Zen Haiku • Spring 2025
Dr. Randy Brooks

Pieces of Us

by
Sav Stringer

In the past few months, as I’ve become more educated in zen aesthetics, I’ve realized the vast ways in which its principles not only teach significant lessons about art, but life itself. Haiku, though it may come in the form of a few words on a page, is about life and the universe. In haiku, words are used merely as a vessel for visceral and sensory experiences; a haiku poet aims to share these experiences in simple, honest ways with their readers. Haiku are grounded in the essential principles of embracing the moment and absorbing the world around you as it is. In this sense, practicing the art of haiku becomes equivalent to practicing the art of living; you can only truly live by finding presence and oneness with the universe.

The following poems are results of my best attempts to practice these principles of haiku. Each is inspired by real moments and slices of every-day life. I have decided to title this collection “Pieces of Us” because I feel that these poems give a glimpse into pieces of experiences and images, while also calling for unity and connection with each other and the greater universe, or the “us.” It is my hope that when shared, these haiku may resonate with people and remind them of their own memories or help them imagine new ones.

tower of books
the turn of each page
another world

raven hair
falls down her neck
a navy night

ghost-white skin
a final kiss on his forehead
goodbye, dear.

chorus of clicks
my laptop sings
the homework anthem

blush cheeks
we hold hands
her face wine red

boiling water
enlivens the stove
roommate dinner

trees
bronchial networks
inflate my lungs

sunlight fractals
through the peephole
my soft gasp

dip in cool water
my skin
breathes at last

collection of old rings
I pick up
grandma's favorite

fingertips flutter
on keys
music hall

upward gaze
stars fall from the sky
into my eyes

rusty tinge
on the white keys
broken bandage