Award-winning poet Sylvia Forges-Ryan and her husband Edward Ryan, a Yale psychologist, believe that the haiku is the perfect poetic form for drawing us into the present moment with full attention. They have divided this work into sections on the four seasons with facing pages presenting a haiku and a meditation on it. Their intent is to convince the reader to slow down, to be fully present in the moment, and to ponder the rich association of meaning that emanates from the interplay between the senses and the natural world. The Ryans are convinced that the haiku way can lead to inner peace.
For example, here is the poem: "Twilight— / the autumn hills / give up their colors." And the lesson from it: "We acknowledge the grace with which Nature gives up all the brilliance of its colors, surrendering itself again to the never-ending fullness of life, as twilight fades into darkness, toward winter." Both the haiku and the meditation encourage us to stay awake to the changes that are constantly taking place within and around us. Nothing lasts forever.
One of our favorites contains an urban image and a universal application. "Urban sunrise / the garbage truck brakes / heave a sigh." The Ryans write in response: "Another morning! From the garbage truck to sleepy wakers throughout the world, it’s all the same — we all have to get going again. We all have to truck that load. The whole world heaves a sigh: 'Here we go again!' " The image helps us see our connections to others, which in turn softens our hearts. The more compassion in our lives, the more we experience inner peace.
