Haiku #27: 自分の再現 — or my own limits

The Japanese title of this haiku can be read as “jibun no saigen.”

It’s been five years since I’ve last written a haiku on my blog, and I’ve wondered why. This series dropped off after I took on business journalism for The Ticker, and I hadn’t channeled my creative writing skills outside of college electives since then.

I would think that I’ve gain more inspiration for haikus in five years times, and that’s true. But I’ve realized in my attempt to write this poem, I’ve been out of it so long. The past fifteen minutes for me have been trying to get back into the rhythm, and remembering the sound of my soul.

It’s harder at the moment since I’m fighting brain fog and headaches stemming from burn out and a strained back, but that in itself is serving for inspiration at the moment.

I’m taking creative freedom with the English translation, so “candid,” “undisguised” and “as it is” are all interpretations of “ari no mama,” as is “illumination” and “power” for “hikari.” It’s also not wrong to translate “hikari” into “influence.”

As of lately, I think I’ve been selling myself short to myself, undermining my own power and light in advocating for what I can do — and what I don’t want to do.

Certainly, there are many things I want to do in my life and my career, and I want to take back my ability to pursue those things.

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