Jamie Winters

I'm Fine. Jamie Winters

words can't describe this
feeling of bricks on my heart
so i say "i'm fine."

Mental illness is confusing. And messy. And complicated. Sometimes it's hard to find the strength to get out of bed, let alone connect to other people going through a similar experience to yours.

Meanwhile, a haiku is written in only three lines and seventeen syllables. While the form itself is simple, haiku has been used to express complex subjects for generations. Three lines can give a surprisingly complex look at a single moment that might have passed by without thought otherwise.

The brevity of haiku makes it possible to digest hard subjects like trauma, depression, and anxiety in small, bite-size portions. The 120 haiku in this collection can easily be read one by one over an extended period, or all at once. This collection was made to bring together those affected by mental illness, whether you're someone trying to understand a loved one's experience or someone surviving mental illness yourself. You are not alone.

through seventeen sounds
i can reach through time and space
and show you my world

and when you're reading
maybe you'll recognize it
'cause it's your world too

peace descends down on
two strangers across the world
finally knowing

i'm fine