In 2018 I want to do the things I care deeply about, and those that provide the most pleasure (to me and others) on a daily basis. That means walking, writing, reading, practicing tai chi, playing with my dog, Oliver, and experiencing some kind of beauty–natural or made by human hands. I also hope to write a weekly blog about my personal, political, and aesthetic thoughts and experiences.
I know that I have made promises to myself in previous years, and not always kept them. This year I am determined to be different.
At the beginning of January, I began to write at least one haiku (an attempt at one, that is) per day. Like a great picture book for children, this subtle poetic form is much harder to do well than it looks. Basho, Issa, and Buson do it best.
Here is the only haiku I have written so far this month that I am the least bit pleased with. As fate would have it, my dog is in it:
Face afresh with snow
the dog dunks his head again.
Some thrills don’t go away.
Joan Lauri Poole 