Conversation started Today
2:13pm
Hi John,
Can I interview you with a few questions and put it here on my website: http://tgb.snack.ws/
3:29pm
Sure, I'll go the first step and see how we go, if you like. . .
4:08pm
Ok, here are the questions:
1. Introduce yourself to everyone!
2. Tell us how to write a haiku.
3. (I will try to follow the instruction and write one, then you can point out the right and wrongs of the poem, does that sound fun?)
6:05pm
Here we go:
1. Introduce yourself to everyone!
Once I was a musician and then became a potter and then became a shop keeper. Nowadays writing and photography are my main concerns.
2. Tell us how to write a haiku.
There's more to haiku than meets the eye. That would be the first thing to always remember. After that its all about deciding to use all of your senses and forgeting yourself. A good way to do this is to go for a haiku walk! After a while you will notice that you are enjoying the outdoor adventure and that cares are receding as you come to your senses.
Now. Ask yourself: "What is happening here?" Keep asking this to yourself, especially when you catch a glimpse of something interesting. For example:
paw print
on the ice
just one
In this haiku nothing has been explained, other than what has been noticed. And yet... The longer we consider the words the more they seem to slip away as a dream unfurls. It is this dream which a haiku evokes that does the work of revelation. The less the words do to achieve that effect the better.
In our example haiku you will reckon that it is probably wintertime. Placing haiku in their seasonal setting is the way to go. With such a brief text the time of year will greatly enhance your haiku's scenario. You will also notice that the example haiku is free form. Outside of Japan, where haiku originated, counting beats is not so formal. You will find that your haiku will flow with its own rhythm quite naturally.
Haiku can be found everywhere, any time. You may find that you never look back once you begin. There is much more to learn about haiku but this will get you started. Good luck!
3. (I will try to follow the instruction and write one, then you can point out the right and wrongs of the poem, does that sound fun?)
Over to you. . .
6:21pm
Ok, here it comes:
Red leaves
on wet grass
scattered
7:44pm
Well done - you've broken the ice with haiku! And it may well be rainy autumn day for there are red leaves on the wet grass.
Let's wonder about form. Because haiku is so succinct most of the protocols of written text can be usefully omitted. To present haiku text all in lowercase, reserving uppercase for proper nouns (out of respect) is a popular solution to the intrusion of superfluous grammatical distractions:
red leaves
on wet grass
scattered
Dropping the capital convention leaves a tactical ambiguity at the perceived beginning of haiku (for the same reason a full stop rarely finalises the end of a haiku). Haiku is not a sentence snipped into three lines, is the idea.
However, punctuation is an important part of the haiku toolkit. It is by using punctuation that we may split contrasting sections of a haiku for emphasis. Also, at these splits, pauses occur which allow our all-important haiku dream to assemble beyond the text's verbal delivery system. Notice the difference (for the sake of demonstration) if we add punctuation:
red leaves
on wet grass -
scattered
red leaves
on wet grass...
scattered
The use of 'scattered' puzzles the reader. For scattering is often an intention and we expect leaves to be unintentionally deployed - a random caprice of the wayward wind. Have children been playing? Is there an environmental artist at work? Or, it may simply be the allusion of careless nature reminding us that all things come to pass. Certainly the scene is shiny and colourful. But, with punctuation added more options of interpretation are sanctioned in your haiku's dream.
7:48pm
Thank you so much John, I will post this, this is very valuable!
8:01pm
It covers the basics quite well. Let me know if anything needs clarified and pop me the link when its up. Also, feel free to add these. . .
8:03pm
Already did!
8:12pm
Ok, it is online now: http://tgb.snack.ws/the-school-of-athens--pageid1
Tell me if it needs further editing
8:19pm
Just one important correction: "lower the case to show respect". That should read uppercase to show respect. The lowercase is to smooth the transmission of haiku 'television signals' into the readers dreaming space. Other than that a good synopsis. Nice job.
8:36pm
Oh, ok, I am onto it!
It is corrected now, thank you so much for sharing with us!
8:59pm
It was fun!
9:12pm
(Oh, just remembered; 'lower/upper-case' should read without the dash.)
Ms Z: Wow, this is fascinating! To show not to tell and lower the case to show respect, I think Haiku is so interesting because the poems are like puzzles for the readers to figure out what's happening by providing visual clues. I love it and hope you enjoyed it too. Why not have a walk and see what you can come up with! To see more of John's poems, visit here and here, if you are on Facebook, why not share your creations on John's Haiku page: Haiku Crossroads!
Ms Z: Wow, this is fascinating! It is indeed a rainy autumn scene right outside my window! To show not to tell and use uppercase to show respect, I think Haiku is so interesting because the poems are like puzzles for the readers to figure out what's happening by providing visual clues. I love it and hope you enjoyed it too. Why not have a walk and see what you can come up with! To see more of John's poems, visit here and here, if you are on Facebook, why not share your creations on John's Haiku page: Haiku Crossroads!