It’s wonderful to find a little joy when you most need it. The events of the last few weeks have left me drained. I spent a lot of last week trying to figure out how to restore the mental well-being that I need to get on with my job and other obligations.

Then, while on a walk last Friday morning, I came across this bike path art.

The haiku was a balm to my battered soul.

This was one of several haiku on the bike path. I slowed my pace to read them, while breathing fresh fall air deeply into my lungs and feeling serenity seep in with each word and breath.

I was reminded that art exists in spite of our politics and that it will bring us joy. And peace. That emotional turmoil and wounds ripped open can be calmed by gifts of beautiful ideas.

I’m sharing this haiku, in hopes that it will also bring you a little joy at a time when you might need some.

About the Haiku

Ten miles of haiku poetry were added to the Minuteman Bikeway recently, to celebrate the bike path’s 25 anniversary. Poetry was submitted by people who use the bike path and a selection committee of three poets chose 111 haiku to install on the bike path in the towns of Arlington, Lexington and Bedford.

The haiku was placed on the path using temporary chalk-based paint, which will last 2-3 months and then disappear. You can learn more about the project on the Arlington Public Art website.

Related Posts

Here are a few other posts that I hope will provide some pleasure:

• Painted Rooflines in Baltimore’s Patterson Park Neighborhood
• Wave Hill Public Gardens in New York City
• A Week of Goodness – Starting 2018 Off on the Right Note