fandomhigh | Creative Writing: Poetry, Lesson Two

Wednesday, November 2, 7:00PM FST

[Upon entering the room, students will notice that Professor Chaucer is seated at his desk, staring blankly out the window. Once several students have arrived, his attention is drawn to the class and he begins the lecture. His voice is rather softer than usual and he seem distracted.]

Today we'll discuss the haiku.

Haiku is one of the most important modes of Japanese poetry, a late 19th century revision by Masaoka Shiki of the old hokku, the opening verse of a linked verse form, haikai no renga. A traditional hokku consists of a pattern of approximately 5, 7, and 5 phonetic units which only loosely correspond to the syllables of Western languages.

While traditional hokku focused on nature and the place of humans in nature, modern haiku poets often consider any subject matter suitable, whether related to nature, an urban setting, or even a technological context. Where the old hokku avoided some topics such as romance, sex, and overt violence, contemporary haiku often deals specifically with such themes.

The old hokku required a long period of learning and maturing, but the new haiku is an "instant" form of brief verse that can be written by anyone from child to professional. Though conservative writers of modern haiku still keep closer to the old standards of hokku (some even using the traditional kigo or season word), the majority of present-day writers have dropped virtually all of the traditional standards, emphasizing personal freedom and pursuing ongoing experimentation, exploration and innovation in both form and subject matter.

Because of the great number of different views and practices today, it is impossible to characterize any current single style or format or subject matter as definitive "haiku." The term has broadened greatly in modern usage to cover any short verse descended in spirit from the reforms of Shiki. Nonetheless, some of the more common practices are:

1. Use of three lines written in five-seven-five English syllables;
2. Use of three (or fewer) lines of no more than 17 syllables in total;
3. Use of metrical feet rather than syllables. A haiku then becomes three lines of 2, 3, and 2 metrical feet, with a break or pause after the second or fifth;
4. Use of the "one deep breath" rule: the reader should be able to read the haiku aloud without taking a second breath.

Two examples of haiku:

The first soft snow!
Enough to bend the leaves
Of the jonquil low.

through the fingerprints
on my window-
cloudless blue sky.

The first is an example of traditional Japanese haiku, translated of course. The second is a more modern English-language composition.

In-Class Assignment: Write your own haiku.

***Assignment for Next Week: Continue reading Canzoniere. Choose one poem from the collection to bring to class next week -- be prepared to present your interpretation of the poem to the class.***

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ask questions about the lecture or assignment here.

Chihaya's hand goes up. "Excuse me, professor? What about the use of seasonal words and their use of natural imagery as being part of haiku?"

Thank you, Chihaya. You're right -- traditionally speaking, the haiku is normally limited to the subjects of the natural world and humanity. Hokku, from which haiku evolved, was especially focused on the inclusion of specific seasonal words. Traditional haiku also is generally focused on evoking the sense of a particular season, shown through the use of terminology related specifically to the season: a flower generally associated with springtime, the color of leaves as they appear in the fall, and so on.

Modern haiku is much looser in its requirements, and can be written about any topic desired.

"Professor, I'm a little confused. What exactly is the difference between haiku and senryu?"

Re: LECTURE: QUESTIONS

geoff-chaucer.livejournal.com - 2005-11-02 21:03 (UTC) - Expand

I feel very repressed by the shortness of the poem -- how does one truly express one's evocative emotions in such a brief selection of words?

geoff-chaucer.livejournal.com - 2005-11-02 21:19 (UTC) - Expand

Post your class-work assignment here.

Rory quickly scribbled down the following haiku:

This week has been hell
I still don't know what to do
Everything is wrong.

Edward has a bit of a problem with the metrical feet-thingee, but this is all he came up with (and yes, he likes to share his personal hygienic problems with the class, thankyouverymuch)

This is what Ed wrote:

living with scissors
makes me feel stupid and i
always drop my soap

*after writing several haikus in her notebook, Zero finally decides on one to hand in*

I had love in my
hands but something went wrong. Can
I not get it back?

After a few minutes of writing and scratching and writing and scratching, Chihaya finally hits on one and turns in it to Professor Chaucer.

a fingernail moon
all that is left in the sky
after the rainfall

Lisa shifts in her chair, blinks a few times, and finally writes this.

There is intrinsic
virulence in this sterile
space - we're compromised.

Life I thought I knew
Dissolves into nothingness
Memories of snow.

lip kisses dimly
praying depression drawls, dim
flawless menacing

Lee writes it slowly and with a quiet smile on his face.

the quiet of dusk
and her lips slightly curve up
flawless sun-kissed skin

sharply intricate
foggy waifs ramble proudly
starlit inmates dies

Kiki thinks for a while, scratching a few notes on the paper in front of her, and then at last produces:

Solemn, silent, still
A vast night sky broken by
Just my silhouette.

Re: ASSIGNMENT

valentine-tart.livejournal.com - 2005-11-03 15:29 (UTC) - Expand

Oh, murder most foul!
cursèd spite, that e'er I was
Born to make it right

Talk to the professor or your fellow students here.

Professor Chaucer? I'm sorry I wasn' here last week--I know it was the first lesson an' all, but I sort of, um, jumped into Locker 327 for science an' didn' get out until Sunday.