Capturing Your Creativity With Haiku

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Creativity Blossomed at Haiku Workshop at the Potrero Library

Susan J. Farese of SJF Communications taught her 2 hour “Capturing Your Creativity with Haiku” workshop at the Escondido Library on November 2, 2024. 

Many thanks to Branch Manager Berlyne Arteaga for hosting/coordinating the November 2, 2024 workshop and for her photos of the group.

Thanks as always to all of the participants for attending, interacting and sharing their work!

Left to right:
Phyllis, Susan, Lollie, Jan and June

Photos by Berlyne Arteaga and Susan J. Farese;
Collage by SJF Communications

We began with an interactive fun ice breaker – getting to know each other.

After introductions and a review of her published work, Susan taught her Power Point presentation about writing Haiku and shared her nature photography as prompts to encourage Haiku writing. We all practiced writing Haiku and had the opportunity to share our work. As always, it was a great discussion and we equally had so much to say about the creative process and the parallels with Haiku poetry and visual arts.

Enjoy these Haiku from our Workshop….

“Capturing Your Creativity with Haiku” Workshop

Potrero Library 11/2/2024~

Hummingbird – Photo by Susan J. Farese

Jet roars past my nose

Wings blurring beyond man’s sight

Hummingbird visit

by Jan

Carlsbad Flower Fields – Photo by Susan J. Farese

Rainbow colors bloom

Mother Earth’s message to all

Spring is here again

by Jan

Coyote Chorus

Many voices sing off-key

Winters chill soft breath

~

Morning light fades dark

Cocooned warmth – feel hot breath

Open eyes – dog nose!

~

Innocence tumbles

Heart bleeds love lost in one blow

Domestic Abuse

by Jan

Winter

The coldest season

Animals hibernating

Snow on mountain tops

by June

People

People are funny

People run, walk, laugh, cry, talk

Also fat, skinny

by Phyllis

For more information or to book a workshop (Individual or Group) with Susan:
Information LINK: https://sjfcommunications.com/haiku-workshops/
Or, Email info@sjfcommunications.com or sjfcommunications@gmail.com.

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A Recent Creative Collection from SJF Communications Haiku Workshops!

I thoroughly enjoy teaching my SJF Communications “Capturing Your Creativity With Haiku” Workshops at local libraries, online or in person elsewhere! I’ve been teaching on and off since 2018. Here are some photos and poems from participants from my most recent (4) Haiku workshops. Whether I have 2 participants or 20, I still savor the outcome – creative writing with Haiku combined with my nature photography (or other inspirations the attendees might have)!

I’ve added photos and several Haiku poems from my recent workshops at the Ramona (SD County), Skyline Hills (SD City), Casa de Oro (SD County) and Bonita-Sunnyside (SD County) Libraries. As always, it’s so rewarding for me to see how creativity develops with attendees! As a contracted performer/instructor for the County as well as City of San Diego, I want to thank the library branches, and Friends of the Libraries for all of your support and all of the attendees for joining in me in these “Capturing Your Creativity with Haiku” Workshops!

For more information or to book a workshop (Individual or Group) with Susan:
Information LINK: https://sjfcommunications.com/haiku-workshops/
Or, Email info@sjfcommunications.com or sjfcommunications@gmail.com.

Collage from Haiku workshop by Susan J. Farese at Ramona Library and Skyline Hills Library

Here below, my nature photography prompts which encouraged and sparked Haiku writing about the actual photos seen. Additionally, some poems were written with attendees thoughts after our workshop, (not necessarily photo prompts). It’s all good! Enjoy these Haiku….

From the Ramona Library 6/26/2024

Bouquet

Hand painted with much love

Anniversary flowers

Farmer’s Market joy!

~ Anita
(No photo, she had memory from the bouquet her husband gave her for their anniversary)!
Also, Carol was in attendance – we are looking for her Haiku!

