The last few weeks has been a learning curve in my haiku journey. Reading you all, and being read by too, I'm wondering have some of us been doing justice to the wonderful form of poetry called a haiku. A haiku isn't a heavy poem by any stretch of the imagination. It says a lot in 3 lines, and in under seventeen syllables. But not every 3 line, 17 syllable verse is a haiku. We've even pushed the form's effort to pull a lot of power in 3 lines by putting a poem of multiple haiku, which would bring our muse more number of syllables. Recently, Rita pointed out to me that a haiku should also be more showing the image we wanted to portray, than actually put it out there in our words and tell it. That's something I've seen in the haiku written by Grace too. Though she has multiple haiku in her post, they're all different, make sense separately and bring an image into our mind.
As we move forward in our journey here at Haiku Heights, I think we should also try in earnest to be more true to the haiku form, and not just bring out 3 line verses in 5-7-5 syllable format, or combine a lot of haiku to make a bigger poem to express the heart's urge. My name is Leo, author of the blog "I Rhyme Without Reason" and your host here. This is our 151st theme for your haiku inspiration: TRUE.
This prompt will end at on 7th JULY 2012 at 1PM IST.
These are the general rules here. I rephrase them just so no confusion exists.
1. Write a haiku on the prompt given and post in your blog.
2. Link back to Haiku Heights either with the code given in the bottom bar here, or with a hyperlink.
3. Enter your name and link into the Linky widget. (It should be the post link, and not your blog link in general)
4. Read and enjoy as many of the other writers as well.
- Some of my readers, and new writers at Haiku Heights had asked me how to write a proper Haiku.
- Haiku is Japanese poetry form that has three meaningful lines which are complete and reflecting nature.
- Haiku have syllabic limitations as well. Syllables and words aren't the same thing. For e.g. the single word "traditional" would have four syllables since it's pronounced "tra-di-tio-nal".
- A haiku is more showing than telling. It brings the meaning to you without actually expressing it.
- A haiku has under, or at most, 17 syllables. If you wish to follow a rigid structure for your haiku, you can use a 5-7-5 syllable form, or a 3-5-3 syllable form.
- You can write either a haiku, senryu (haiku related to emotions), haiga (haiku on picture) or haibun (story with haiku).
We wish to celebrate the haikai forms through your words. some poets are straying away from the Haiku format so kindly stay within the Haiku limitations. I know it is difficult but very challenging too!!
Thank you. for more details READ HERE.
Please note: I will remove the link if the post is just a random one or another form.
Please note: The plural of Haiku is still Haiku and not Haikus.
Please note: We at Haiku Heights only need the haiku to be reflective of the topic. You need not actually use the word in your haiku.
A small request to all our friends on the Blogger platform. If you could kindly turn off the word verification on your blogs, it'd be a lot easier for others to comment on your blog. The new CAPTCHA type of verification is quite muddling, and it's confusing even the actual bloggers as well.
I also wish to thank those who have been helping me by giving suggestions for prompts. Most of your suggestions will be put to use. However, till the prompt on July 21st, 2012, the topics for the succeeding will week will not be revealed on that prompt, and we'll be thanking some silent supporters of this space with those prompts! Thanks for being a part of my haiku journey, and for understanding this. - Leo.
I also wish to thank those who have been helping me by giving suggestions for prompts. Most of your suggestions will be put to use. However, till the prompt on July 21st, 2012, the topics for the succeeding will week will not be revealed on that prompt, and we'll be thanking some silent supporters of this space with those prompts! Thanks for being a part of my haiku journey, and for understanding this. - Leo.
15 comments:
Yes, yes, yes to your musings, Leo! Seventeen syllables do not necessarily a haiku--or senryu--make! Sadly, if we get hung up in counting syllables, we can easily forsake sense. There is another haiku meme online that proclaims, "Haiku is simple!" No, it's not. It's actually quite difficult. I face the challenge daily of making sense of a tiny portion of the universe, using only 17 syllables. Sometimes a haiku flows from my fingers with ease at the first attempt. Sometimes I have to rewrite a haiku or senryu 20 or even 30 times before I'm satisfied that it is worth reading. Sometimes I have to throw away those 30 drafts and start over. Always, I hold this thought in mind and heart: "Seventeen breaths are all that stand between you and chaos, so breathe true."
Leo ~ just a thought ~ perhaps if you would post the prompt a week in advance ~ would give some people more time to prepare a haiku ~ thanks, Carol ^_^ (A Creative Harbor)
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Leo. This form looks simple yet is such a challenge to write ~
I also want to share that you can improve on your haiku writing if you add in a cutting word, or kireji. I normally use a comma to contrast two images. Here is link from Wikipedia with examples: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kireji#List_of_common_kireji
Happy week to everyone ~
Carol, that thought is absolutely fine :) we usually do roll that way, we give a prompt a week in advance. However, with the anniversary of Haiku Heights establishment nearing, I've decided to unveil prompts only on that day. It's only till the prompt on July 21st.. not for ever.!
