George Swede's Haiku & Therapy
When we first read a handful of haiku poet George Swede’s work as a class, I was pleasantly surprised. Most of the haiku we’d read thus far had been lovely, but had focused mainly on imagery. A lot of class discussions had been geared towards talking about how each haiku played on our senses. I was ready for something new, and George Swede offered that. While his haiku still tactically provokes the senses, it also uniquely addresses human behavior and the human struggle. His haiku is often observational, depicting the outside world, rather than reflecting on the internal. This approach allows him to analyze and make sense of complicated human experiences in a brief and artistic manner. As an example of how this approach sets his haiku apart from many others I have read, I will provide a quick comparison of one of his haiku published in The Haiku Anthology by Cor Van Den Heuvel to that of another author’s from the same book below.
Sunrise:
I forget my side
of the argument
(George Swede, THA, 210)
Sunset:
one last parachute
floats slowly down
(Kay Avila, THA, 5)
I liked this comparison because the imagery of the sun, usage of time of day, and the actual format of the haiku are similar. However, the approaches in the haiku are different. The latter haiku by Avila focuses mainly on imagery, when I read it, I focus on the picture it creates in my mind and the emotions that evokes. In the Swede haiku, I am not focusing primarily on the imagery of the sunrise but rather connecting to the human experience of the end of an argument and remembering how I was affected by that experience. The sunrise is the main focus, but rather a complement to the experience evoked in my mind. This is what I find particularly unique about his haiku is his ability to take an observation and use it to make a commentary on the struggles of life.
In a quick overview of who George Swede is, I found that not only is he a well-known haiku poet with over 2,000 published poems, but also a Canadian psychologist holding both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in psychology (George Swede). He has also published work in this field dealing with the psychology behind innovation and creativity. I find that his background in psychology is reflected in his work because of the unique observations and relation to human behavior that his haiku have. In a bit more background research, I also found that he has an interest in using haiku as a method of therapy. He posted an article on his twitter about haiku written by dementia patients, which allowed them an outlet for expression and a way to create some clarity for themselves through words. George Swede has advocated for beginning the use of haiku as therapy in North America (Haiku Poems by Persons with Dementia). In reading Swede’s haiku and background on him as an artist, I find that his haiku have a larger goal than just pleasing the ears. His haiku address common human encounters and serve as outreach to his readers by providing some clarity in the various struggles people face throughout their lives.
In my study of how George Swede’s haiku provides brief moments of understanding about human behavior and experience, I did a bit further research on poetry as therapy. An article published by the Hospice Foundation, written by medical consultant William Lamers touches upon multiple therapeutic values found in poetry. Interestingly, the words of George Swede’s haiku exemplify these therapeutic qualities quite well. I have found at least one of his haiku representing human behavior or experience in some way that demonstrates each of the therapeutic qualities of poetry from the Hospice article. I will present some of these qualities and then cite one of Swede’s haiku that I found to most accurately portray that quality with a provided explanation.
The first quality listed reads as follows, “Enable us to think the unthinkable, to master our fears, to begin to imagine a positive outcome” (Lamers).
Sunrise:
I forget my side
of the argument
(Swede, THA, 210)
This haiku portrays the common yet complicated struggle of the strains we face in our human relationships. In this case, the strain is an argument, which could easily be applied to any relationship: friend, romantic, family or other. Often times, when we are knee-deep in a falling out with someone, we cannot see a solution or end to the problem. Fear of being in the wrong causes us to remain stubborn and relentless in our ways and we fail to compromise. One of the things that needs to occur to solve such a problem, and often one of the aims of therapeutic work is to get both parties involved to see beyond their current crisis, and get them to the point where they believe in resolution. This haiku offers a sense of hope by creating a mini-story that people can relate to, and in this story, things are solved. If people see that other human beings have felt the same way and come out of it alright, they are more inclined to believe that they too will be able to find their way out of the strain they face. This haiku allows the reader “to imagine a positive outcome,” by suggesting that with a new day, a new “sunrise,” with the passage of time, an argument can come to rest. If is documented in writing that someone else can let go of the fear of being wrong, and drop their side of the argument, the reader will feel more comfortable in being able to do the same.
