Midwest Mary

A handful of words with one clear message, image, or emotion. That is the power of haiku.

Don’t underestimate these little poems. As we often say in writing, less is best. Clean, clear writing is edited down to perfection. In haiku, the words and syllable count are minimal; therefore, each word must be carefully chosen. Every word is a piece of the puzzle, and all pieces connect to the overall story.

Haiku is the caviar of poetry. We curl up in a comfy chair and digest each word slowly and thoughtfully. We relax and ponder.

The traditional haiku is comprised of three lines. The first line has 5 syllables, the second has 7, and the last has 5. Each word is vital to the overall poem. The last line may come with a twist, a little surprise, or a summary.

Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku, published by Literary Revelations, offers more than 1,000 haikus submitted by more than 200 poets. My evening treat is to sit back and read a few of these delightful delicacies, savoring them one word at a time and inhaling the picture portrayed.

Five of my haikus are included in the book. Here are three of them.

Ocean Song
Ocean waves lull me
into deep meditation.
Mother Nature’s song.

-o-

Relaxing
whiffs of lavender,
soothing music, healing hands.
relaxing massage

-o-

Infant in My Arms
fresh scent, silky skin
infant swaddled in my arms
My heart overflows.

-o-

Each of these haikus should give you a clear thought or picture. They are little gifts, from me to you.

You can also find haikus and other forms of poetry along with photos from public gardens in my book, Tranquility Transformation Transcendence, published by ACTA Publications. These haikus are inspired by the photo that they are paired with, and therefore, work together. Here are two from this book.

Autumn Pop
Autumn colors pop
like fizzy, fruity sodas
tingling our senses

In the Midwest, we refer to sodas as pop, so this haiku uses both words to express the sensual feeling of fizzy sodas.

And here is a haiku that honors mentors.

Cheers to the Mentor
Cheers to the mentor
who reaches down to promote
those reaching upwards.

*

Photos: Hawaii, 2006; Cantigny Park in Winfield, IL, 2021; and The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL, 2021.

©Mary K. Doyle, 2025