Dear Leo, inspired by Rita and Grace you're asking us to be more true to the haiku form. In this case the true form is said to be showing an image, rather than telling it. Now there must be a hundred and one opinions on how to write true haiku. It's a lot like gardening, where everyone has an opinion on the right way to nourish a flowering shrub. "Show, don't tell" is one of those cast-iron tropes of creative writing in general, not just for haiku, and a darn good trope it is. But I think the more you read on the theory of haiku, the less sure you will be in describing this idea as a hallmark of haiku. Respectfully, Bruce
Sigh.. OK, Bruce..
What I mean to say is, not everything written in seventeen syllables over three lines is a haiku. I'm not saying this is the final definition of haiku, or a hallmark. If we read a lot of our entries, it's just not feeling like a haiku or senryu either.. Yes, I agree each have their own opinion of what a haiku is, or isn't, and I'm no different but what a haiku isn't is just seventeen syllables. There are few who'd write it over seventeen, and I'm not wanting that, and few who just write a lot of haiku at a stretch.. where as one or two of the haiku would make sense separately, others would only be falling into the poetic rhythm, of multiple verse.. That's not true to a haiku, in any sense of the word I think. That's what I wanted to express. "Show, not tell" could be one part of a haiku too.
Equally resepectful to your craft as well,
Leo.
Well ... what shall I say. I am a haiku poet, but my haiku are written in the Kanshicho-style, a style which Matsuo Basho used from 1683-1685. In that style Basho let go the syllables count. I think the syllables count is murdering the free spirit of the haiku poet.
By the way in the Western world the 5-7-5 count isn't that strong. I think that the verses I contributed to Haiku Heights and on other websites (including the websites of my own) are haiku although they sure not have the 5-7-5 count. I think, I believe that haiku is meant to be a source of happiness and not a source of anger and sadness. Write your haiku from the heart and don't count your syllables. Be creative, be inspired and let the haiku spirit flow ... and not necessarily the 17 counted syllables.
Have a good week. Enjoy ... and be creative.
I'm reposting my comments here as I mistakenly posted under the "support" prompt. One of my favorite haiku poets is Basho, too. He was a master at the true spirit of haiku, which is intended to have profound meaning yet on the surface seeming so "simple." I gave as an example one of his haiku: "Along the mountain road, somehow it tugs at my heart, a wild violet." Nature becomes a metaphor for something more meaningful, the interpretation of which is left to the imagination of the readers. This is the beauty of haiku. It is free-spirited and, yes, a source of happiness and enlightenment. So let creativity flow and imagination blossom. :)
I understand that too.. a haiku isn't simple.. not at all.. Thank you for the support.
Thanks for the link, Grace :) I'll peruse it.
It's been over 2 years since I've been writing haiku, Kris. And I find myself to still be a learner haijin. Reading you and the many others that drop by here every other week, I find my writing improves and knowledge as well. This is the first time I've heard of the Kanshicho style of Basho's. I don't think of the syllable count as a restriction, rather I see it as a challenge. Yes, it's not strong in Western world, and many here at the heights, on your tackle and other memes do write without the syllables restriction. I've read them, and I do love each thought behind a haiku, which is expressive in its own way.
Wish you a creative week too, Kris. I would be coming by on Tuesday perhaps for the tackle.
Thank you for the musing, Loredana :) I've much to read, and much to learn..
Thank you for your spirit of upholding the true form of haiku, Leo. I am all for it.
In the short space of time that I started my haiku journey, I notice that the words used by the great masters of haiku are usually simple, almost seems effortless. But, we all know from our experience that it takes many drafts to let it appear so.
Haiku is also without judgement - that is, you don't impose your feelings on the experience that you are feeling on to your readers - you suggest, "show", don't tell - and let your readers feel for themselves from the words you have expressed. A successful haiku will let the reader have that "aha" moment - an epihany.
On the 5-7-5 syllable count - in a way, it does inhibit our creative flow. From what I read on line, 5-7-5 applies more to the Japanese characters but I take it as a challenge to discipline myself with the 5-7-5 syllable word count. I admire how MMT, Grace, Becca, Gemma, etc can write such great haiku keeping in line with the 5-7-5 syllable count. But on some other sites where they are not so strict, and most of the competition websites, they do not impose this syllable count - that's where I can go haywire!! Hehe!
The weekly prompts that you provide helps, Leo. Thank you so much for this. And, I think it's great that you took the time to point out to us when we go astray! ;) Keep on doing what you're doing!
Asni
Very important delightful discussion here. Thank you all the haiku poets. I am very new in writing Haiku. I learnt from this site and reading Haiku from you all. I found an interesting article on wikihow, I think, some time back, and the confusion between Haiku and pseudo haiku has become clear to me from that time. Cutting word and contrast I learnt there.
Hi Leo
I've had 117 Spam's here from May 31 to July 5.
So I had to turn Word Verification back on.
I'll be trying it off again in the Fall. Sorry.
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