Returning from the 2011 Haiku North America conference held in Seattle August 3-7, I began to process the wealth of discussions and presentations on the past, present, and future of English-language haiku. How can anyone be so excited about such brief poems? Well, they may be brief, but there are many layers to haiku; it is so much more than the simple, short exercise that is forced on elementary school students by teachers who may or may not like poetry.
Importance of More than One Image in Haiku
Haiku is not all about counting syllables, not a statement, not just a description, not primarily for children, not strictly Zen Buddhist, but belongs to the world of poets everywhere, especially ones who like the challenge of creating something of value in a minimal number of words. In the most successful haiku, two images collide and create an awareness of something greater than the sum of its parts. The result could be an epiphany for the reader or a connection to a memory. A haiku should not be static; it should improve upon reading.
In this contemporary haiku by William Cullen Jr, as in most authentic haiku, there is more than one image. The haiku is read with a pause between the first line and the second two lines. There is a subtle suggestiveness in this poem as the shape of mist from the author's breath mirrors the full moon and the shine of the silver earring reflects back to the moon, also. This haiku first appeared in Frogpond, Vol. 29:1, 2006.
full moon
mist from my whisper
on her silver earring
English-language Haiku is 17 Syllables or Fewer
Does that mean that haiku is no longer a group of words shoved into 17 syllables? That's right! It never was. The original Japanese haiku of 5-7-5 in 17 syllables are shorter than 17 syllables in English. Therefore, English-language haiku are best at 17 syllables or fewer. Workshops, groups, and conferences promote the importance of juxtaposition between of two images and conveying the senses and seasons, among many other essential haiku traits, rather than focusing on counting syllables. Anyway, 17 syllables or fewer are accepted in most English-language haiku journals or haiku contests. However, Japanese haiku is most often written in a 5-7-5 form.
Traditional , Contemporary and Innovative and English-language Haiku
The first Western haiku poet I met, was David Burleigh from Northern Ireland, who lives in Japan. From his chapbook, "Winter Sunlight" published in 1992, I chose the haiku "after washing up" because this urban style of daily life expanded my expectations for haiku beyond petals, insects and lonely roads. The strong sense that it takes place in winter is apparent in the phrase "a cold cupboard." There is a sense of completeness at the end of one day and a hint of loneliness. This represents the importance of a seasonal reference in traditional and contemporary haiku.
After washing up
putting a warm plate back
in a cold cupboard
Next, let's look at two of the winners in The Haiku Foundation's 2011 HaikuNow! Contest. Francine Banwarth won first prize in the Contemporary category:
the river freezes . . .
silence is also
an answer
According to The Haiku Foundation founder and director, Jim Kacian, "My top prizewinner, penned by Francine Banwarth, contains a narrative element, certainly, but there is also a stop-motion strength to the image . . . The manner in which the phrase element hinges in two ways is expertly handled, and each reading is equally compelling."
Christopher Patchel took first prize in the Innovative category:
we turn turn our clocks ahead
Kacian comments on this haiku, "Christopher Patchel's almost slight one-liner is behind us almost before we realize how profoundly it realizes its goal. His repetition of the verb recapitulates the action described . . . . This poem not only arrested me---stopped time for me---but continued to bear fruit the more time I gave it."
These samples of complex haiku present a taste of the myriad possibilities for these poems. To find out more, look at several online journals such as The Heron's Nest for traditional and contemporary haiku and roadrunner for innovative haiku. Two of the major printed journals are Modern Haiku and Frogpond. In addition, the websites of The Haiku Society of America or Haiku Canada offer information about haiku and suggest quality haiku links.
References
Gurga, Lee. Haiku: A Poet's Guide, Lincoln, Illinois: Modern Haiku Press, 2003.
Higginson, William J., Harter, Penny. The Haiku Handbook: How to Write, Share, and Teach Haiku, New York: Kodansha America, 1985, 2010.
Carmen Sterba - Carmen Sterba has a B.A. in Far East Asian Studies and an M.A. in Literature. She is keen about Japanese history & Asian American ...
