HAIKU #123

There's a time and place
For poetry about dongs
But not on Christmas

#decorum

HAIKU #122

Magic changes us
Casting its spells through thin air
Music is magic

I watched a movie over the weekend that I thought was surprisingly good. Then I saw online that it has gotten mostly really bad reviews. The reason, it seems, is that people don't understand what the movie is about. Without giving too much away, the movie in question is marketed as a typical Hollywood celebration of vengeance. But the actual movie is the opposite—a refreshing condemnation of it. I don't want to discuss the movie any further except to say it occurred to me that it would in fact seem like a bad movie if you didn't understand what the story was about.

Now let me repeat that thought, because I think it applies to much more than the occasional misunderstood movie. I think it often applies to life itself: It would seem like a bad movie if you didn't understand what the story was about.

Each of our lives tells a story. The thing is, more often than not it isn't the story we expect or the one we think we want. Given the choice, I think most of us would want our life to be a feel-good story of success and acceptance. We'd prefer a life that's relatively easy, productive, and fun. After all, that's what we see in the majority of popular TV shows and movies. And especially in ads.

But when you think about it, those aren't the best stories. The best, most rewarding stories are about overcoming obstacles and learning difficult lessons—often subtle, complex, counterintuitive ones. So when life seems like a bad movie, one we'd rather not watch, we should ask ourselves: What kind of story is this? What's it really about? When life fails to be the feel-good, lighthearted comedy or action movie we think we want, it could be that we're in the middle of a much better, far more rewarding story and we just don't understand it yet.

FANCY

You see their fancy things
Their fancy clothes and art
But they don't have your character
They don't have your strength of heart

You hear their fancy words
The fanciest you'll find
But they don't have your clarity
They don't have your peace of mind

You smell their fancy meals
Each fancy plate and bowl
But they don't have your elegance
They don't have your gentle soul

They see your simple ways
They feel your simple glow
But under all their fanciness
They don't have the wealth you know

HAIKU #121

Who needs OCD?
Nothing's going to explode
Oh shit! I was wrong!

STEADFAST

Once together
Once apart
Nothing changes
From the start
We just see another part
Of this winding road

Now together
Once apart
Far too eager
To be smart
In a moment we'll depart
From this episode

Once together
Now apart
We outgrew
Each other's art
I don't recognize your heart
Your feelings erode

Now together
Now apart
Till the ending
From the start
We just write another part
Of our steadfast code

HAIKU #120

People chase money
When they should chase happiness
Oftentimes it's free