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Japanese Art, Friday, Period Two

This week, the students were meeting in the classroom again; the one with the low table and the cushions set out on the floor. There was paper supplied, and there were pens, rather than the bowls of mud or the large mallets from classes in the past.

"This week," Nathan greeted his class, "we're writing poetry. More specifically, we'll be writing haiku. Traditionally, a haiku consists of seventeen on, or syllables, in three phrases of five, seven, and then five. Haiku are mood poems, they don't need to rhyme and they don't use metaphors or similes, nothing is like anything, it just is. They're a moment captured, generally with two thoughts cut together with a third, and often use their imagery to portray a feeling by setting a scene.

"Some of the traditional Japanese rules of haiku are difficult to follow in English-- we don't exactly have a traditional compilation of seasonal words to draw from so that somewhere in the poem we can make a reference to the time of year, for example. But the rules tend to be a little more relaxed in modern haiku, even in Japan they might not strictly count their syllables or use imagery from nature, and it's only a fairly recent perception that the things spoken of in a haiku must be the ordinary and everyday, things that can be observed easily and regularly. Art and language both evolve, and by extension, so too does an art that consists purely of language. So with that in mind... write some haiku. It can be about life on the island, about something from home, or even something you read in a book or saw on television. Try to capture a moment, and to follow at least enough of the rules to make it at least nominally recognizable as haiku, but remember that in the end, this poem is yours, and do with it whatever feels right."

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With feeling.

Merrill

Nathan talks of art
Explains ancient poetry
Written in Japan.

Haiku might look tough
It just captures a feeling
Really not that hard.

This is a haiku
Five syllables, seven, five,
Strung together thoughts.

But no, really, it's not all that difficult. Traditional haiku is really just a touchstone for English language haiku, in part because of the evolution of language, and in part because even Japanese syllables don't parse quite the same as English ones do. An on isn't exactly a syllable either, it's just the closest translation to the word we've got.

So, don't sweat it. Just capture a feeling in seventeen syllables, preferably without using simile or metaphor.

He's here, of course, and writing his own haiku. In English, mostly so that he can use it as an example for anyone in class who might be struggling, though he's tempted to give it a translation and put a brush to paper with it later, as well.

A conversation
of the perfect blossom and
life in every breath

Hannibal dropped by, looked in, and smiled. "Poetry this week?" he asked.

"Poetry this week," Nathan confirmed. "We can't sit around with our hands in the mud every week, after all."

Even if he actually rather enjoyed doing that, too.

"We would ruin our manicures," Hannibal said, gravely and not at all serious. "Have you done calligraphy yet?"

"Next week," Nathan replied with a little grin. "I wanted to give them something to write first. Though I don't think any of them can read kanji, so it could be an interesting exercise in adapting the art form for an English-speaking group yet again."

"An interesting challenge," Hannibal said. "I prefer pens for Western calligraphy; brushes should prove interesting."

"I suppose the alternative would be to show them how to write... something," Nathan mused. "Let them pick a word, write it down for them, and let them run free."

That seemed a little less ridiculous than trying to get them to paint a Latin alphabet in a Japanese style. Maybe.

They'd use less paper, too.

"Translate their haiku, perhaps?" Hannibal suggested.

"That could work," Nathan mused. "Give them something to put on their wall, get them to write the English along the bottom so that they know what it actually says..."

"It would make it more relevant to them as well," Hannibal pointed out. "Assuming that they write their haiku about something they're interested in."

"In a class where they're given free rein to do basically whatever they like with their assignments, I can't imagine why they wouldn't write about something they've got an interest in," Nathan mused.

"They are teenagers," Hannibal pointed out.

"All the more reason for them to write about what they like," Nathan countered. "Or to not write anything at all, I suppose, if what you're trying to warn me of is teenage rebellion in action."

"Or to write their sullen rebellion in the words," Hannibal said. He shrugged. "Which of itself is a thing that interests them."

"And if that's the case, they really can't lose either way," Nathan decided. "So long as they're doing what they want, anyway."

Maybe they hated poetry. That was their problem, then.

Hannibal nodded in agreement. "So, everybody wins."

"Everybody wins," Nathan agreed with a chuckle. "But I still have to translate their poems for them if we want to do calligraphy next week."

"I can help, if you like," Hannibal said. He wasn't sure how much knowledge of the written language Nathan had. "If you'd like to visit, I can show you my library." And perhaps his armor. Maybe.

Nathan's armor was better.

He had a slight bias.

Though his was still back in Japan, on display in the home he shared with Taka and her family. So...

"I am quite interested in that library of yours," he conceded, flashing a brief grin. "We'll have to work out a time that works for us both, I suppose."

"Monday," Hannibal suggested. "You realize I'll expect to feed you as well," he added with a smile.

Nathan chuckled a little at that.

"If you insist, I certainly won't turn down the invitation," he decided. "Monday works just fine for me, thank you Dr. Lecter."

"You're very welcome." Hannibal gave him a little bow. "Would you prefer Japanese food, American, or chef's choice?"

"Chef's choice, absolutely," Nathan chuckled. "I suspect that both cuisines in general have changed a fair bit since my time, in any case. I suspect I'll find myself pleasantly surprised by either."

"There's been quite a bit of other influences on each," Hannibal said, "although American food has changed more than Japanese. I'm certain I'll be able to come up with something, though." He smiled. "Any aversions or allergies?"

"None of the above," Nathan replied easily. "I like to keep an open mind when trying new things. Every now and again, I find myself pleasantly surprised."

... Nathan no.

Hannibal grinned. "I'll do my best to surprise you, then."

Hannibal, no.

If she's around this week.

Daphne is here and happily writing little haikus out on her notebook.

Help I wrote The Last Samurai haiku for my OCD threads.

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Japanese Art, Friday, Period Two

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