Daily Nourishment for October 29, 2024: Words for Autumn with Guidance from Lauren Winner
Daily Nourishment Read Time: 35 seconds
Pause/Prompt/Practice Time: 15 minutes
A Note from Lauren: This week’s offerings will be calendar-themed, as we move toward All Hallows’ Eve and All Saints’ Day.
Pause.
For a minute or so, let your breath slow as you gaze on this image.
Prompt.
I recently learned that Japanese haiku often include a word to indicate the season. Some of the words that most often indicate autumn are (once translated into English) moon, and names of various fall fruits, like persimmons.
Mushroom gathering —
the heads are full
as the peak of the moon
(Buson, translated by Allan Persinger)
persimmon leaves
turn Buddha-colored…
then fall
(Issa, translated by David G. Lanoue)
How do these poems make your body feel?
Practice.
Part One:
Brainstorm five or six objects, not necessarily from the natural world, that could serve as an autumnal keyword in a short poem.
Part Two:
A haiku is a short poem that typically juxtaposes two images or two sensory evocations. (Contra what many of us learned in grade school, haiku don’t necessarily hew to a five-seven-five syllable count.)
autumn is cool:
let each hand set to peeling
melons and eggplants.
(Basho, translated by David Landis Barnhill)
water in the vase
on our daughter's grave—
a passing car
(Lenard D. Moore)
Write an autumn haiku, or two.
Want More?
Here’s a wonderful article about a 13th-century ink painting of persimmons.
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Workshops, Gatherings, & Resources
—New Resource: A Solo Writing Retreat for Election Season and Beyond
—New Resource: Parenting with Art® Lectio Divina Cards Information about ordering these cards can be found in my Books + Spiritual Direction + Retreats & Gatherings email newsletter . To stay in the loop on all of my work, writing, book recs, and more, subscribe to that weekly newsletter at charlottedonlon.com/subscribe.
—October Co-Writing is live. All SDW Members get free co-writing through November. If you aren’t a member and would like to join us, please contact me at charlotte@charlottedonlon.com and I’ll hook you up.
—The Great Belonging Project is live here and The Great Belonging Project October Refresh will take place Oct 1-Oct 31.
Today’s Daily Nourishment was provided by Lauren Winner. Lauren Winner is a writer, professor, Episcopal Priest, & spiritual director.
Read Lauren’s full bio here.
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