Life: a definition of terms

By Rachel Toalson

Life: A Definition of Terms is a playful collection of poetry that explores the immensity of life in all its facets, from family and love to mental health and humanity. Written entirely in haiku poetry, award-winning poet Rachel Toalson proves that the profound can be contained within a few words.

The poems in Life range from humorous and spirited to wistful and philosophical, capturing in brilliant simplicity the potential of one life to touch the broad range of human emotion and experience.

Life: A Definition of Terms is Rachel's second book of poetry and a spectacular offering from a master of observing and communicating the poetic nature of life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rachel Toalson
• Release date: Jun 15, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393966302

Rachel Toalson

The themes of identity and love amid difficult circumstances often show up in Rachel Toalson's writing, and no matter their age, gender or genre preferences, readers around the world enjoy and anticipate her hopeful message of bravery, transparency and the the human capacity to change the world, at least a small part of it. She is the author of the middle grade fantasy series, Fairendale, (under the pen name R.L. Toalson) about a tyrant king (who may not be quite as bad as he seems) pursuing a group of magical children who become what we know as fairy tale villains, for one good reason or another; the nonfiction Family on Purpose series, which chronicles her family's daily journey into values; and This is How You Know, a book of poetry on the daily ordinary that becomes extraordinary when filtered through the lens of poetry. Rachel Toalson’s own journey into writing is a long and straight-line one. She began penning stories in small-town Texas on white computer paper back when she was a kid. When she got to college, she rose through the ranks of her college newspaper, this time telling true stories. That’s where her writing career began—sitting with sources, gathering information, soaking up the stories of everyday life. In 2015, Rachel ended her newspaper days as a managing editor, with multiple writing accolades accrued over the years, so that she could become a full-time author of both fiction and nonfiction. In her fiction she enjoys crafting tales of quirky characters who are more than what they seem on first glance. In her nonfiction, she enjoys writing about real life, real love, real struggles and the humor underlining much of our human experience. She writes middle grade fiction and picture books under the pen name R.L. Toalson; poetry, memoir and humor under Rachel Toalson; and narrative nonfiction stories and literature under Rachel L. Toalson. Rachel is a regular contributor to Huff Post Parents, Scary Mommy, a Bundle of THYME magazine and many other publications across the world. Born in Houston, Rachel lives with her husband and six boys in San Antonio, Texas, where she faithfully writes 5,000 words a day, five days a week.

Book preview

Other poetry books by Rachel:

This is How You Know

The Magical Hours*

The Lovely After*

*Available only at www.racheltoalson.com/freebook

To see all the books Rachel has written, please click or visit the link below:

www.racheltoalson.com/store

Batlee Press

PO Box 591596

San Antonio, TX 78259

Copyright ©2017 by Rachel Toalson

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing. For information, address Batlee Press, PO Box 591596, San Antonio, TX 78259.

The author appreciates your taking the time to read her work. Please consider leaving a review wherever you bought it, or telling your friends how much you enjoyed it. Both of those help spread the word, which is incredibly important for authors. Thank you for your support.

www.racheltoalson.com

Manufactured in the United States of America

First Edition—2017/Cover designed by Toalson Marketing

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To Ben.

Your support, your love, your very existence is transformational.

R.T.

Introduction

The haiku is a traditional form of poetry that began in thirteenth-century Japan. It originally consisted of three lines and seventeen syllables, but variations have stretched it and condensed it over the years.

While it’s changed from its original form—from rather rigid to more fluid—it has not lost its original intent: to magnify a brief moment in time, to illustrate a colorful image, to illuminate and enlighten its reader in the span of a breath.

For the haiku poetry in this book, I have attempted to follow strictly the 5-7-5 rule of syllable count for a three-line haiku. I have also attempted to capture a specific moment in time that, when examined in a broader way, will apply universally to an aspect of humanity—which is why I’ve called the book Life: a definition of terms.

As is always the case with my poetry, I have composed these haikus with one eye on the enlightenment of my readers, one eye on the illumination of deeper truths, and a third eye, if one exists, on the specificity of a moment. So while the poems are short, they are meditations of my heart as I live my life with a partner, with children, and with the greater world at large.

I hope that you will come to see a brighter humanity, a brilliant future, and an unwavering hope in my humble lines.

Accident

It’s all fun and games

until one of them gets hurt.