Writing may be slow. Words count not word count.
Rhythm and surprise.
Matsuo Basho, Haiku Master ((1644–1694) may or may not agree but he did have a sense of humor.
Humor and riddles are a distinct part of Haiku and make this poetry form, along with the challenge of its meter, an excellent exercise for a writer.
Basho wrote this charming Haiku about a sound we have all heard. He found something amusing in that sound. Here are all the senses brought together as the Haiku master challenges the cat:
Why so scrawny, cat? starving for fat fish or mice . . . Or backyard love? (Basho)
Counting out the 5-7-5, seventeen syllable form is calming and deliberate at the same time. The words are direct; not a metaphor in sight. There is always a phrase and a fragment. A cut. (The cat might be too busy to look for food.) Simple language, deep meaning. A fast read that keeps you thinking. What I would love someone to say about my novel!
Being able to choose a few words that tell a great deal is the ultimate exercise in learning to clean up your writing. Words count not word count
You can describe things huge in scope:
seas are wild tonight . . . stretching over Sado Island silent clouds of stars (Basho)
and things very small.
lady butterfly perfumes her wings by floating over the orchid (Basho)
Another reason to play with the Haiku is the lack of “I”. This poetry puts humanity first. The poet is the observer, one with nature and the elements. In this ego driven world of ours the Haiku is a way to step back and look at what is not ‘not all about you’. Instead of “I’m so lonely” think of “a lonely sparrow looks for its mate…” Haiku can teach us to add detail as well as leave it out when it hides the true essence of something.
Challenge yourself and share some of your poems in this style. I read that it can become addictive, so you’ve been warned.
I was taught the first line of Haiku often sets up an impossibility.
nudging the sun’s side the moon pushes her shadow into the fresh night
Imagine nudging the sun. Imagine writing a first line that proposes a thesis so compelling a reader is hooked.
Write some Haiku to share. Be free about it. After all it is Zen poetry.
Graceful sunset hues
Flow in luscious shapes from snow
No guilt in beauty
David you are a natural for this form
Beautiful Haiku David! Thanks.
Thousands of drunks
Stumble past, grasping hands, growling
Beauties baking in the sun.
SO glad to have you in the group. This is a stunning poem.
Thank you, ma’am.
Here’s the one I came up with on Monday:
tiny fingers play
footsteps patter on wood floors
loud joyful laughter
Here’s one I came up with later because I’m so excited that football season is almost here again:
time for some pigskin
beer whisky ice tailgating
asses in tight pants
Cristina, I laughed out loud!
Suzanne – that gave me a real visual
very nice.
Cristina – see above for the football Haiku
good stuff!
Thank you, Gil.
Here’s one of mine:
Muddy waters flow
I feel the earth as it rocks
Too late to run now
Gil, I could feel the fear. Good job.
You guys are amazing! Teach a man to fish and he’ll never starve. Teach a writer Haiku and he’ll never have writer’s block! Here’s my Haiku from Monday:
lover on one side
run run ground
moves
time stays
behind
no bridge shortens
I forget who waits
Testing is for Gil,
Making Haiku begins now.
Judge me now on rhyme.
Nicely done Debbie
No judgement necessary.
Don’t worry, no rhyming in HAIKU. Freedom to offer up images. Such a wonderful playground for writing.
A few haiku from last Monday:
Ok, this first isn’t strictly a haiku, but…
at her first meeting
christina makes someone mad
she needed two bucks
And for the more traditional haiku:
the heavy rain falls
amongst spring’s new fragrances
fall’s decay is faint
in the afterglow
the past becomes visible
heaven’s light waxes
Scott, what fun. You immortalized angry two dollar woman in Haiku! Your second one is lovely.
humid, hot, stiffling
garish lights and sounds engulf
funnel cakes and bile
unpleasant harvest
they line up to meet the need
necks slit overhead
moment of ingress
love aches and sweats within her
a child in the spring
Eh, this one’s no good – “love aches” is personification, which is a form of metaphor, no?
I believe in the English form of Haiku you’re fine with that phrase. It’s much looser and also love is an emotion and Haiku does contain emotion at times as it’s primary element in the place of say, a frog who slips off the petal, sad. Love aches is maybe a short cut. No frog.
This is an exercise and I think you have done very well.
Very intriguing and informative article. Didn’t realize that Haiku poems were so useful for developing creativity and improving novel-writing. Thank you.