Haiku Written on a Train on a Sunday Morning

Posted byJeff NelsonPosted inUncategorizedTags:, , , , ,

I love writing haiku. It’s such an easy and accessible poetic form, and it challenges you to play with words and phrases to fit the 5-7-5 criteria.

Last week was my family’s annual beach vacation, and on the train ride home I decided I’d write a few haiku based on my surroundings to pass the time. Here they are.

Sitting on the train
Churches with cars in their lots
It’s Sunday morning

The wifi is bad
Social media won’t load
Magic has to wait

This is a haiku
Syllables must be counted
I am so meta

The train rambles on
Daughter has stolen my phone
It is Father’s Day

Graffiti on walls
Bubble letters spell out names
I still can’t read them

Teen is on his phone
He holds it up for selfies
They don’t satisfy

Mild train coffee
It’s probably breakfast blend
Caffeine is caffeine

Published by Jeff Nelson

Rev. Jeff Nelson serves as Minister for Ministerial Calls and Transitions as part of the MESA Team at the UCC national setting. He also serves as pastor of a small church in northeast Ohio. He is also a certified spiritual director in the tradition of Ignatius of Loyola. His latest book, The Unintentional Interim: Ministry in Times of Transition, released on April 15th, 2025.

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