<![CDATA[Stephen’s Substack]]>https://stephenkirtland.substack.comhttps://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!U-x6!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe0d36629-5990-4de7-8f68-8b8526dd99c6_720x720.pngStephen’s Substackhttps://stephenkirtland.substack.comSubstackTue, 01 Sep 2026 21:49:45 GMT<![CDATA[Nostalgia Haiku]]>https://stephenkirtland.substack.com/p/nostalgia-haikuhttps://stephenkirtland.substack.com/p/nostalgia-haikuSun, 02 Aug 2026 06:19:16 GMTNow a warm, soft breeze,

Laden with sweet fragrances;

Memories of then.

]]><![CDATA[Mirror Haiku]]>https://stephenkirtland.substack.com/p/mirror-haikuhttps://stephenkirtland.substack.com/p/mirror-haikuSun, 02 Aug 2026 04:32:22 GMTLove is that wisdom

Reflecting on reflecting

Wisdom that is love.

]]><![CDATA[Handicap Haiku]]>https://stephenkirtland.substack.com/p/handicap-haikuhttps://stephenkirtland.substack.com/p/handicap-haikuWed, 29 Jul 2026 20:09:22 GMTSomething not achieved,

Something I once had, now lost;

Something blocks my sight.

]]><![CDATA[Unforgiveness Trilogy Haiku]]>https://stephenkirtland.substack.com/p/unforgiveness-trilogy-haikuhttps://stephenkirtland.substack.com/p/unforgiveness-trilogy-haikuSun, 10 May 2026 20:57:52 GMTI.

Sweating in the heat,

Raw welts burning with the salt,

I punish myself.

II.

Venom burns my veins,

Corroding from the inside,

Eating up my life.

III.

Prison made of glass,

Invisible to others;

Dungeon for my heart.

]]><![CDATA[Recovery From Grief Haiku]]>https://stephenkirtland.substack.com/p/recovery-from-grief-haikuhttps://stephenkirtland.substack.com/p/recovery-from-grief-haikuSun, 10 May 2026 20:51:56 GMTTender heart abides.

Torment, aching loss and pain;

Roses bloom in snow.

]]><![CDATA[Oak Tree Dispersing Acorns Haiku]]>https://stephenkirtland.substack.com/p/oak-tree-dispersing-acorns-haikuhttps://stephenkirtland.substack.com/p/oak-tree-dispersing-acorns-haikuSun, 10 May 2026 20:48:38 GMTResident squirrel,

Feircely guards his chosen tree.

Blue jay doesn’t care.

]]><![CDATA[Willow Tree in Winter Haiku]]>https://stephenkirtland.substack.com/p/willow-tree-in-winter-haikuhttps://stephenkirtland.substack.com/p/willow-tree-in-winter-haikuSun, 19 Apr 2026 02:00:59 GMTBright Chickadee chirps,

Feathered, black-eyed ball of fluff;

Warmth in falling snow.

]]><![CDATA[Quantum Mechanical Love Haiku]]>https://stephenkirtland.substack.com/p/quantum-mechanical-love-haikuhttps://stephenkirtland.substack.com/p/quantum-mechanical-love-haikuThu, 09 Apr 2026 03:04:09 GMTHalves of a photon,

Isolated by distance,

Reacting as one.

]]><![CDATA[April Haiku]]>https://stephenkirtland.substack.com/p/april-haikuhttps://stephenkirtland.substack.com/p/april-haikuWed, 08 Apr 2026 23:02:26 GMTAs daylight lengthens,

Leaf buds swell, bird song arises,

Blossoming awaits.

]]><![CDATA[Bible Haiku]]>https://stephenkirtland.substack.com/p/bible-haikuhttps://stephenkirtland.substack.com/p/bible-haikuMon, 06 Apr 2026 05:52:22 GMTGushing from the rock,

Freely flowing from the fount,

Holy Word of God.

]]><![CDATA[Parable Haiku]]>https://stephenkirtland.substack.com/p/parable-haikuhttps://stephenkirtland.substack.com/p/parable-haikuFri, 27 Mar 2026 15:53:24 GMTTrusted to the earth,

Dying, seeds transform in death,

Yielding much new life.

