Is one form of poetry “greener“, that is more environmentally friendly than, another? Today I will assert that Haiku is environmentally friendly poetry. Why?

• Well, for one-thing, this form is by its very essence sustainable: At 3 lines, 17 syllables, nothing is wasted.
• Also, Haiku is rooted in nature. Each poem connects us to nature and human nature.
• And finally, and most importantly, Haiku is poetry of awareness. It demands present-moment connection with self and the natural world. I believe that the more we operate from this perspective, on the page and off, the more likely we are to behave in Earth-friendly ways.

In honor of Earth Day Month, I invite you to try your hand at Haiku. Oh, and don’t worry overly much about the syllable count. Aim for a short poem, in which you show (rather than tell) of a moment when you really experienced the natural world and your connection to it. And in that last line, add a little twist or surprise.

Here’s a Haiku I wrote for Earth Day back in a few years back.

April Haiku

Pink and white blossoms

puddle on the sidewalk,

springtime drought.