I’m never surprised
to see pain and beauty share
the same DNA

Comments

• January 16, 2010, susan writes: lovely
• January 17, 2010, howard writes: thank you, Susan. the more i experience, the truer it seems.
• January 22, 2010, PJ writes: There's definitely a lot of truth to this.
  :)
• February 1, 2010, cheryl e gordon aka Muffyjo writes: the positive & the negative, the light and the dark, the pain & the beauty .... tied together by the same DNA. Love this mini poem. Great analogy.
• February 1, 2010, howard writes: thanks, Cheryl!

yet another handwritten version of one from the book

this life is only
a soul-refining process,
progress optional

Comments

• June 26, 2009, Anthony writes: Age brings perspective. One would hope it also brings growth, but there are plenty of people who choose to do things a certain way because they've always done them. The "progress optional" ones.
  Along the way I think I've been at least 6 different people. Some of them I look back on and don't like all that much. I suppose I have a couple more changes coming.
  At least I hope so.
• June 26, 2009, howard writes: I hope so, too. unfortunately, some of us learn without applying our acquired knowledge (something I can relate to at times), but in the best case scenario, I imagine most of us are due for more changes. hopefully.
• June 26, 2009, Anthony writes: For me, I'm guessing "Curmudgeon" is on the menu at some point. :)

things I thought I knew
have fallen and been replaced
like last autumn’s leaves

Speaking of mistakes, one of the things I’ve noticed about writing haiku on napkins (as I have with this one) is that the soft, less slick surface of a napkin actually makes it easier for me to not make mistakes. Perhaps it’s because I have a tendency to gather steam as I write, which leaves me prone to miscues. Which is probably also a part of the reason why I prefer fountain pen to roller ball.

All of which has nothing to do with the point of the haiku itself.

so many mistakes
there is no time to correct,
only to forgive

Comments

• May 25, 2009, howard writes: This one's sort of linked to yesterday's semi-apologetic couplet.
• May 26, 2009, PJ writes: I think both of them are great, like two different angles on personal regret.
• May 26, 2009, howard writes: Thanks, PJ. That's how they were intended, sort of.

Comments

• March 31, 2009, Mikaelah writes: if a person did not believe in dysfunction -(I know ...HUGE if...) would a struggle be possible - or what appears to be a struggle be simply - how life unfolds. ?
• March 31, 2009, howard writes: I certainly believe it's how we grow. Which doesn't seem to ever happen without some sense of discomfort, either as motivation or a part of the changing/growth process.