]]><![CDATA[Double Haiku]]>https://stephenkirtland.substack.com/p/double-haikuhttps://stephenkirtland.substack.com/p/double-haikuTue, 10 Mar 2026 16:07:46 GMTI.

Tossed by wind and waves,

Eyes on Him, no fear remains.

Faith in Jesus saves.

II.

Every deed and word,

And all pathways, yield one Truth:

Jesus Christ IS Lord.

]]><![CDATA[Haiku on Waking from a Dream]]>https://stephenkirtland.substack.com/p/haiku-on-waking-from-a-dreamhttps://stephenkirtland.substack.com/p/haiku-on-waking-from-a-dreamSat, 21 Feb 2026 05:10:22 GMTDisembodied voice,

Corner haunting, fleeting, wisp;

Sense of something lost.

]]><![CDATA[Funny Valentine Haiku ]]>https://stephenkirtland.substack.com/p/funny-valentine-haikuhttps://stephenkirtland.substack.com/p/funny-valentine-haikuFri, 13 Feb 2026 15:08:17 GMTLove is like kittens;

Soft and warm, big-eyed, purring.

Then the claws slice deep.

]]><![CDATA[Valentine Haiku]]>https://stephenkirtland.substack.com/p/valentine-haikuhttps://stephenkirtland.substack.com/p/valentine-haikuThu, 12 Feb 2026 19:15:23 GMTEasy, calm feeling;

Tender, growing, knowing you;

Life begins with love.

]]><![CDATA[Frustration Haiku]]>https://stephenkirtland.substack.com/p/frustration-haikuhttps://stephenkirtland.substack.com/p/frustration-haikuMon, 02 Feb 2026 21:57:56 GMTRain soaked angry cat,

Nothing to bite or to claw;

Hating the raindrops.

]]><![CDATA[Eurydice]]>https://stephenkirtland.substack.com/p/eurydicehttps://stephenkirtland.substack.com/p/eurydiceMon, 19 Jan 2026 14:01:35 GMTEurydice! Eurydice!

Say not, “I love you.”, fading back!

Tormented sleep and gaping loss,

Are blind to sunlight, and the day.

How cruel the fear that shook my heart,

And sapped the strength within my core,

As Hell's descent I dared for you,

Armored with my fragile song,

Sought through that madness to find a way.

Doomed to failure from the start,

Driven to the Styx dread shore.

Now sing, my heart, oh, sing of summer,

Sing of springtime's gentle grace.

Sing of love forever after.

Behold, my precious lover's face!

In the midst of swirling chaos,

Eurydice in brief moments seen;

Frantic, straining, brittle will,

Against the terrors of the night.

How bright the song that filled my heart!

Song Hell had never heard before,

As love spread light to Hell's dank ends,

Where light had never been.

Then doubt, cruel doubt, burned,

Turned my mind,

And set her yearning shade to flight.

Doomed to failure from the start,

Driven from the Styx dread shore.

Now sing my heart, oh, sing of sorrow,

Sing of winter's bitter clutch,

Sing of life with no tomorrow;

To know no more my precious lover's touch.

Eurydice! Eurydice!

Say not, “I love you.” Fade to black.

]]><![CDATA[Regret Haiku]]>https://stephenkirtland.substack.com/p/regret-haikuhttps://stephenkirtland.substack.com/p/regret-haikuSat, 17 Jan 2026 21:12:02 GMTI gaze from a hill;

Distant dreams are calling me.

In doubt, I can't move.

]]><![CDATA[Treasure Haiku]]>https://stephenkirtland.substack.com/p/treasure-haikuhttps://stephenkirtland.substack.com/p/treasure-haikuSun, 11 Jan 2026 21:10:38 GMTA lifetime ago,

A child nestled in my heart;

I feel her warmth, yet.

]]><![CDATA[Hope Haiku ]]>https://stephenkirtland.substack.com/p/hope-haikuhttps://stephenkirtland.substack.com/p/hope-haikuSat, 10 Jan 2026 08:00:55 GMTOsmosis of light,

Diffusing through the darkness;

Jesus Christ is Lord!

]]>