Haiku

1. An unrhymed Japanese poem recording the essence of a moment keenly perceived, in which nature is linked to human nature. It usually consists of seventeen onji. (sounds)

A foreign adaptation of 1, usually written in three lines totaling less that seventeen syllables.[1]         

The haiku poet bring you to the moment, and shares it. She does not discuss her feelings, or explore your reaction. It is what it is. By taking you to that place, and that time, you share the experience directly – the “haiku moment”.

Basho (Matsuo Munefusa (1644-94) was the first great haiku poet. He revolutionized and popularized the form. Basho brings a zen sensibility to his haiku, and is the preeminent of the zen-monk poets. Zen teaches the student to be fully and completely in the moment, to burn consciousness until there is nothing left, not even ashes.[2]

snowy morning-

one crow

after another                            - Basho

Classic Japanese haiku deal with a concrete place and time, and usually contain a season-word, or kigo. For example, in the mountains the bloodroot blooms at the end of March (at least at my altitude it does). So to include bloodroot in the haiku puts the time exactly then.   Cherry blossoms are a sign of early Spring…

Blowing down the street,

Not a swirl of snow -

Cherry blossoms                         rpalmeri, Spring ‘04

The haiku poet can also comment on the human condition directly.

now I see her face

the old woman, abandoned,

the moon her only companion        -Basho

There is no discussion of the woman’s feelings or Basho’s reaction to them. There is no need. You see her too, don’t you?

Basho could put you into a place and time, but also put you into all places and all times- with 17 syllables!  Can you appreciate the zen sensibility in the next haiku

stillness--

sinking into the rocks,

cicadas' cry                                -Basho

One more from Basho, just to see that there is humor in haiku as well.

Bush warbler

shits on the rice cakes

on the porch rail                      -Basho

To see and hear the bush warbler, click on the link to the left, Bush Warbler …

In future posts, I’ll show you the different sensibilities of two other great classic haiku masters, Buson, the painter, and Issa, the common man.

If you would like to follow up on haiku, I suggest The Haiku Handbook by William J. Higginson. To order it, click on the link in the “my links” section.