The Cracked Door – Daily Haikus
Reflections on life, the world, and society. Come explore with me.
A falling leaf is
Never a sign of defeat.
Open your hand. Let go.
The story behind this poem; only read this part if you’d like to hear my personal story. Skip if it you’d prefer to glean your own meaning from the poem:
This is based on a quote I recently saw that seems to be attributed to Buddha or at least related to Buddha in some way.
“Only to get by.”
“There’s no other choice.”
“You’re overthinking.”
The story behind this poem; only read this part if you’d like to hear my personal story. Skip if it you’d prefer to glean your own meaning from the poem:
This is about how others say to not think and just follow what those who tell you what to do when these leaders give unreasonably and/or unethical proscriptions. I was particularly thinking about how this happens in workplace.
Growth lies in knowing
All your imperfections are
Gifts for you to hold
The story behind this poem; only read this part if you’d like to hear my personal story. Skip if it you’d prefer to glean your own meaning from the poem:
We shouldn’t beat ourselves up for our imperfections but see them as gifts. Usually our biggest strengths and our biggest imperfections interconnect.
(I had bad internet, so I could not post this day of, but I did write it on that day.)
You can pile on your grand counterarguments
New information, new excuse
I can present you with happened
But there’s nothing I can do
To make you accept you were wrong
The story behind this poem; only read this part if you’d like to hear my personal story. Skip if it you’d prefer to glean your own meaning from the poem:
I wrote this poem to help me vent my emotions about a specific dispute that happened. I am trying to convey how humans tend to event more and more arguments to solidify their initial impression in their mind even as more facts made it clear their position was wrong.
I am always caught
Between needing to talk and
To be left alone
Blast from the past:
Delight, then, sorrow,
The worker reaps a bounty
For his employer
I did not stop talking to you
Because I am a cowardI did not stop listening to your shouts
Because I could handle it.I did not stop pretending nothing was wrong
Because I wanted to ruffle feathersI did not reject the apology you never really gave
Because I do not value mercy.I did not stop being with you
Because I want to force your hand.It is not about you.
It is about what I want in my life
And it’s not someone
Who would hurt me
Denying there’s anything wrong with that.
Blast from the past:
Why do you prize me
More when I had gusto but
Lacked any substance?
Clouds dream of giving way,
Flowers dream of mud they can sink their roots into.
The August breeze never came,
Making the concrete seethe with heat
Against my wetting forehead.
If I don’t see you amidst the bustling crowd,
I shall meet you wilted within the mall’s AC.
(A parody on this Chinese poem from the Tang Dynasty, but about the heat in August in China)
Clouds dream of silken robes, flowers dream of fair faces,
The spring breeze brushes against the railing, where dew is thick and rich.
If not seen atop the Mountain of Grouped Jade,
I shall meet you beneath the moon at the Jade Terrace.
I look in the mirror
Thinking about how much
These years have made me look like you.
Each new wrinkle on my face is a story
Of a moment we could have had together.
Although I will always cherish
The memory of the hospital bed
Where I saw you die
Blast from the past:
You may not see it now
Or ever,
And it may feel scary,
But
Holding you accountable
Is for your own good.
Dismissive about the past
Disengaged in the present
Indifferent for the future
Blast from the past:
A little bit existential
A little bit spiritual
A lot bit confused
Venturing into
New: new city, new country, new culture.
What stories await
Blast from the past:
Incredible good
Often arises out of
Sheer stupidity