What IS Haiku Poetry?
What IS Haiku Poetry?Alternative Title: hokku
Haiku, unrhymed poetic form consisting of 17 syllables arranged in three lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables respectively. The haiku first emerged in Japanese literature during the 17th century, as a terse reaction to elaborate poetic traditions, though it did not become known by the name haiku until the 19th century.
You may not have heard of this style until now, but people publish whole books with this kind of content, and you can, too! Although that is true, you also can write it just to have a quick way to express yourself as things happen in your life, or you could use it to let your friends and family become more aware of how you think and feel. Let’s learn more!
History of the Haiku Form per
https://poets.org/glossary/haiku
Haiku began in thirteenth-century Japan as the opening phrase of renga, an oral poem, generally a hundred stanzas long, which was also composed syllabically. The much shorter haiku broke away from renga in the sixteenth century and was mastered a century later by Matsuo Bashō, who wrote this classic haiku:
An old pond!
A frog jumps in—
the sound of water.As the form has evolved, many of its regular traits—including its famous syllabic pattern—have been routinely broken. However, the philosophy of haiku has been preserved: the focus on a brief moment in time; a use of provocative, colorful images; an ability to be read in one breath; and a sense of sudden enlightenment.
Before we proceed, save this link for later when you can savor the contents. https://www.readpoetry.com/10-vivid-haikus-to-leave-you-breathless/
Introduction to Haiku – Examples
Note: this post was scheduled for a date in March, but that didn’t work! So, I’m publishing it again now and will let you muse over what color my hair is on any given day!
In Case You Didn’t Watch The Video
Count the Syllables in These Haiku Samples
The first is about loss during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Loss and Found
By Nancy (Ayanna) Wyatt
My heart – closed to Life –
Opens in the Spring Morning
Refreshed and singing.
Old Age
By Nancy (Ayanna) Wyatt
Old Age equals whiskers
Shockingly, for women, too!
Whatcha’ gonna do?
You know what you know
You say what you think and you
Do what you do well.
Bemoan not your fate
It belies expectation
If you have escaped.
Others breathe no more.
But you still have much to give.
Teach and share with love.
Fireflies
I shared this in the video but shall do so again, so you can see how it looks and how to write it. First, I made a video to use in teaching a class. Second, you’ll see it in standard poetry form.
By Nancy (Ayanna) Wyatt
From the dark emerge
One hundred flitting light forms
Flash surfing the air.
What we have here is
A singles bar for beetles
Species-specific.
They thrill each other
With chemiluminescence
Humans cry with joy.
Want to Practice “Haiku Poetry for Not-Poets” with Me?
We could have one or more Zoom classes to learn and practice. This would be fun! There are many approaches, including having me simply show you a picture or give you a word phrase (word prompts), and then you let your imagination run – keeping it clean and civil, of course.
If you’re interested, just email me at MyGetWellGuru@gmail.com and put “Request for Haiku Class” in the subject line. . First, you and I can have a free, initial chat to learn what you would like to accomplish and how I may help through the teaching or practice of Haiku. I call them “Sip & Share Sessions on Zoom. I can teach just one person at a time, or we can create a session for you and your friends, family, and/or co-workers, and other associates.
Let’s Do It!
Do It the Write Way! Let My Fingers Do Your Talking!
