Haiku for the United Nations Department of Political Affairs staff. Sandö, Sweden

Haiku *
Chris Spies  
May 2016

I wrote these Haiku poems for the final closing session for participants of the Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA) DPA Dialogue and Mediation Course. Haiku is a form of poetry, first made popular in Japan, which has become appreciated around the world. The poem has seventeen syllables, in three lines of five, seven, and five.

United Nations —
Divided societies
Building peace for all

~


Political work:
Who ever said it’s easy?
There are no soft skills

~

UNDPA:
Shall we use our energies
To listen deeply?

~

Is our message clear
—Prevention better than cure?—
Or just a slogan?

~

Building blocks for peace
Can we measure our efforts
For effectiveness?

~

You are a leader
Use your imagination
To inspire all

~

Don’t get in the way
Of those who build their own peace
Keep your ego out

~

It’s not about us
It’s all about the people
That is our purpose

~

Follow your calling
To rehumanise the world
And foster healing