Begin with Nature's Magic, Haiku
Photo by Diana Ewell Engel
Where do I go to release heartache or to breathe after a stressful day? My backyard. Watching the late day light mellow the cedars to gold and listening to the call and response of swooping blackbirds and robins diminishes my problems.
Likewise, haiku arouses a peaceful and larger perspective by transporting us into the wonder of nature. These three-line poems raise the blinds, revealing a surprising scene unfolding before us and often, the poet is present and participating.
If you are hesitant about reading poetry, try haiku. Haiku will invite you in, and before you know it, you may find yourself enthralled. Then, haiku will say, “See. Don’t you like poetry?” and smile. Just kidding. Of course, haiku won’t speak, but if it could, this is what it would say : ).
Seventeenth-century Japan is the birthplace of haiku, and Matsuo Basho, considered the supreme master of haiku, brought haiku to the height of its beauty and form. However, haiku is not limited to Asia. Many Western poets write haiku as well.
What is Haiku?
A haiku keeps to a specific syllable count: Five syllables in the first line, seven syllables in the second, and five syllables in the third. There is room for some flexibility, as you will see with Basho’s 4-6-4 haiku.
Not only is the haiku an inviting poetic form to read, but it is also fun to write. This is a good place to begin our poetry adventure. We will be focusing foremost on imagery, the most essential element of good verse, and haiku encapsulates a moment or breath of images.
How to Write Haiku
To write a haiku, bring your mental focus to images—that is sights, smells, tastes and/or tactile touch. In traditional haiku, these images are from nature.
My haiku, written after seeing a heron standing on an uprooted tree over a lake:
autumn mists the lake the heron's double image framed by flaming trees -Diana Ewell Engel
Photo by Diana Ewell Engel
Here is an example from the acclaimed haiku master, Basho: on a bare branch a crow has alighted… autumn nightfall -Basho Notice the dramatic picture of the black crow landing on the stripped branch of late autumn, how this bird becomes autumn nightfall. In haiku, nature transforms before our eyes. Notice too, Basho’s musical language: how he uses the alliteration of “b” sounds with “bare branch” and the alliteration of “a” with “alighted” and “autumn.” There’s more: He repeats “r” sounds, as well as “a” and “i” sounds within his words, examples of consonance and assonance. The images, music of the chosen words, and the crow’s transformation into night create a beautiful poem.
Today’s Book Pick
Haiku Poetry Ancient & Modern: An Anthology compiled by Jackie Hardy. Tuttle Publishing, 2002.
This anthology is a delightful and beautifully illustrated compilation of haiku!
During this season of fall color, try writing a haiku. Don’t worry about sticking to a strict syllable count, if you find that aspect frustrating. Simply keep yourself to three brief lines. After all, many Western practitioners have successfully varied the traditional haiku. Next week, we will ponder two and four line versions.
Writers, share your haiku in the Comment bubble just below; I look forward to reading your verse : ). Readers, share haiku that you’ve come across and which resonate with you. I love reading new verse!
Next week, we will explore more haiku and some modern variations of this traditional poetic form. Until then, happy reading and writing!