Amanda Stanckiewitz

Selected Haiku by Amanda Stanckiewitz I found that I have two very different approaches to writing haiku. Depending on my mood at the particular moment of writing, I tend to either focus on subjects that bring me great joy and happiness, or topics that have caused me to feel heartache and turmoil in my life. I noticed as I looked through my collection, that my memory haiku seemed to mean the most to me. It was almost therapeutic to write about hard situations from my past that have made me a better person today.

One particular haiku that touched me the most was the one I wrote about my Grandfather's death. I loved my Grandpa very much, but for whatever reason I failed to give him my usual hug and kiss or to tell him that I loved him the last time I saw him. I am forever haunted by this memory which forces me to reiterate my feelings to my loved ones on a regular basis. Without a doubt, this has been the most eye-opening experience in my college career. I have learned an art that I would like to continue to learn more about. I hope to keep adding entries to every page of my journal.