Life Scattered

Michael Kroth • February 16, 2019

Profound Poetry

This is to introduce Profound Poetry. A place where once a week original poetry will be posted. Sometimes the author will explain the poem, sometimes the poem will be left to explain itself. This poem was written after successful procedures for a-fibrillation. It took a few years and trips to the hospital and amazing, caring healthcare professionals, but we are in synch these days.

Life Scattered
by
Michael Kroth

Life scattered, astray
my heart beat strangely, they say
now steady, ready.

Life Scattered, Profound Living, Michael Kroth

Reading The Art of Pausing , by Judith Valente , Brother Paul Quenon , and Michael Bever , and writing a haiku, has become a daily practice for me. The authors recommend this, and I have found it in the few short weeks I have been doing this, a meaningful activity when paired with reading a daily haiku and narrative from the book.

I’m not a trained poet, but I don’t think poetry has to be created by an MFA graduate to be meaningful, and certainly meaningful to the author.

So, to introduce profound poetry, here is a haiku I wrote this week.

If you are interested in this poetic form, I highly recommend the work in The Art of Pausing . So, so good.


What Is Haiku?

Three lines. Five syllables the first line. Seven syllables the second line. Five syllables the third line. They aren't supposed to rhyme, but of course why have rules if you can't break them once in a while.

More about haiku here.

It can be so beautiful. Take a look at some here.


By Michael Kroth April 20, 2026
Earth Day is this week. As we consider the state of our world - and the ecology of both our material and spiritual environment - it makes sense to ask what our role is, has been, and is supposed to be in relationship to "our common home" (Pope Francis).
By Michael Kroth April 10, 2026
Here are some initial thoughts about elegance, nature, and depth; a poem about happiness; and even a haiku.
By Michael Kroth April 4, 2026
Moving toward a more profound, rich-in-all-the-ways-that-are-important, life.
By Michael Kroth March 28, 2026
It takes just a second to break something.  Restoring what was broken takes time.
By Michael Kroth March 20, 2026
A Messy Elegance Reflection
By Michael Kroth March 15, 2026
Outcomes are not certain, though some are much more highly predictable than others.
By Michael Kroth March 11, 2026
Life is messy. We know that. But some people move through that mess with a surprising kind of grace.
By Michael Kroth February 10, 2026
Emerging from the depths, he taught us about depth
By Michael Kroth February 1, 2026
“The poor in spirit are by no means poor-spirited. They are persons who see so much to be, so much to do, such limitless reaches to life and goodness that they are profoundly conscious of their insufficiency and incompleteness.” ~Rufus Jones, The Inner Life , p. 19
By Michael Kroth January 22, 2026
January, 2026 Haiku Narratives