts years — the act of slowing down to notice, to count, to capture is itself the gift.

A Closing Haiku

Pen meets paper still; syllables hold the moment — five, seven, then five.

Happy National Haiku Poem Day, Klamath Basin. Write something small. Notice something honest. See what comes.