Sunshine Bliss + Dawn Pisturino’s Sun-Filled Haikus

Los Angeles is — yes, indeedy — the land of eternal sunshine. Much as the sun invigorates me, perhaps if the weather were awful, I’d sit at my desk more and get more writing done? (Click here to read about my books.) Surely it figures into why Angelenos are so darned ready to look on the bright side of things and to wish strangers, “Have a nice day.”

At the risk of even more cars heading here to clog our freeways, I’m here to verify that yup, it’s true that we have utterly blissful weather year round. Not too hot, not too cold. Hummingbirds whir within my garden as geese migrate overhead and whales journey up and down the coast. Even my roses bloom year-round, their sweet fragrances non-stop, despite my black thumb. The full spectrum of exotic veggies and sweet fruit, much of it grown under local sunshine, fill the produce aisles of our grocery stores. It’s rare when our skies aren’t horizon-to-horizon crystal clear. The occasional cloud is puffed away by a gentle wind.

Why am I on this sunshine kick? Because today’s guest reminds me to be grateful. You might remember writer/blogger Dawn Pisturino (click here for her website and publications) from when she previously guested at Happiness Between Tails.

She’s got a new book out, which she describes as a collection of haikus, short stories, and poems “dedicated to the sun and its effects on people, animals, and the environment”…

A Year Filled with Sunshine by Dawn Pisturino

When I sat down to compose my fourth poetry book, Sun Haiku: 365 Days of Sunshine, I had two intentions in mind: to honor my brother, Mark, who died of melanoma shy of his 40^th birthday, and to celebrate the sun, which is the sustaining force for all life on earth.

I lived in California for 24 years, where the sun is practically worshipped as a god. The Beach Boys glorified surfing, beachcombing, and girls running around in bikinis. Later, when I moved to a rural desert community in northern Arizona, the blistering summer sun forced its way into my consciousness. There’s just no getting away from it. When the temperatures drop to freezing at night in winter, the sun’s solar energy is a welcome source of heat during the day.

The sun has so many positive attributes! But, on the negative side, its powerful ultraviolet rays can be deadly. My brother was one of its victims.

Dedication to My Brother

I dedicated my book to my brother to raise awareness about skin cancer and its deadliest form, melanoma:

“I dedicate this book to my brother, Mark, who loved the outdoors, hiking in the Montana mountains, and died too young from melanoma. His fair skin and genetic disposition were not suitable for too much sunlight. Please do regular skin checks and consult a dermatologist if you find any unusual moles, sores, blemishes, thickening, or other concerning signs of possible skin cancer. For more information, visit the American Academy of Dermatology website.”

A few excerpts…

36.

demon sun chuckles

throwing sun bolts to the ground

dodging painful death

101.

eye of the sun glares

at me with malevolent

gaze — melanoma

203.

Reflections of sun

upon the water. Silence.

Peace. Tranquility.

How does sunshine affect you?