In 2009, I decided to celebrate National Poetry Month by writing and sharing a haiku every day. Eighteen years later, I’m still at it. (For those of you who are math-curious, that’s already more than 8,500 syllables!)

The ritual has varied a lot over the years. Originally I shared the poems on my blog, expanding to one social media platform and then another still. Eventually I had to step away from some of those. (ahem.)

I wrote all by myself the first several years and then I invited folks to join me. Lots of you did, making the whole endeavour even more fun. Most years, I’ve written about whatever strikes my fancy but some years I chose various themes. (The year I focused on scientific processes nearly did me in. Classification, oscillation, digestion, combustion???? Liz — what???) I’ve also experimented with adding photos to the posts, to typing each poem, to sticking strictly to the Western 5-7-5 model or playing a little loose and free.

But no matter the trappings or parameters, I’m always a little happier in April (and that’s not just because it’s Aries season). There is something about haiku that is both like breath but also like a good square of chocolate. It’s a little like a prayer and a little like whistling while riding your bike. It’s good stuff. It’s a delight. It’s highly recommended. Will you join me????

Haiku 1, 2026
Yellow-tipped petals
glowing like good ideas
Get up! Rise and shine!