now the leaves get more of the sky
than just sunlight
Published by Dave Bonta
I live in an Appalachian hollow in the Juniata watershed of central Pennsylvania, and spend a great deal of time walking in the woods. My books of poetry include FAILED STATE: HAIBUN, ICE MOUNTAIN: AN ELEGY, BREAKDOWN: BANJO POEMS, and ODES TO TOOLS.
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11 Comments
Another haiku:
the locusts look as if
they’ve been eaten by locusts:
leafminers
Actually, I studied Japanese literature in college, though I’ll admit I wasn’t a very good student. Nevertheless, I’m aware of the use of kigo, and also that many contemporary haikujin don’t consider them important. It all depends on what you’re interested in doing with the form. I personally don’t consider my haiku very good, but I don’t think their lack of kigo is the main problem.
No problem. Just now tempted to ask you what, then, the difference could be between a haiku and an ordinary 3-line free-verse poem. Please don’t feel obliged to respond, if it’s difficult. It’s just that there are discussions about this in several other fora, and I’m curious as to how one who is not a member of those fora (at least those I’m familiar with) thinks about this issue. Thanks for replying to my previous comment. 🙂
Quite a lot of difference: the almost complete lack of metaphor/simile, the haiku surprise, the pause… the three-line arrangement is actually kind of trivial (and unnecessary). Brevity of course is key. My haiku are generally too long and too didactic to be much good, I feel. They are written more as exercises than as a result of genuine, haiku insight — probably the most essential element of all.
now the leaves get more of the sky
Woodrat photohaiku 
Another haiku:
Have been writing haiku for many years. I notice you don’t use kigo. Just wondered if you are aware of this. 🙂
Actually, I studied Japanese literature in college, though I’ll admit I wasn’t a very good student. Nevertheless, I’m aware of the use of kigo, and also that many contemporary haikujin don’t consider them important. It all depends on what you’re interested in doing with the form. I personally don’t consider my haiku very good, but I don’t think their lack of kigo is the main problem.
Thanks for reading.
No problem. Just now tempted to ask you what, then, the difference could be between a haiku and an ordinary 3-line free-verse poem. Please don’t feel obliged to respond, if it’s difficult. It’s just that there are discussions about this in several other fora, and I’m curious as to how one who is not a member of those fora (at least those I’m familiar with) thinks about this issue. Thanks for replying to my previous comment. 🙂
Quite a lot of difference: the almost complete lack of metaphor/simile, the haiku surprise, the pause… the three-line arrangement is actually kind of trivial (and unnecessary). Brevity of course is key. My haiku are generally too long and too didactic to be much good, I feel. They are written more as exercises than as a result of genuine, haiku insight — probably the most essential element of all.
Thanks for taking the trouble to reply! I really appreciate it. 🙂
This is one of mine, with a kigo, written earlier this year —
wild sunflowers …
thinking of those days
when I was hungry
Looking forward to reading more of your poetry, haiku or not.
Ella