Chicago life seen through haiku

One city... One year... One haiku every day

Here are 365 poems based on observations in and around Chicago.  From the mercurial weather to the vibrant lakefront to the long waits for the El… all are fair game for exploring ideas of impermanence, mindfulness, and meaning.

Follow along on the journey through the year.  Read a haiku before your daily meditation or during your morning constitutional.  

Or gorge all at once and find your city in the rich tapestry of the natural moments and human interactions that connect the millions of residents in the sprawling metropolis next to Lake Michigan.

Ancient Japan Meets Modern Chicago

The Japanese poetry form of haiku has been around for over 500 years.  Consisting of 3 lines of five, seven, and five syllables, it traditionally focuses on creating a juxtaposition between the observed world and an insight into the human mind.

In five seven five, poet David J.P. Fisher took the form and applied it to the modern world around him.  Every single day for a year he wrote a poem inspired by his experiences of the day.  And those added up to a journey of insights and ideas on how to find meaning and beauty in the daily urban grind around us.

"Such a cool idea. I looked up my birthday right when I got it, but now I'm going one day at a time."
Joanna B.
"I love that it's so compact. It fits perfectly on my bedside table and I read when I wake up in the morning."
Joe S.
"I don't think of myself as a poetry person, but these are a fun way to look at the city and are thought-provoking."
Lisa M.

About the Author

David J.P. Fisher isn’t a professional poet, but he’d like to play one on TV.  (Although at one point he won a poetry slam at Chicago’s Green Mill Lounge).  He’s a best-selling author of 11 non-fiction books and international speaker and business coach.  He lived most of his adult life next to a beautiful cemetery which reminds him to appreciate every day that he wakes up on the right side of the fence.

A Few Parting Haiku