Haiku about Home: week 1 of rewriting your well-being

The ache for home lives in all of us. The safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.

Maya Angelou, All God’s Children Need Traveling Shoes


Well done for taking the very first step of your Haiku for You writing programme! This is the beginning of an exciting twelve-week journey for your well-being.

For a summary of what Haiku for You is all about, head over to the introductory post, which explains what the next twelve weeks on this blog are going to look like.

Are you sitting comfortably in your safe place? If not, choose a spot where distractions won’t steal you away from this relaxing writing practice. Pause any digital devices, close the door if you need to, and take a slow, deep breath in … and then back out.

Now, to ease us into the process, we will begin with a theme that feels familiar to us all:

home.

Thoughts about Home

Did you know that our sense of belonging greatly impacts our self-esteem? The personal attachments we form throughout childhood and our adult lives largely influence our individual character traits. This is why we find ourselves searching for, or hoping to return to the home that will improve our well-being.

So, what does home mean to you?

It’s true that home is often the family abode where we were once raised, but it’s also a whole host of other things. What about the fireplace where everyone gathered in your grandmother’s living room? Or, the secret nook where you read books or listened to music?

Home could ironically be your escape. It could be a place you visit every year in order to reset, or a pocket of picturesque countryside where you know you can lose yourself. One thing we can be certain about is that home is different to us all.

At the same time, home doesn’t even have to be a place we visit. Sometimes, it surprises us with a knock at the door! Many people feel unwittingly at home in countries they have never been to before. It can happen when we least expect it, in a moment far away from your physical home.

You could be on holiday, many thousands of miles away, and be reminded of the feeling of home. This is sometimes triggered by the smell of certain plants, foods, or the musty aroma of old books and furniture. How many of you remember feeling immediately at home after being handed a bowl of homemade soup?

Home is found as often in people as it is in a place.

This could be within the hugging arms of family, friends, or a partner you have found true safety with. It may modestly materialise during conversations where you don’t have to hide your true feelings. It could be your private corner of the world.

Have you considered your body as your home?

Breathe in and then back out.

Remember that feeling. It matters. We must look after ourselves and create a strong foundation to approach the everyday challenges of life.

Home dwells in the smallest of places.

Home can commonly be found in objects around your house. It could be disguised as a gift, an heirloom, or a desk where you feel most confident at work or taking part in your favourite hobby. Home is where you feel most you. It could even be an outfit you put on to feel grounded, or a new haircut that reminds you of a personal strength you haven’t seen for a while.

Haiku about home: Some examples of my own

With no audience,
she twirls in the living room,
receives an encore.
allef vinicius iNOgTXeT3OM unsplash 1
The neighbours’ window -
a double-glazing of dance
to mute melody
marcus cramer HDfyLpAKTyU unsplash
The kettle breathes out -
keys jangle at the back door;
biscuits are melting
jorge garcia 4aJ9GCwB3Gw unsplash 2


Now it’s your turn… Haiku about home is your prompt. Whether you are indoors or outdoors, there is always a moment to appreciate somewhere. It may leap into your mind, or you may have to look a little harder.

How to write your own haiku about home

Exercise duration: approximately 30 minutes

1. Observe your surroundings. Pick up objects, smell the air, listen for a sound that is either welcomed or longed for. Where is home?

2. Cast your mind back to a single moment that reminds you of home. You don’t have to understand why.

3. Come back to the present moment, holding on to the comforting details that matter most.

4. Consider the relevant senses and capture this moment on paper.

Just remember, it’s three lines of 5-7-5 syllables! Refer back to How to write Haiku guidelines.

Once you have found the words for the above, how do you feel?

You may already wish to write more haiku tomorrow, or you may choose to write one each week. What is most important is that you go with how you feel. By next week, you will hopefully feel a little more at home with haiku, and maybe even more at home with yourself. Think of haiku as a place that will house your feelings before you step back out into the big world.

Congratulations for completing your first Haiku for You exercise and thank you for joining me. I look forward to seeing you next Monday for Week Two, which will bring you a new and exciting theme!

Remember, your well-being belongs in a positive place.

Now, let’s haiku away!

If you are happy to, please leave your beautiful haiku about home in the comments section below this post.

