I have decided to set myself the challenge of writing a Japanese Haiku every day for the month of March. In Feudal Japan it was considered an art form and as worthy of praise as fine swordsmanship, if a member of the Samurai class could spontaneously produce poetry. Often a senior member of the court would throw a leaf from a bridge into a nearby stream and by the time it had reappeared the compositions from those participating would have to be read out. It was reckoned to be a fine method for developing what the great 16th century Zen Roshi Takuan Soho called ‘the unfettered mind.’
I shall be following the simple structure of three lines of five, seven and then five syllables (although I do not promise not to break those rules!) and I encourage readers to join me without a care in the world for how ‘good’ or ‘bad’ our attempts may be!
To get me started:
Past the next big wave,
Beyond the reach of the tide,
Taking me back home.
Mar 01, 2011 @ 11:40:15
I remember back the time when I was in high school. Our teacher gave us homework to provide five Japanese Haiku. I really had a hard time to search for words to fit its syllable.
Mar 01, 2011 @ 20:24:47
Well its great practice in disciplining our prose, even if we don’t take the rules too seriously!
Mar 04, 2011 @ 20:00:06
Is haiku easy to do?
Just have a go and you’ll see
its easy if you try.
Mar 05, 2011 @ 18:33:42
Very good work Rob,
Putting the pen to paper
Is the hardest part!
(My new hobby – talking to people in Haiku and seeing if they realize!)