From the Skyline Hills Library 8/31/2024

Sunset Cliffs – Photo by Susan J. Farese

The Ocean

I go to the beach

for my self-preservation

Rejuvinate ME


~ Jacquelyn

Julian Leaves – Photo by Susan J. Farese

Scents of Season

I feel crispiness

My mood changes at this time

This is my season


~ Jacquelyn

Orange Flower – Photo by Susan J. Farese

Orange Flower

Alien flower?

Blood vessels on yellow skin

Alien or not?

Nature – Space or Earth?

External organ

Dead alive or in between

Scary as can be

Secret morgue flower

Red blood vessels on yellow

A new dimension?

Putrid slimy wet

Unnaturally warm, dark

Beautiful bloody.

~ Carol Ann

From the Casa de Oro Library 9/6/2024

Haiku, Casa de Oro Library, Blaca, Joy, Susan, Cathrine

It’s the Simple Things

Crisp air, bees buzzing

Calm whispers of morning sun

Sweet serenity!

~ Anonymous

Untitled

What happened to you?

Was there nothing that intrigued?

Was that all my fault?

All those days before

My love kept your interest

Until it didn’t

How was I to know

You were just a whip-poor-will

Any flower would do

Now I don’t get close

Nothing’s worth the grief, the shock

The pain of loss sucks

Now I thank my stars

That I can still show love

Unabashedly

My love is my love

I can fondly show it

Surely not to you.

There’s a lesson there

I don’t have to hate myself

For not being enough

It is not from lack

I am just too good for you

Sit with that, you chump!

~ Joy

And Cathrine had to leave early, but she was a delight as well! Here is her photo and a few Haiku poems:

Untitled

Mother’s precious love

Gentle, kind, gives of herself

Gets kisses and hugs

~

Untitled

A harvest full moon

Shines brightly in the dark sky

Creates ocean tides

~Cathrine

From the Bonita-Sunnyside Library 9/7/2024

Claire, Susan and Christina at Capturing Your Creativity with Haiku, Bonita-Sunnyside Library 9/7/2024
Moon Rising at Yellow Traffic Light – Photo by Susan J. Farese

Untitled

Hottest year ever

And the coldest from now on

Apocalypse now

~Christina

Hummingbird – Photo by Susan J. Farese

Untitled

Ruby, sapphire flash

Little bully hummingbird

Never time to pause

~ Claire

Untitled

Beauty suspended 

In perpetual motion

Greedy bully wins

and a second one from Christina….

Untitled

Nature’s abundance

Capital’s scarcity myth

How pointless to fight

~Christina

Thank you for visiting my website!

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Haiku for Two at the Julian Branch Library

Susan J. Farese of SJF Communications taught her 2 hour SJF Communications “Capturing Your Creativity with Haiku” workshop on May 24th at the Julian Branch Library. Many thanks to Josh Mitchell, Branch Manager and Friends of the Julian Library for hosting the workshop.

Mark was a solo attendee that day, and we made the best of it!

We began with an interactive fun ice breaker. After introductions and a review of her published work (with Haiku and other forms of poetry), Susan taught her Power Point presentation about writing Haiku and shared nature photography, including several photos of roses and flowers, plus other nature photos as prompts to encourage Haiku writing. We practiced writing Haiku and had the opportunity to share our work. It was a great discussion and we equally had so much to say about the creative process and the parallels with Haiku poetry and visual arts.

Here is a glimpse of us, along with the photo prompts and written Haiku for the afternoon.

Susan
Mark and Susan
Susan and Josh (Library Branch Manager)


Capturing Your Creativity With Haiku at the Julian Branch Library 5/24/2022

Moon Rise and Yellow Traffic Light
(Photo by Susan J. Farese)

Rings of Gold 

electric yellow

round, in a black box says slow

in sunlit moonrise

– Mark

Moonrise/Yellow Light

Moon rose to the east

Yellow traffic light appeared

Serendipity

-Susan

Pacific Highlands Ranch Trail
(Photo by Susan J. Farese)

Earth and Sky

dusty clay stretches

around a corner….fading

cool clouds pressing down

-Mark

Mysterious Orange Flower
(Photo by Susan J. Farese)

Mysterious Orange Flower

Orange yellow hues

Veinlike markings encircle

A bursting flower

-Susan

Bench at Santee Lakes
(Photo by Susan J. Farese)

Bench at Santee Lakes

Bench solitude

Lonely, uninhabited

Summer pause, sit down!

