Congratulations to our two lucky haiku contest winners – Katharine and Susan!
Katharine wrote a poem that taps into the Zen background of writing haiku. Like the emptiness of a cup, which gives shape to the tea we pour into it, Katharine’s bubble gives shape to the air inside it but is eventually overcome by its own ultimate emptiness. It is a microcosm through which we can see our own lives. The moment of splat brings us back to the present moment, just as the instructive tongue of a teacher would reawaken our attentive ear. The ending of the poem begs the question, “Where is the bubble now that it has gone?” The answer, of course, is that there is no bubble.
I’m blowing bubbles
Stretchy pink little bubbles
Splat! bubble is gone
Susan wrote a haiku that also taps into the Zen tradition. Zen teaches us that all things are temporary. Not only is physical form temporary, as Katharine points out with her bubble, but also states of being are also transitory. Susan goes from pain to relief. Good Zen practice is dependent upon overcoming distractions. Some physical ones, like this aural discomfort while flying, are easily dispatched with, making way for us to develop a single-pointedness of mind.
Pain in ears building
Plane ascends in sapphire sky
Chew now, such relief.
Both our prize winners have been contacted and their prizes will be mailed as soon as possible. Keep an eye out for more contests, which will be announced very soon!
Daruma by Pixteca MX【ツ】.
