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Haikus? I wrote my first haiku called "First Haiku" at the end of August and there were three friendly queries as to whether it was actually a haiku or not. So, I decided to enter it in a Haiku contest in a Poetry site. When I found out that two entries were required, I wrote another haiku called "Seasons". First Haiku First love ‒ Stolen glances Nervous thrills First date ‒ Romantic dinner Separate bills First heartbreak ‒ Copious tears Body shudders First recovery ‒ New girl Heart flutters Seasons Summer ‒ Sandy beaches Barbecue Autumn ‒ Forested hills Golden hue Winter ‒ Stunning vistas White cover Spring ‒ Robin redbreast Colourful flower Guess what? They are both Honourable Mention Winners. Encouraged, I continued to write:  Sentinel ‒ Motionless Up on lofty perch A flurry of colours Amongst the flowers - Butterfly This was a finalist in another contest. By now you must be wondering what haiku is all about. From what I have gathered, a few hundred years ago, some Japanese poets while enjoying the beauty of the cherry blossoms, and most probably inebriated from drinking all that sake, decided to have a contest to see who can best describe the scenery in 3 lines and they call it haiku. That’s why early Japanese haikus are mostly about the seasons and nature. Conjuring up an image in 3 short lines ‒ that is what makes writing haiku so challenging! But now, there is a lot of confusion about haiku. Some think only clear and simple words should be used while others prefer big words and metaphors; some think that the 17 syllables in the 5,7,5 format should be strictly followed but others think that haiku in English should only be between 10 to 12 syllables. As for me, I prefer to write the way I like. After all, there is no bad poetry, just poetry that I like and poetry that others like. Winter Ethereal ‒ Fluffy white swirling around barren tree September Rain Silvery splashes ‒ Howling winds swirling Tree ‒ tops dancing Purity Purity ‒ White lily in the spring rain This is also an Honourable Mention winner. So, out of 7 haikus that I wrote, there were 3 Honourable Mention winners and 1 finalist. Not bad for a haiku novice. Maybe one day, I will win at least a bronze medal. Lee Live today as if it is your last For tomorrow will soon be in the past |
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9/24/2008 11:52 am |
Lee!  How wonderful! I like what you said about there is no bad poetry! Thanks for putting that into prospective for me. I was enjoying a poem and someone said--it didn't have continuity? Now I know--If I like it--it's a good poem! Thank you my friend! YOUR Always a WINNER To ME!!  ~Spunky~
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Lee! How wonderful! I like what you said about there is no bad poetry! Thanks for putting that into prospective for me. I was enjoying a poem and someone said--it didn't have continuity? Now I know--If I like it--it's a good poem! Thank you my friend! YOUR Always a WINNER To ME!! ~Spunky~ Thank you. Poetry comes under creative writing and therefore is highly subjective so how can it be classified as bad? Lee Live today as if it is your last For tomorrow will soon be in the past
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Hi Jo, Thank you. Lee Live today as if it is your last For tomorrow will soon be in the past
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Hi flakes, Hey, great haiku!  I wanted to enter one contest but got caught in all the other contests.  Too interesting to ignore.Lee Live today as if it is your last For tomorrow will soon be in the past
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Hi RC, Thank you. I am glad that you enjoy my poetry but I am really a novice. Lee Live today as if it is your last For tomorrow will soon be in the past
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Hi Shanda, Thank you for your comment. The reason given why haiku in English should be shorter than 17 is because English words tend to have less syllables; so by following the 5-7-5 rule, the haiku becomes too wordy and cumbersome. Examples are sake has two syllables in Japanese and kirei has three. I agree that poetry is much easier without rules (free style) is much easier. I particularly find the iambic pentameter for English sonnets very distressing.  Lee Live today as if it is your last For tomorrow will soon be in the past
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