HAIKU FROM 55 DEGREES NORTH
Essay 1999
last updated 2nd July 2000.
In this essay I want to concentrate on the joy of sharing haiku
within families.
All four of our children have written haiku in the past few
years. Some of which , I think, are excellent and all of which
accurately reflect situations of experience. They are good family
snapshots for the album of our experience, helping us to recall
some of the joys and challanges of the past few years.
The haiku above was written by eldest daughter following the birth
of Joshua (our first grandchild).and was published in Feb 12th
2000 by Mainichi Daily News Tokyo.
A proud father, and therefore not totally unbiased, I think it is an outstanding Haiku poem.
Firstly, it is very brief,only four words and only 6 syllables in all.
The 5-7-5 structure is a good rule of thumb but does not need to be slavishly followed.
Here a simple selection of only a few syllables contain a wealth
of images. The words chosen each have special quality.
The central pivot word 'still' is a capable of at least two meanings,
both of which are in the ethos of haiku.It can mean 'still' as
in 'at rest' and also 'still' in as in 'waiting to happen'.
A few years ago, before being familiar with haiku poetry, I wrote a ps
on a letter to Sam Yada Cannarazzoi, . It was intended as a statement but Sam commented on the picture it painted for him.
I suppose it was almost a haiku
the wind blows still.
The expression FIRST STEPS is also very full of meaning and can be understood in different ways.
UNTAKEN is also good..Much better than yet to be taken, or yet to walk ,or some such. It includes this but also is rich in meaning.
The way in which we 'take things' when we step on them.
Here are a few more of Miranda's Haiku from 1999.
damp snowsuit
holds baby's shape
long after the walk
home made jumper
baby stretches
to fill it
Miranda's husband David wrote the following haiku last month describing
me !
I can't remember the context but it is a good example of humor and word play in a haiku form.
hostile company
canon replies
with grace
My second daughter Dorcas has written -
new clothes
for winter branches
heavy with snow
and her husband Kevin wrote this one at the top of the mountain
cold bottoms
hot coffee
one cup
four people
big orange ball
drops low
welcome night
My elder son sent me this haiku the other day, by E-mail. Elsewhere
I pointed out that haiku poetry is a creative medium especially
suited to electronic communication.
Thinking of Father
Remembering Fruitless fishing trips
no less important for empty nets...
We had some very happy times fishing the lochs and rivers of Scotland
for brown trout but caught less than a handful over the years.
The scenery and the sunsets were superb, the soakings memorable,
and the bonding was worth it !
.My younger son, not the best letter writer (!) sent us some very
interesting haiku by E-mail,when he was away from home last year.It
proved an excellent and therapeutic way of communicating deep
feelings.
music folder
mocked until heard
Satisfaction
confident learner
sierra 2 litre
dented pride
I would encourage all families to try this simple exercise.
Write a haiku today on any subject and share it with others
in your family.
Whatever the topic, structure or length, be positive and find
something good to commend in what is shared .This might just open
a new and exciting way of sharing and building up strong family
relationships for the days to come.
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