PACE Global Haiku • July 2006 Dr. Randy Brooks

Greg Lock

Reflections of My Youth by Greg Lock I first approached the art of haiku with hesitation and uneasiness. Upon further learning, the understanding of haiku led me to become more comfortable with the art and allowed me to open up my mind to the past and present. The relaxed rule structure of haiku and the openness of the expressions provided a virtually unlimited canvas of opportunity. Even though it is exciting to dream up haiku of events that I have never experienced, I feel more comfortable expressing myself from those experiences I have encountered. This collection represents the fond moments I have encountered through my childhood. Each haiku provides the reader with a tiny window to my past. Even though these experiences were mine, I felt that moments like these were also encountered by many others. These haiku have been selected in order to provide others with the same youthful wonder and excitement that I have treasured. I encourage the reader to reflect upon their own childhood adventures. Each one of these haiku may contain commonality with the reader while providing additional memories conjured by the initial reflection. Without reflecting on fond memories of the past, a person is only who they are at that moment… just a person without a past.

grasping hand a flitting light only inches away

stranded for now two children sit restlessly on steps of the school

tall grass tiny hand picks up the egg

breezy afternoon colors in the sky tugging at my hand

faded patterns the quilt from grandmother covering us both

© 2006, Randy Brooks • Millikin University
All rights returned to authors upon publication.