08-29-26 A New Haiku for a New Day

Photo Credit: Farah Almazouni

After all of these years,
It feels like you are still right
Here by my side

Context (if you’re interested):

This is based on the Chinese song, “Night in Ulaanbaatar”, a song about missing one’s love while traveling only to feel their shadow around them.

08-28-26 A New Haiku for a New Day

Photo Credit: Rohit Farmer

To a toddler,
Everything is a castle, a knight, or dragon
That they clasp with their hands,
These same hands that now
Type in this keyboard

Context (if you’re interested):

This one is about how our childhood curiosity often transitions into adulthood sense of responsible work. Never loose your creativity. Is what this narrator does on the computer less creative now then playing as a toddler? Work on the computer can be really creative or not. I left it ambiguous to think through what we do with our time as adults and how to foster a sense of play and creativity.

08-27-26 A New Haiku for a New Day

Photo Credit: Mark Hendriks

Sitting in the heat
Still sweating though the sun set
Waiting for the start

Context (if you’re interested):

The weather was simmering in August in Central China. Normally, I could look forward to the temperature and humidity dropping once the sunset. That evening, neither would.

08/20/26 A New Haiku for a New Day

Photo Credit: Jon Tyson

Those with a purpose
Are better at worshiping
Idols than the rest.

Context (if you’re interested):

I have noticed how living with a purpose can lead one more susceptible to be swept into ideology. Not simply because they can take too far whatever they find purpose in, but because those with a purpose have something to lose, so they can end up endorse problematic things when that seems necessary to maintain what they have

08/19/26 A New Haiku for a New Day

Photo Credit: Jack Lucas Smith

Some people you meet
Possess the same look of the
Demon you just fought

Context (if you’re interested):

I don’t know if you have also seen this in the eyes of anyone else you see walking down the street.

08/18/26 A New Haiku for a New Day

Photo Credit: Me, I took this photo

Climbing one sand dune
So close I can reach the top
But my legs won’t move

Context (if you’re interested):

That day, I climbed a giant sand dune in the Gobi Desert. This was about the difficulties getting to the top. I was almost there when I needed to take a break.