Friction gives us lift.
by Maryam Imogen Ghouth
Foot meets ground and body moves—
resistance births flight.
This haiku focuses on biomechanical motion. It draws on the principle that friction—between the foot and the earth—is what enables locomotion. According to Newton’s Third Law, movement arises from force met with equal and opposite reaction. This haiku serves as a reminder: when we encounter opposition, it isn’t always a sign to stop—it may be the very friction that lifts us forward.
Further reading:
‘The Integration of Internal and External Training Load Metrics in Hurling’, 2016, Malone, S., et al., Journal of Human Kinetics, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5260590/
‘Ground Reaction Force’, ScienceDirect, available: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/immunology-and-microbiology/ground-reaction-force
‘Newton’s Third Law’, The Physics Classroom, available: https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/newtlaws/lesson-4/newton-s-third-law
‘Newton’s laws of motion’, Encyclopaedia Britannica, available: https://www.britannica.com/science/Newtons-laws-of-motion
Author bio:
Maryam Imogen Ghouth is a literary artist working across written, audio, and visual poetry. Her work has appeared in several literary journals, including Sky Island and Last Leaves, and in award-winning films, such as Under the Sun. Her films, including Not Alone, have been awarded at over 30 film festivals.
Find out more at www.maryamghouth.com and follow Maryam on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/maryamghouth
Read more sciku by Maryam: ‘This Battle is Inborn’ and ‘A Little Pain Goes a Long Way’.