Staying in out of the way locations, opening himself to beauty and writing songs. Stu Larsen’s 2024 journey into solitude (see my previous post for background) very much reflects the Japanese notion of ‘wabi sabi’ – the sense that everything is transient and imperfect.

Wabi reflects rustic simplicity while sabi is the beauty of something that’s worn or imperfect. The writer, Richard Powell, says ‘wabi sabi nurtures all that is authentic by acknowledging three simple realities: nothing lasts, nothing is finished and nothing is perfect’.

Spending time alone and surrounded by nature highlights the power of these three principles.

February 2024

In February, Stu stayed at High Place Cottage on the east coast of Tasmania, from where he could see Maria Island. Take a listen to the beautifully sad love song, Xanadu, that Stu wrote that month. You can find the lyrics by clicking on the top line of the YouTube link and then clicking on ‘more’.

Below is the haiku I wrote in response to Xanadu, followed by the link to the song on YouTube:

your island
so far away
these days