It turns out, the early bird special for this month of poetry is a combination of both prose poem and haiku.  It is called the haibun.  As might be thought, it is a form developed in first in Japan.  This form is thought to have first originated with the master of Japanese poetry, Matsuo Basho. 

Most frequently, this form is used as a sort of travelogue or character sketch.  It is in it’s first part descriptive prose.  In the latter part, it is a haiku that is appropriate to place, scene or person.

The Haibun has expanded its range to become part of world literature. Now, it has found its way into this struggle for a poem a day for April and into my heart as a personal challenge for me to attempt to accomplish.  As a reminder to both myself and those who might read along and attempt this form as well, a traditional haiku consists of 17 on, in three phrases of five, seven and five on respectively.

My stab at this form is as follows:

It is said the Master Basho found, as so many others have that every day is not just the passing of time but a journey.  So it is for those who dare to travel it rather than just exist and eke out the dull drudgery of day to day life.  For some such as myself, I find the complexities within me struggle to see which of these conflicting spirits will win each passing day.

Spring blossoms rise new

Winter memories are past

Each flower brings hope

This Spring Break with my two princesses came quicker than my ability to plan.  Maybe that’s just as well.  After all, every good plan falls apart the moment boots hit the ground.  The first thing learned is also the last.   Flexibility is the key to safety and success in all things we mortals endeavor to strive toward.  Applying these fundamentals to vacation resulted first in the decision to enjoy a day at the Indianapolis Museum of Art (“IMA”).   It was that or be rained on.

Whispered smiles wear well

As new plans rise from the ashes

Sweet love embraces changes

Where my thoughts had led me to wish to teach two young girls about the ways of nature exploring hillside garden trails that lead to wooded ravines along the White River, the decision was made instead to act on gaining a family membership where a love of art might be further fostered and shaped.   On arriving, there were two things immediately found that brought bright smiles from the back seat.   First, that the gardens found at the IMA were being featured for their 250,000 anticipated spring blooms.  The second was that we had arrived on Family Day.  This meant multiple arts making activities that just happened to pertain to nature – “Feathers and Flowers”

All of this cleverly tied in with an exploration of the life of James Audubon in a fantastic exhibition called “Drawn To Nature”.   And so as it so often seems, God’s gentle hand interceded to provide hours of smiles and learning, all of which was inspired by nature and all of which has put a burning ember in the heart of each of my princesses to learn more and do more and to enjoy art as well.

Drawn to watch nature

We explore our minds and hearts

We learn by loving

Mahalo and Aloha,

Michael Romani