Healing Haiku Poems And Inspirations From The Great White North

This humble book takes you on a unique adventure of spiritual healing in the Great White North of Michigan. Through poetry and humor, the author shares the story of his healing, redemption, and growing closer to his Creator. This book is like nothing you have read before and, prayerfully, will inspire you to find the same healing he found. Peace be to you! These poems are not only endearing because they capture the spirit and beauty of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, but they speak to the heart because they elevate the form beyond mere physicality, platitudes, and superficial spirituality to present the truth of who God is and who we are in relation to him. The strikingly simple haiku reaches its fullest potential when wed to the truth of God's love for his wayward children as expressed in the self-giving sacrifice of his Son, in the beauty of his creation, and in the fullness of the faith of the Catholic Church. Obviously the fruit of deep prayer, this collection can bring the reader to the same place of contemplation, healing, and gratitude for God's many gifts to us. -Deacon Jeremiah Mason P.M.R.M. Messing's journey from brokenness to healing is told eloquently through both prose and poetry. He reminds us that God loves us - each and every one of us - and that it's never too late for us to run to Him. God never gives up on us. Mr. Messing juxtaposes the beauty of God's creation in Michigan's Upper Peninsula with haiku, an ancient form of Japanese poetry, to paint a vivid picture of his journey and a glimpse into his soul. -Catholic Educator Christy Miron

"Barbara's carefully crafted blending of Haiku with black and white photography forms an impressive splash of color in the mind's eye as each poem entices the reader into the magical world of possibility, inspiration and healing. On each page of Haiku in Black and White, we are reminded of the power that we all have within ourselves to create something of lasting beauty, from the first five syllables of 'Sweet, simple pleasures,' to the final line: 'Go on now, you try'" Julie R. Dargis, PHD - Author of Be Your Own Guru: Meditation on Science and Spirituality on the Path to Personal Wellness

"A wonderful introduction the Japanese tradition of jisei, this volume is crammed with exquisite, spontaneous verse and pithy, often hilarious, descriptions of the eccentric and committed monastics who wrote the poems." --Tricycle: The Buddhist Review Although the consciousness of death is, in most cultures, very much a part of life, this is perhaps nowhere more true than in Japan, where the approach of death has given rise to a centuries-old tradition of writing jisei, or the "death poem." Such a poem is often written in the very last moments of the poet's life. Hundreds of Japanese death poems, many with a commentary describing the circumstances of the poet's death, have been translated into English here, the vast majority of them for the first time. Yoel Hoffmann explores the attitudes and customs surrounding death in historical and present-day Japan and gives examples of how these have been reflected in the nation's literature in general. The development of writing jisei is then examined--from the longing poems of the early nobility and the more "masculine" verses of the samurai to the satirical death poems of later centuries. Zen Buddhist ideas about death are also described as a preface to the collection of Chinese death poems by Zen monks that are also included. Finally, the last section contains three hundred twenty haiku, some of which have never been assembled before, in English translation and romanized in Japanese.

"Suit to Saddle is an engaging story of determination and moxie, as well as a celebration of the human spirit. Walsh, perhaps recklessly, undertakes a significant and difficult journey that he is unprepared for, and his story holds the reader's interest as he meets this challenge head-on." —The BookLife Prize "Readers on mid-life journeys of their own will cheer Walsh on as he reminds them that a journey doesn’t have to be a means to an end —it’s the trip itself that matters." —BookLife "A deeply personal memoir..." —Kirkus "...it was remarkable how Walsh not only overcame the physical journey but overcame the sadness of his mind. In a society where so many are struggling with mental health, I think his message and story of moving forward are so important. Any reader would love Walsh’s story...!" —★★★★★ Manhattan Book Review "This book should inspire anyone who’s going through a tough time or a massive change, and anyone who wants to be challenged to embark on an ambitious venture. I highly recommend it." —★★★★★ Reader's Favorite “Suit to Saddle” chronicles one man’s epic spiritual journey- on two wheels- across the vastness of America. Ride with Larry as he experiences the challenging terrain, the tucked-away places, and the unique people that would collectively change him. Discovery, inspiration, and personal growth are on the horizon with every turn of the cranks! —William P. Apollo, M.D., Cyclist, Cardiologist, and contributor to The Outer Line and VeloNews "Your job has been eliminated." In other words, you're unemployed, out of work, and desperate to find a new purpose. When US Army veteran Larry Walsh heard those words, his world was turned upside down. With a desire to move beyond unemployment, create an exciting new future for himself, and push past his limits, he decides to fulfill his lifelong dream to bike across the country. He purchases a Surly Disc Trucker touring bike and begins his 3,120-mile ride of the Southern Tier from California to Florida. Cycling over treacherous mountains, through open plains, unforgiving deserts, and over 200 unique small towns, Walsh not only discovers a new world and new people, but he uncovers a side of himself that he thought was long forgotten—one filled with true grit and determination. In Suit to Saddle, Walsh chronicles his story of triumph over adversity. Each person he meets along the road plays an integral part of his quest for inner peace and growth. Through the eyes of a one-armed cyclist, a retired police officer, a gun-toting waitress, and a thousand miles of open road, Walsh learns that the true meaning of a life well-lived is the journey. Join Walsh on his trip across America and see what it feels like to experience life one mile at a time.

Nearly 5000 haiku by Jane Reichhold, written in English between 1993 - 2013 have been arranged according to the five seasons and seven traditional saijiki categories of Japan. However the haiku within the categories are arranged alphabetically - which makes this a dictionary.

Matsuo Basho stands today as Japan's most renowned writer, and one of the most revered. Yet despite his stature, Basho's complete haiku have never been collected under one cover. Until now. To render the writer's full body of work in English, Jane Reichhold, an American haiku poet and translator, dedicated over ten years to the present compilation. In Barbo: The Complete Haiku she accomplishes the feat with distinction. Dividing the poet's creative output into seven periods of development, Reichhold frames each period with a decisive biographical sketch of the poet's travels, creative influences, and personal triumphs and defeats. Supplementary material includes two hundred pages of scrupulously researched notes, which also contain a literal translation of the poem, the original Japanese, and a Romanized reading. A glossary, chronology, index of first lines, and explanation of Basho's haiku techniques provide additional background information. Finally in the spirit of Basho, elegant semi-e ink drawings by well-known Japanese artist Shiro Tsujimura front each chapter.

A renowned poet shares his experience of haiku and its potential to surprise us again and again into a sudden awakening and thus to a deeper sense of what it is to be truly alive. His remarkably refreshing insights have delighted confreres around the world.

The three sequences of Groundwork comprise a sophisticated reworking of European myth on the order of Yeats’s The Tower. The first is situated by an archaeological dig in modern-day Tunisia, the second by the Garden of Eden, the third by the waters and islands of Homer’s Odyssey. Together they form a devastating critique of contemporary aesthetics. Few poets today are versed in the archetypes that inform the European tradition, and even fewer can manipulate them with the grace of Amanda Jernigan. With rivers of exquisite prosody and a panoramic intellectual scope, her Groundwork has recharted the poetic landscape – and by doing so, has changed it forever.