The second therapeutic value of poetry mentioned in the Hospice article actually deals directly with this idea of feeling a personal connection to the struggles and emotions revealed within a poem. It says that poetry “assures us that others have experienced our pain and have survived to write about it” (Lamers).
Published on Terebess Asia Online—
a hidden butterfly
rises from the leaves
on my father’s grave
(Swede, TAO)
While the tactic in the writing here is much closer to a typical sensory haiku with the image of the butterfly and leaves, it is still an observation of the external world and also references a human struggle: death of loved ones and the grief that follows. I chose this haiku because I personally connect with the experience of losing a father to death. I remember clearly my father’s memorial service and this haiku reminded me of that experience. However, the memory it evokes is not a negative one, but a positive one of hope for the future. The image of the butterfly floating up from the grave gives the sense that the beauty of life continues on even after the death of a loved one. I do feel reassured by this haiku and it is comforting to know that someone else experienced the pain I did and is still out there living life just as I am.
Just as it is important to connect to words that others have shared, it is also important for us to share with others. Poetry gives us an outlet in which to do this by “encourage[ing] us to make contact with others, [and] share our feelings.” Swede addresses the importance of sharing with others in the haiku below:
alone at last
I wonder where
everyone is
(Swede, THA, 208)
I latched onto this haiku, because I find myself wanting to deny my human need to interact with others, to share my struggles and let people into my life. I’ve definitely had those days where I felt stressed and down and all I wanted was to be alone in my room. However, when I actually get alone and sit down to think, I realize that what I really want is to release all of the pent of negative energy I’ve been through during the day. I start to think about how I really just want to talk to someone, go do something fun and blow off some steam. This haiku helps us remember how important human connection is to our mental stability and health. There are times where you must humble yourself, and open up to someone else or the struggle will eat you alive. Another cool thing about this haiku is that while Swede is talking about the importance of connection in this haiku, he is simultaneously connecting with others out there. In a sense, this haiku is doing what I preaches. Through it, Swede shares a piece of himself.
The third value of poetic therapy deals similarly with the establishment of hope in a hopeless situation but rather than finding it in connections with other people, it suggests that one observe and assess a situation with clarity. It suggests that poetry allows us to “acknowledge our fears, calm our fantasies, synchronize our feelings, clear our confusion offers [us] a positive image and opens the possibility of hope” (Lamers).
thick fog lifts—
unfortunately, I am where
I thought I was
(Swede, THA, 217)
This haiku speaks to the human experience of not always knowing where the events of life are taking you and having to figure it out along the way. The end goal is not always in sight. While on the surface it does not immediately evoke a sensation of hope but rather the opposite with the word “unfortunately,” with a second read there is a great deal hope to be found within this haiku. Often times, one of the first things an individual is asked to do when facing a point of confusion in their life is to assess the situation and observe the details of it as it is. The character in this haiku is doing just that. He is finally able to see the situation clearly, even if the place he is in is not where he wants to be. When you are able to see where you stand, there is hope of moving out of that place and moving forward. In order to change, one must first acknowledge fears, emotions and where they stand. This haiku captures that first moment of clarity in the process of discovering a definitive direction.
Thus far, the values mentioned have dealt with connection to other people, and finding hope within situations through the words of poem. The next value, however, is slightly different and suggests that poetry can help people to gain skills that will help them to cope with a struggle. According to the article, poetry “sensitizes us to the world around us, to relationships and their meaning” (Lamers). George Swede’s haiku exemplify this keenness to the external world perfectly because of their observational nature.
Published by Brooks Books in Almost Unseen: Selected Haiku of George Swede
in one corner
of the mental patient’s eye
I exist
(Swede, AU, 82)
I chose this particular haiku as an example of this value because it captures the empathy we as humans need to be sensitized to the world and other people. In order to empathize we have to be able to put ourselves in someone else’s shoes and look at things from their perspective. The speaker in this haiku does just that. He recognizes that the mental patient’s perception of the world is not wrong, but rather much different than his own. What exists in the speaker’s mind is not the same as what exists in the patient’s. Often times, we believe that our own perception is the absolute truth, and choose to ignore that there are other views of the world. In writing and reading haiku such as the one it gives one a medium to pause for a second and give thought to other’s perceive situations. It helps us a stronger connection to the world and the people in it.
