express yourself . . . by jeni hagen

Communication has never been diffictult for me. My emotions can be read on my face. My tone tells the story. I love to sing, I love to write, and I am comfortable expressing myself . . . and then there was haiku.

Learning about haiku has been both bitter and sweet. Haiku is a form of expression that is unique in and of itself. Words on paper are not enough. Haiku requires the author to create images on paper through words that will recreate images in the reader's mind. This art is easier said than done. I have enjoyed my attempts at haiku, and more so, I have enjoyed experiencing the haiku of others.

In this class I have had the pleasure to learn about English and Japanese haiku. This has given me the opportunity to reflect back on a time I spent in Japan with my husband. Although I did not know a lot about haiku while we lived in Okinawa, I was able to relate to many of the Japanese haiku. This class helped me appreciate the experiences I had in Japan in a way that I never expected.

My haiku are a result of my love of expression. I hope you can relate to my haiku and enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them.