poetry Poetry Prompt 2 - HAIKU

[AC Benus]

.

Poetry Prompt  2 – Haiku

Let's Write a Basho-style Haiku!

 

It's arguable that Haiku is now the most popular set form of verse in the English language. Today more Haiku are written around the world than Sonnets and all the other forms put together.

Haiku, or Hokku, arose out of Tanka and a variation on that form. The natural way in which the five lines of Tanka can be broken into strophes of three and two lines, in either combination, was known as Renga, or linked verses. These witty poems, which often took the form of question and answer, were light and popular entertainment.

That all changed with a Gay genius. Basho Mastsuo (1644-1694) spent his life sequestered with the men he loved, first with the teenager with whom he was raised almost as a brother within a samurai family, and then later as a lay Buddhist monk with several men who formed his acolytes and partners.     

In the summer of 1684 (when he was forty years old), he set out with his partner Chiri (who was thirty-six) to see the country. These adventures resulted in the flowering of his poetry and the widespread dispersal of his brand of Haiku. Later, his most influential travel collection of verse was finalized the year he died as Oku no Hosomichi, or A Narrow Path through Open Country. Its posthumous publication in 1702 ensured his poetic immortality.    

So, Basho's form was a serious attempt to redact out the subjective view of the poet, and in this regard he was influenced by Zen thought that the "I" is an illusion. Within a very limited form he tried to capture the corporal impressions of an event, and trusted that the reader would insert his or her own emotions into what they were shown. By corporal I mean the bodily senses: sight, smell, touch, taste, and hearing. His most famous Haiku is this:

 

Furu ike ya

Kawazu tobikomu

Mizu no oto.

 

Which translates literally as:

 

Old pond over

A frog jumps

The water's sound.

 

There is a particular anthology of one hundred English language versions of those eight simple Japanese words, and all of them are different, and all of them are in proper Haiku form.

The Haiku is based on a three-lined structure, and has the following syllables: 5,7,5. Like all Japanese poetry and traditional lyrics, a seasonal word is essential. In the frog poem, the frog is a symbol of summer. Another summer poem that illustrates his totally subjective style is this one from Oku no Hosomichi:

 

In complete silence,

A cicada's voice alone

Shakes the temple stones.

 

The Prompt: write two Haiku. One inspired by a sight you witnessed outdoors, in a secluded patch of nature (either in your yard, a city park, or the great untamed wilderness). And a second one inspired by an urban sight (something that catches your eye on the street), or that happens indoors. You must be true to the form and include a seasonal word within both poems, but remember, words like 'surfboard' and 'bug spray' speak of summer just as much as 'frog' and 'cicada' do. Think outside the box and just use a sight that speaks to the season in the part of the world you are right now. 

To be a true Haiku, do not use words or concepts like "I," "my," "mine," etc. Stick to plain scene painting, for if the sight moved you, it has the potential to move others too. 

 

 

_  

 

 

 

Edited April 28, 2021 by AC Benus

[Irritable1]

Ok, I don't know why it seems so difficult compared to a tanka! It's like those two extra lines last month have ruined my discipline completely. I've had to write one "personal" haiku  just to limber up.

Edited October 2, 2014 by Irritable1

[AC Benus]

Ok, I don't know why it seems so difficult compared to a tanka! It's like those two extra lines last month have ruined my discipline completely. I've had to write one "personal" haiku  just to limber up.

Right, these are harder. I agree

[Irritable1]

Finally managed to get in gear... who's next???

[Jaro_423]

Such an interesting post on Haiku, Al. I'm very impressed with your information. Thanks for the inspiration. Will get busy!

[Aditus]

Finally managed to get in gear... who's next???

Me.  I didn't have a link when I wrote this  Now I have.

Edited October 5, 2014 by aditus

[AC Benus]

Such an interesting post on Haiku, Al. I'm very impressed with your information. Thanks for the inspiration. Will get busy!

Thanks for your comment, and for your participation!!! 

Me.

Can't wait to check it out!

[Rano]

Was wondering what happened to the poetry prompts Well, back to the drawing/writing board. Thanks for an enlightening lesson on the Haiku!

[Renee Stevens]

Don't forget to share a link to your responses in here!  I can't feature them in the blog if I can't find them!!!

[Rano]

Don't have a place elsewhere to post my attempts (yet,) but here goes:

 

1. In a secluded patch of nature

 

Butterflies flying –

 

Here, there and everywhere

 

On blossoms alight.

 

 

 

2. Urban Sight

 

Ice balls, topping cones,

 

Licking, slurping, tongue-twirling –

 

Small children delight.

 

[Jaro_423]

Very nice, Rano! Love the ice-cream one especially as we usually go for ice-cream treat on Friday and we missed it! Your haiku gave me a taste!

