Haiku and I

Atwood talks about the past. When women existed within four walls. Yet without the limitations of imagination. It goes like this:
“Life was more joyful and innocent then, and at the same time permeated with guilt and terror, or at least the occasions for them, on the most daily level.
It was like the Japanese haiku: a limited form, rigid in its perimeters, within which an astonishing freedom was possible.”

I am still in awe of this analogy she has built – of the fact that it has given me a whole new perspective on…Freedom? Life? Haiku? Word play? Me?
I happen to develop a liking to the place I’ve just started work at. Many say it is limiting – without challenges, without creativity – but I look around and in hidden crevices (and in a lot of channel goodies), find a sea of opportunities. I think for me it is also a lot about respect. I need to have a stand in the place I work at. This, now, here – I like it. Surrounded by intimidating feminists, hearing talks about women’s issues, being amongst multitudes of boobs – I feel like one of them – somewhere in some corner of me, I feel like I belong.
Who can kill your creativity? Work? Job? This so called 9-6 routine? Some of the most interesting people I know work at banks, mnc’s, ngos – so does that mean they cannot be funny? They cannot read poetry? They cannot delve into literature? They cannot paint a picture or tell a story?
It’s a great thing if you love your work. I strive for that. Right now I am at the “liking” stage and not the “loving and dying for it” level. But I am striving to earn to be where I want to be – to be able to study without bothering about where my next meal is coming from – that’s something that keeps me going.
And then again – the books I carry on train, the doodles I make in my diary and the way I spend my weekends is life enough for me. I am relatively satisfied. I am not bursting and overflowing with love for work. But I just about love life right now. And that, for me, is a great start. I am hopeful. I am optimistic. I am happy. I am like haiku.