Summertime and the haiku is easy
Your words are rich and the rhythm is free
Some examples to savor:
*** “A Poppy Blooms” by Katsushika Hokusai (beyond 5-7-5)
I write, erase, rewrite
Erase again, and then
A poppy blooms.
*** “O snail” by Kobayashi Issa. (form be gone!)
O snail
Climb Mount Fuji,
But slowly, slowly!
*** “JANUARY” by Paul Holmes
Delightful display
Snowdrops bow their pure white heads
To the sun's glory.
*** “[The west wind whispered]” by R.M. Hansard
The west wind whispered,
And touched the eyelids of spring:
Her eyes, Primroses.
*** “[First autumn morning]” by Murakami Kijo
First autumn morning
the mirror I stare into
shows my father's face.
*** “[The neighing horses]” by Richard Wright (haiku round)
The neighing horses
are causing echoing neighs
in neighboring barns
*** “Childless woman” by Hattori Ransetsu (another beyond form)
The childless woman,
how tenderly she caresses
homeless dolls …
Please share your haiku here:
pretty white flower;
why do you smell like
feet in a gymnasium?
Issa is my favorite haiku writer; here is one of my favorites! I love it that he does what he wants with form. I read somewhere that Japanese haiku doesn't use the strict 5-7-5 and their syllables are different than ours. But it all works - and Issa is a master at making it work.
Don't worry spiders;
I keep house
casually
Pea pods snap open
My wife winces, startled -
The violence of food.
Mustard seeds crackle
But the oil is the wrong one
India is far from me.
(Thinking about dinner, I guess. Making dal with fresh green peas in it ).