[Dolores Esteban]

I gave it a try.

 

https://www.gayauthors.org/story/dolores-esteban/gawritingprompts/51

[Rook Lee]

I didn't think I could get into these but reading these haiku's has really made me think. I really like these so far!

Here is mine. Spent the entire day learning what a haiku was, sad since I lived in Japan for several years and never heard of them. But all well, learn something new everyday.

https://www.gayauthors.org/story/rook-lee/prompt/2

[Irritable1]

Nice job, Rano! Even a nice clean bonus rhyme! I love it!

[AC Benus]

Such an interesting post on Haiku, Al. I'm very impressed with your information. Thanks for the inspiration. Will get busy!

Thank you, Jaro! I am a poet first, and prose dabbler second  

[AC Benus]

Was wondering what happened to the poetry prompts Well, back to the drawing/writing board. Thanks for an enlightening lesson on the Haiku!

Thanks Rano. We are shooting for a fresh poetry prompt to appear towards the beginning of every month. If you have any ideas, or a have a form of set verse that you have always wondered about, please feel free to shout it out.

 

And naturally, that goes for everyone! I love a challenge too. 

Edited October 3, 2014 by AC Benus

[AC Benus]

 

Don't have a place elsewhere to post my attempts (yet,) but here goes:

 

1. In a secluded patch of nature

 

 

Butterflies flying –

 

Here, there and everywhere

 

On blossoms alight.

 

 

 

2. Urban Sight

 

 

Ice balls, topping cones,

 

Licking, slurping, tongue-twirling –

 

Small children delight.

 

I agree with Jaro. I love the 'ice balls' - that's the exact kind of summer image i hoped to see, one that is a couple steps beyond the usual, LOL. To my mind that speaks of summer just as well as anything else. But, i have to say that when i read it, i pictured snow-cones as opposed to ice cream. Either way, both poems are great.  

Edited October 3, 2014 by AC Benus

[AC Benus]

 

I didn't think I could get into these but reading these haiku's has really made me think. I really like these so far!

Here is mine. Spent the entire day learning what a haiku was, sad since I lived in Japan for several years and never heard of them. But all well, learn something new everyday.

https://www.gayauthors.org/story/rook-lee/prompt/2

 

Rook Lee, i am really impressed with your hunting Haiku. I know there are lots of Tanka and other Japanese poems about hunting as a ritual of autumn, but i don't think i have ever seen one in English. It's a great idea.    

[AC Benus]

I gave it a try.

 

https://www.gayauthors.org/story/dolores-esteban/gawritingprompts/51

Dolores, I really like your spring cleaning poem. An open window is a great metaphor for the transition from season to season!

[Rano]

I agree with Jaro. I love the 'ice balls' - that's the exact kind of summer image i hoped to see, one that is a couple steps beyond the usual, LOL. To my mind that speaks of summer just as well as anything else. But, i have to say that when i read it, i pictured snow-cones as opposed to ice cream. Either way, both poems are great.  

 

Ta stax, Guys Again I must say that I don't regard myself as a poet at all, but you guys inspire me to participate, heh heh. BTW, Al, at first I've wanted to use cream instead of ice, but thought that "ice" would contrast better And yes, if I have any "ideas," I'll share it with you. Thanks for the "open door" invite

[Aditus]

I agree with Jaro. I love the 'ice balls' - that's the exact kind of summer image i hoped to see, one that is a couple steps beyond the usual, LOL. To my mind that speaks of summer just as well as anything else. But, i have to say that when i read it, i pictured snow-cones as opposed to ice cream. Either way, both poems are great.  

Ha, yes. I pictured snow-cones too at first, maybe because I'm closer to winter than summer here.

 

Oh, and I'd like trying to write a sonett some time.

Edited October 4, 2014 by aditus

[AC Benus]

Ha, yes. I pictured snow-cones too at first, maybe because I'm closer to winter than summer here.

 

Oh, and I'd like trying to write a sonett some time.

Aditus, I have been thinking about the steps needed to 'get there' with the Sonnet. Please stay tuned and Irri and i can work our way through the process. It might take a few prompts, but it should be fun trying.   

[Percy]

Late to the poetry prompt party again!

 

Haikus Here: https://www.gayauthors.org/story/percy/mygawritingprompts/7

[AC Benus]

Late to the poetry prompt party again!

 

Haikus Here: https://www.gayauthors.org/story/percy/mygawritingprompts/7

Thanks for joining, there's always room! 

[AC Benus]

Hi everybody,

 

I took the liberty of posting my own attempt at the challenge. Let me know what you think, and yes - the second one is meant to humorous 

 

https://www.gayauthors.org/forums/blog/513/entry-14908-poetry-prompt-2-haiku/

Edited October 9, 2014 by AC Benus