Friday Writings #147: What soothes you?

 

Hello, dear Wordsmiths. You may have noticed my complete lack of participation the last couple of weeks. Those who follow me elsewhere on social media know why; for the rest of you, it’s because I went to hospital – supposedly for a straightforward gall bladder removal, but various complications required a second procedure and kept me in longer. Luckily it’s a brand new, state-of-the-art hospital in our locality, and with beautiful views from the windows.

Still, I got a bit scared at times about my condition. All is now well resolved, I hasten to add, but while I was in some anxiety a dear friend told me that in such situations she recites Kubla Khan to herself, finding its metre soothing. I tried it and it did work – so long as I stuck to the first verse; after that the language and ideas demand attention in their own right, which interferes with the relaxation effect.

Since coming home (and finding that healing takes a lot of energy) I have been re-reading Three Simple Lines by Natalie Goldberg, the story of her pilgrimage through Japan to find remembrances of the great haiku masters (Basho, Buson, Issa, Shiki). It’s beautifully clear prose, somewhat like the spare simplicity of a good haiku – and she quotes a number of haiku in it. I'm finding that reading this has a calming effect. 

 

(In hospital I wrote haiku. It began spontaneously with the first one:

suddenly
from my hospital bed
bright moon

I think that's a good haiku. The rest are really senryu, human-centred, with a touch of humour.

Doing this was something which soothed me, too.)

Optional Prompt: I wonder what soothes you in times of pain or fear? Please answer this question, in poetry or story.

Guidelines: One post per person, 369 words maximum, on the prompt or any other subject. Please read and comment on others' responses too.

Next week, Magaly will invite us to find inspiration in ‘bittersweet October’.