Another coping skill poetry may help to establish is being able to find some element of control within one’s life and within a situation. When someone feels completely out of control, it can be overwhelming and they may feel unable to find a way out of a crisis. There are things in life that are controllable and things that are not and it is helpful to find a balance. Poetry “helps us to restore an element of control in our lives [by] helping us put thoughts into words.”
At the edge of the precipice I become logical
(Swede, THA, 216)
I love this haiku as an example, because it captures the moment of regaining control in what seems like a hopeless situation both in the words and the way the haiku is structured. It is relatable to almost any situation where you feel as if you are about to go completely over the edge, and all is going to be over. This haiku rests right at that moment of giving up. I even get the physical image of a person about to fall over a cliff. The spacing between precipice and the final three words set up that moment of anticipation, the climax where you have to choose whether or not you are going to give up. When it wraps up with “I become logical,” it is as if control is regained without even an effort. This haiku reminds us that there is logic to be found in almost any situation and if we can find it buried within the plethora of emotions that we may be facing, we can regain some sort of control over our lives. I believe that writing haiku ourselves can help us to regain control, because it allows us to use that logic and put it in to words.
Yet another skill gained through the reading and writing of poetry is the ability to recognize and create comparisons and contrasts. When searching for a solution to a problem, it can sometimes be helpful to have reference point or comparison from which to begin. For instance, I like to solve problems by using mundane analogies to basic situations in everyday life so that the problem does not seem so daunting. Poetry helps us “to look for comparisons and contrasts” as well as create them (Lamers). I really like this example below from Swede because it is not overtly related to human experience but can easily serve as a comparison.
under the dirty,
one eyed hen a perfect
white egg
(Swede, AU, 65)
What I love about this haiku, and what sets it apart is that it seems like a pretty mundane observation on the surface. Unlike the haiku I’ve mentioned thus far the subject matter is not a person, and it does not overtly seem to have anything to with human experiences. However, the specific imagery it provides of someone finding this pretty white egg sitting under a disgusting old hen creates a beautiful comparison to the human world. It suggests, that while a situation may look ugly, not everything that comes out of it has to be ugly. It makes me look back and think about all the wonderful skills I’ve gained as a person from the struggles I’ve been through thus far. It reminds us to focus on the “white eggs” of a situation instead of the “dirty hen”. It also encourages us to look for similar comparisons in life. Sometimes, I’ll see something, completely mundane, just like this hen and be able to make a comparison that makes a light bulb go off in my head about something I’ve been trying to come to a conclusion about for a long time. This haiku shows that in writing haiku and other forms of poetry we can continuously be looking for and observing the small things in our lives and creating meaning out of them.
In almost of Swede’s haiku, I can connect an experience in my own life to the experience referenced in the poem. The Lamers article mentions that one last value of poetry is that you can always keep it with you as a reminder that you are not alone in your experiences. If there is one haiku poet whose poems I would carry with me it is George Swede. My personal connections to his haiku remind me that there are people out there who face the same struggles that I do and will continue to throughout my life.
Works Cited
"George Swede." George Swede. Primus, n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2013.
"George Swede's Haiku." George Swede's Haiku, Terebess Asia Online (TAO). Terebess Asia Online (TAO), n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2013.
Lamers, William. "Poetry as Therapy." Hospice Foundation of America, n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2013.
"Signs of Spring: Haiku Poems by Persons with Dementia." Wordfield's Haikai Pub. N.p., 8 Dec. 2007. Web.
Swede, George, and Randy Brooks. Almost Unseen: Selected Haiku of George Swede. Decatur, Il: Brooks, 2000. Print.
Van, Den Heuvel, Cor. The Haiku Anthology;. 3rd ed. Garden City, NY: Anchor, 1974. Print.
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