It was an ordinary day. The cover of my Sunday newspaper's 16-page letter-size magazine insert for January 7th is titled "Year in Review...The Haiku Edition." Ever hear of Haiku? Haiku is a short three-line poem that uses sensory language to capture a feeling or image. Haiku poetry was developed by Japanese poets. It is called Haiku since it was created in Japan and originally was called "haikai no ku" which means "light verse." Eventually it was simplified to Haiku. The poem can be inspired by nature, a moment of beauty or a poignant experience. If you care to try writing your own Haiku poem, start by brainstorming ideas for the poem. Then, write the poem with strong details and detailed imagery. Make sure you read your result over and over and listen to how it sounds when you read it out loud. I guess I should tell you that there is a word limit for your Haiku poem. 17 syllables make up a Haiku poem; 5 syllables in the first line, 7 syllables in the second line and 5 more syllables in the third line. Now, you noticed I didn't say words, but syllables, since some words are comprised of more than one syllables. The word "syllables" would have 3 syllables to it; "since" would have 1 syllable and "words" would have 1 syllable. Haiku poems are so short due to it being a simple message that captures a simple feeling and leaves further reflection or imagination up to the reader. Boy, if I only had taken a class in high school that featured Haiku, I may have become an English teacher instead of a Photography teacher. You can add extra words and syllables to your poem, but then you can't call it Haiku. Your three lines do not have to rhyme unless you want them to. Your Haiku poem may or may not have a title; it's up to you. There are a few guidelines or suggestions I can give you based on what I have learned about Haiku such as: read plenty of examples, make sure you follow the syllable structure, describe your subject with sensory detail, use concrete images and descriptions, try and write your Haiku poem in the present tense and end with a surprising last line. The last item I just suggested is my hardest one to follow with my own Haiku poems. The newspaper's magazine featured four pages of Haiku poems with a paragraph telling you how to send your own Haiku poem to the newspaper to have it published. Every weekly edition of the magazine insert features at least one Haiku with some weeks having a full page of poems. A few samples I have found that I enjoy are:
A bird flies sweetly
on paper wings. Telling all
of my love for you.
An octopus went
off to war. It's a good thing
that he was well-armed.
A wise man once asked,
"Why, pray tell, is the sand wet?"
Because the sea weed.
An afternoon breeze
expels cold air, along with
the fallen brown leaves.
I have tried to write a few for my story today. I started with an idea for each poem, attempted to describe my subject with sensory detail, use concrete images and descriptions and make sure each line had the proper amount of syllables; 5-7-5 for a total of 17. Hurrah, Haiku! Don't judge my Haiku too strongly until you try one yourself. Send one to me if you care. Here goes:
"Warmth" by LDub
The sun on my face
sheds light upon my cold brow
memories of warmth.
"Untitled" by LDub
A covering snow
blankets the earth with its cold
sleeping flowers dream.
"Awaken" by LDub
Your gentle soft kiss
warms my heart with summer dew
awakens my love.
"Your Thoughts" by LDub
Comments on my blog
welcome words that make me think
bringing thoughts of joy.
It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
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