See next week – Week One: Haiku about Sound.

Haiku about home: birds and a birdhouse

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25 Comments
  1. Anna Söderlund

    Thank you for this inspiring site. I am a newbie in poetry but I love it so.. here are my three different approaches to Haikus about ”Home”.

    music all around
    glittering sky above us
    dance the night away

    the kiss when you leave
    love is so much harder now
    keep my heart in yours

    mothers soothing voice
    to me as a little girl
    comforting my soul

    See you next monday!

    • Georgia

      Thank you so much for joining! I’m glad poetry brings you so much joy! It made me so happy to read your words. Your haiku are beautiful, and I look forward to reading many more!

  2. Daniel Jayne

    Here’s a silly one…

    The light turns to green,
    The drums bang, the N appears,
    Now Netflix awaits.

    • Georgia

      This is great! I can hear the sound without even trying to! Thanks. ☺️

  3. Vivienne

    Coal fire burning bright
    Bedsheets warming on clothes horse
    Warm Sunday night dreams

    • Georgia

      Truly capturing the cosy moment! ☺️ Thank you!

  4. Lotte Williams

    Hello!
    Here are my haiku… I love how the present tense brings your childhood right back to you! Thank you for this blog.
    Love Charlotte x

    My nose is tingling
    The farmer’s work is over
    And hay jump awaits

    Early each morning
    Sitting atop the lamp post
    The wood pigeon calls

    Music turned up loud
    Evening washing up routine
    Always features dance

    Clasp the bat tightly
    French cricket in the garden
    Watch out for your shins!

    • Georgia

      Thanks so much for your wonderful contribution! These are so vivid! It’s interesting what a change in tense can do, isn’t it? Keep them coming!

  5. Cyrilyn

    Curled up in the lounge,
    As the fire place brings us warmth
    Sipping our hot tea.

    Lowri Moore (age 10)

    Chorus of voices
    Gathered around the table
    Dinner time is here

    (Me)

    • Georgia

      Both are lovely and atmospheric! Thanks to you and Lowri for sharing!

  6. Jenny Jayne

    This is Vince’s
    Calves dying round us
    Mother’s standing and crying
    Owners heart broken

    • Georgia

      This is definitely full of emotion. Thanks for sharing it.

  7. Cyrilyn

    Music blaring loud
    A concert with my sisters
    I close the lounge door

    Elis (age 8)

    • Georgia

      Aww, thank you, Elis! That’s great! ☺️

  8. P. Venugopal

    in my dim attic
    father’s broken chair, spotlit
    in skylight, dust haze

    • Georgia

      Wow, this holds so much sentiment – and possibility. Thank you very much for sharing!

  9. Rhys Walbeoff

    Streams of golden light
    The dust dances in the air
    The morning arrives

    Rhys (Aged 28¾)

    • Georgia

      I can totally imagine how this morning feels! (Haha! So wise for such an age too!) Thanks, Rhys. 🙂

  10. Lucy Mathieson

    Walking hand in hand
    Damning up Hebers Ghyll stream
    Playing in the moors

    • Georgia

      Thank you for writing this! I can picture the scene so clearly! A lovely moment. 🙂

  11. Chris

    Home

    Lavender edged path
    Mossy steps to my front door.
    A robin welcomes.

    A query
    Can haiku have words such as my , he, she or should they be objective/impersonal

    • Georgia

      Thanks for sharing such a visually colourful haiku! To answer your query: yes, haiku can absolutely do this! Less so traditionally, but writers have strayed from the original limitations. However, many are of the view that personal pronouns like you mention should be used sparingly if they are used, mainly because it allows a healthy detachment for the reader to have more space to imagine the whole story without the voice of the narrator clouding the view. It also depends on what the haiku is about. Of course, for this particular exercise it really doesn’t matter at all because well-being is the core purpose. Judgement and balance will be key. I hope this helps you.

  12. Wendy Evans

    I am feeling scared
    Covid a terrible thought
    Feels like a nightmare

  13. Chris

    Thank you for your thoughts and explanation about the use of personal pronouns in haiku. I do understand more now.

    • Georgia

      No problem at all, Chris! 🙂 Happy to help.

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