Today is Day Six of the WEGO Health Activist Writer’s Month, in which they challenge health bloggers to write a post a day about health. I knew from the start I wouldn’t do it–I’ve gone from a weekly blog to twice a month at best.
But I am greatly enjoying following along with my friend Marie Ennis-O’Connor at Journeying Beyond Breast Cancer as she tackles this daily assignment. And lo and behold, today’s assignment was to write a haiku about your health focus. Which dovetails perfectly with National Poetry Month in the U.S. I love poetry; always have. I’ve recently recommitted myself to it by applying to graduate school for an MFA so I can work on getting better at it. (I found out on Monday that I was accepted.)
So when Marie encouraged me to jump in and write a haiku, I felt obligated. And when I thought about my health journey, it seems to be on a double track.
First, there’s coming to terms with your body. When you’re young and healthy it is so easy to take your body for granted. First, you learn that something can go wrong. Then you learn that several things can go wrong and that your first foray into health trouble almost certainly won’t be your last. The preferred term in Cancer World is recurrence.
Second, there’s the urge to reach out. You realize that if you’re afraid of something or wondering about something, then someone else is too.
So, based on those two things, here are my stabs at a couple of health haikus.
Tightrope
Balancing act is
learn how body turns on you
yet not be afraid.
Perspective
Try to be grateful
for life I’m so blessed to have,
and help when I can.
Haiku is a classic 5 syllable/7 syllable/5 syllable structure, which takes discipline but also affords a lot more variety than you might think. (It’s kind of like tweeting!) Feel free to jump in and try it! I’d love to see what you come up with.
I am so happy that you took part in the challenge today – and these are two wonderful examples Jackie
I especially love the first one!
Thanks so much, Marie. I have had so much fun reading along with your posts on the challenge. Thanks for encouraging me!
Fun! I could never be so brief, but you managed here beautifully. Congrats on the MFA program! That is awesome.
Thank you, Stacey!
Congratulations! Going for a MFA! That’s impressive Jackie, and I know it will build on your existing creative abilities. You’ve said so much with so little, a skill we should all work on developing.
XOXOXO,
Brenda
Thanks Brenda!
Hi Jackie — Congratulations on the MFA acceptance! Was thinking about your astute and sassy word choices for your book’s title in the middle of the night (if your ears were buzzing at 3:00 a.m. or so, you now know why!) and it prompted me to revisit your blog. Love the haikus.
XO
Liza
Thank you Liza! My ears might have been buzzing, I thought it was my husband snoring!
Congratulations on getting accepted, Jackie! And the haikus are great. I think I’m too wordy to write a haiku…
Don’t sell yourself short, Nancy! You might surprise yourself! Thanks for your comments.
It’s funny, Jackie – the mental picture of a tightrope and tightrope metaphors have sprung to mind for me while adjusting to life in remission. It’s a balancing act indeed – and looking down can freeze one with terror! Congratulations on the MFA program – hope it’s a terrific experience.
Thank you Liz!