NEA Community Poets Share Their Eczema Haikus

In honor of National Haiku Day, we asked our community to share their poetry. As many of you have so capably demonstrated, a haiku is a poem with three lines, five syllables in the first line, seven syllables in the second line, and five syllables in the third line. Enjoy!

Though you scream at me,
Blistering, hopeless weeping,
I can’t help but shred.
–@puuthulhu

Cool air on wet skin
Soaking in, dryness returns
Time to reapply.
–@dani.da.dog

Eczema itches
Healing with lotions and food
Goes away, comes back
–@hi_shureley

Hugging your small frame,
Rash blooming like spring flowers,
Why can’t it be me
–@azzap

Man, eczema sucks
Sucks, sucks, sucks, sucks, sucks, sucks, sucks
Man, eczema sucks
–@rachelmwwhite

Itchy itchy me
Flakes and blood spots on my clothes
There is no relief
–@candylaz

Though you scream at me
Blistering, hopeless weeping
I can’t help but shred
-@anonymous

In fear, I hide them
Crushed by people staring through
Resisting the itch
-@anonymous

I keep on nail digging
At night when it is itchy
Without even realizing
-@anonymous

Nails are cut, of course
Then how come my skin cut too
Healing run it’s course
-@anonymous

My son just can’t stop
Dry itch scratch cycle repeat
Wish I could end it
-Jamie Hall

It itches so much
Painful patches burn all night
Will it ever end
-Kristi Calcanas