-Susan

Blooming Jacarandas in May
(Photo by Susan J. Farese)

Blooming Jacarandas in May

Hues of violet

Lilac-blue and trumpet-shaped

Jacaranda tree!

A late Spring bloomer

Colorful, urban flower

Bravely blooms with awe

-Susan

For more information about attending our

Capturing Your Creativity With Haiku Workshop, click below!:

‘Capturing Your Creativity With Haiku’ Virtual Workshops (Zoom)

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We Captured Our Creativity With Haiku (for Workplace Wellness) at SDSU!

I was thrilled to be invited by San Diego State University Communications Professor Patricia Geist-Martin, Ph.D., to present a virtual (Zoom) shortened session of Capturing Your Creativity With Haiku to her upper level undergraduate course – COM 428 class: Communicating Workplace Wellness.

This was on December 8th, one of the last days of the Fall, 2020 semester (and of course during the current challenging pandemic).

We started with Dr. Geist-Martin introducing me, followed by my brief bio, PowerPoint presentation and photos to encourage writing. The students had the choice of writing from several different prompts i.e. one of the photos that I showed to them, the best day in your life, or worst day in your life, pandemic related stress, love, nature, seasonal, etc.

What a wonderful afternoon! It was amazing how quickly the students formed their haiku! They were so attentive, enlightening . The session was interactive via audio or adding their haiku or questions or comments to the chat area. I added some suggestions with a few haiku…

Capturing Your Creativity with Haiku

Susan J. Farese, MSN, RN, SJF Communications

SDSU COM 428 – 12.8.2020 

Love is happiness

The warmth and security

everlasting comfort!

-Leah

SJF suggestion: last line can be changed to: comfort, everlast!

The cold breeze is strong,

the sun falls behind the cliffs,

winter has begun

-Natalie

Lookout the window

Snow is falling from the sky

The candle brings warmth

-Adrian

Ninety days and night

Future grown in the sunlight,

Early retirement found.

-Daniel

SJF suggestion:
Last line can be changed to: retire early? (with ? at the end)

Red nose, cooling breeze

 Hot cocoa warming cold hands

 Nights bring colored lights

-Melissa

Workplace wellness is

Communication together

Thanks for your effort

-Josah

SJF suggestion: 2nd line could be:
people/persons/students (either) communicating

Though we are deprived

I find myself healing with

You. Hope you stay well.

-Josah

SJF suggestion: 2nd line can be : I find that I heal with you (7- heal is one syllable!)

SJF suggestion: 3rd line can be: I hope you stay well

I met you thank god

 gently adventurous, you are

 breeze to my summer

-Alma

SJF suggestion: 2nd line can be: gentle, adventurous you

Family is here,

sitting around the fire pit,

this is Christmas time

-Natalie

SJF suggestion: 2nd line can be: sits around the fire pit

Morning desert light

First show the sun will put on today

Cold breeze turns to heat

– Gladys

SJF suggestion: 2nd line can be: first show sun puts on today

Whistle of the wind,

my soul flutters through the sky,

 seeking peace in mind

– Kayla

The blissful nature,

 calms my wandering mind

 that comforts my soul

-Taylor

SJF suggestion: 2nd line can be: calms down my wandering mind

Staring at my love

Under a sky full of stars

Will you marry me?

-Janell

Looking out to see

Something new in my landscape

To transform my life

-Patricia

Inside is raging

Silently hoping for change

Awaken what’s lost

-Patricia

What an amazing afternoon! Thank you to Dr. Patricia Geist-Martin for inviting me and for the students for participating!

Information about our Haiku workshops: https://sjfcommunications.com/upcoming-haiku-workshops/

Thanks for stopping by!

Feel free to subscribe, like, comment & share!

Like this post?

Contact SJF Communications for your PR/Marketing/Writing

Social Media/Photography, or Coaching Needs!

SJF Communications 
‘Creative Ideas | Dynamic Results’!