November 18, 2011

The smooth lake abides.
Without waves within the heart,
how could the skies move?

We all tend to cause a lot of our own drama: worry about things that haven’t happened, stress about things out of our control, agonize over decisions, fret about things from our past.  We find many ways to get ourselves agitated and then the whole world looks awry.

Month-ring: Today’s haiku speaks across the month-ring to the haiku from November 3 (“How To Go”) which describes the sun at the end of a day finally awakening to its glory just before it sets.  And then asks the question, “Is this how to go?”  The obvious response is that it is never too late to awaken, but why would one wish to wait?  It is possible now to smooth the waves in one’s heart.

Classic Parabolic or Pedimental Year-ring: Today’s haiku speaks across the parabola of the year to the haiku from February 11 (“Blind Date”) which describes the days beginning to be noticeably longer, using a blind date at the door as a metaphor for the darkness of night approaching.  One’s life is actually a blind date: we never know what is behind the next door.  We may find our bliss; we may fall into unanticipated danger; we may be forced to endure boredom.  We do not know.  We can only prepare ourselves: find calm and balance to smooth out the waves, so no matter what happens we can handle the life on the other side of the door with equanimity.

Year-ring: Today’s haiku speaks across the year-ring to the haiku from May 18 (“Letting Go”) which is a possible solution to waves in the heart: letting go of oneself.