Haiku - A Basic Understanding

Haiku In English A Basic Understanding and Workshop -Vatsal Shah

Origins : 

 





Haiku originated in Japan in the 15 th century in a very different form than today.

Modified through centuries.

Renga- Haikai- Hokku- humourous poems/ dealing with nature/ dealing with day to day life incidents/ seasons/ juxtaposition of two contradictory things with a pivotal middle line.

Edo Period (1600-1868) had masters such as Basho, Buson, Issa. Though read independently now, these are largely hokkus or classical Haikus and are part of a larger poem.

Modern Haiku started in 1890s as an independent 3 line poetry,

by Masaoka Shiki.

Structure     





Haiku consist of 3 lines.

First line usually contains 5 syllables.

Second line is longer with 7 syllables.

Third line again contains 5 syllables.

Syllables in Japanese language are much different than English and translated Japanese Haiku many times looses the syllable count.

It is upto the writer to follow the 5-7-5 syllable format or break free from it.

A lot of American Haiku writing societies have broken free from the 5-7-5 format.

Syllable 



 

Part of a word usually containing a vowel sound. `Cheese' has one syllable, `but-ter' two and `mar-ga-rine' three.

You can use a syllable counter on the internet till you master syllable counting. www.wordcalc.com, etc.

Do not let syllable counting stop you from writing Haikus.

Themes: 

Nature & Seasons:



Nature: leaves, flowers, butterflies, insects, stones, moon, horizon, sky, river, stars…



Seasons: Autumn, Summer, Cherry Blossoms indicate spring, Snow indicates Winter. Scorching Sun – Summer.

Take a walk in a garden or wilderness, notice the natural world around you, hear the sounds, observe details, feel and then write.

Write about your experiences of the ongoing season.

Nature and Seasons Examples summer night– insect voices repeat the same songs summer evening fanning myself with a paper moon autumn morning— repainting our bedroom the color it was

Theme: Day to Day Life Write about everyday things.

Write about your feelings and experiences.

Haiku must paint a mental ‘image’ in the readers mind.

Examples: Such boredom after the fireworks In a backyard two women folding sunlight into sheets In the mirrors on her dress little pieces of myself

Theme: Philosophical   

Write about your philosophy of life. Whatever you believe in.

Evocative. Making the reader ‘think’.

Giving a jolt. Breaking the notions/ beliefs. Awakening the reader to the harsh reality/ truth.

Examples: In Life's Little Pleasures, Seek, Your Infinite Existence.

Days Flow And Years Trickle Into End-less Recycle

First Attempts: Haikus by me (Not following the 5-7-5 syllable). Year: 2012 The monsoon whiled away in silly pursuits, I now sit to write poetry Lost oppourtunity.

Anti-Ageing Cream, Old Lady, Died Young.

On the club Walking Track Daily, Known Faces But all Strangers.

For the Snacks vendor, At the Scenic Waterfall, No Beauty.

In Haiku, Friend Adviced, Keep Unfinished Business.

Initial Haikus by me: When Unhappy, Faking Happiness, Unreal becomes Real.

Best Revenge: Forgiveness Dad asks Of What Use My Stories?

I tell him My Stories are What Uses Us. Balloon at traffic signal, Made two kids happy, One who bought, one who sold!

5-7-5 Format Haikus by me Haiku: hear silently, Mighty sea roar resonating, Inside tiny conch shell.

Earth's welcoming lap, Exhausted sky resting awhile, Far off Horizon.

Seeing soaring eagle, Sprightly sportive sparrow never, Suffers depression!

That poor people's kids, Don't sleep hungry, God sells himself, Amidst market-place!

Wooden window-frame, Viewing lush green blooming trees, Felt bit nostalgic.

Quick Exercises in Haiku Writing: Seasons: Complete the Haiku:

“Autumn realizes, ----------------------------------------” Or “Scorching Summer Sun, ----------------------------------------------”

Haiku on this picture: “----------------Moon sleeping silently hidden, -------------------”

Haiku on any one of these lines: 



રરતત નર કયયય ખબર છર , કર તર સરત જતય સમયનત બયયડ એમબરસરડર છર ..!! हर वक़्त नयया चचेहरया, हर वक़्त नयया वजजद आदममी नचे आईनचे कक, हहै रत मम डयाल ददयया हहै ..