Enlightened By Defilement

A collection of haibun and their haiku poems that take a glimpse into topics such as teenage awakening and long standing grief: all with a deflecting wittiness and space for reflection.

Inspired by the 108 Buddhist defilements, each piece represents a lesson learned, some based on personal recollections and experiences; others are gathered bits and pieces of confidences or snippets overheard while shamelessly eavesdropping.

As soon as you read the first haibun, with its clear prose followed by the haiku: grade three/ creating a family/ tree tangled roots, you will be hooked. Vera Constantineau uses her talent with haibun and haiku to capture emotions in moments that might otherwise appear everyday. She shares her own emotional growth that has pushed her along towards enlightenment.