Haiku 1 Emeralds
EMERALDS
serrated green leaves
across the cool forest path
cut through the sadness
As this is the start of a new Album and a different form of poetry to what I have shown on Flickr so far I thought I would do a small introduction to the poetry form of Haiku. From here on in we will just go with it and see what happens.
Haiku is a Japanese form of poetry that consists of three lines of poetry, traditionally containing 17 syllables, and this usually took the form of the first line being 5 syllables, the second 7 syllables and the third line, 5.
This major form of Japanese poetry flourished in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries and was written to strict rules. But as with all things, especially within creativity, and the gradual emigration of ideas to the West, the Haiku has adapted.
The English language can convey meaning in a more economical way, which can result in Haiku of fewer syllables, as well as the traditional format. There is more of a willingness to change and develop. The English syllable can be of varying length, providing more expression and possibilities with different meanings.
As with using less syllables in some cases, the standard 3 lines is not always used either. Sometimes only 2 lines are used. And in some cases, the use of space on the page is utilised in its design to explore and emphasise the meaning further.
Haiku has been described as the poem of the single breath. Where we experience the transiency of life. They are open-ended, pointing out the mystery, and depth of emotional experience, and the paradox that can govern our lives, the ambiguity, joy and sometimes futility of any given moment.
In some ways Haiku is a creative expression of what can come directly from the heart.
But this does not mean that intellectualisation and philosophical meanings cannot form part of the Haiku’s approach, or that further conventions cannot be expanded and develop.
Some western poets have explored other topics rather than traditional seasonal forms, and are using more modern ideas to broaden the poem’s form.
The present tense is often used however, to promote a sense of immediacy to the poem, highlighting that moment of insight, which is the Haiku’s main function.
Any poetical form conforms to some conventions, and with Haiku this often shows itself by keeping it simple grammatically, ie, no title, punctuation or capital letters.
I shall try and keep to some conventions, as this is entering into the spirit of Haiku. However, I have opted to give my Haiku’s a title, as well as a number, otherwise it will completely trash my filing systems and I won’t be able to find anything afterwards in my filing systems, let alone on Flickr! Not only that of course, but the use of images is a break away from convention itself, but my poetry has always been written in direct response to the image in front of me, as well as the experience of taking the image.
I have found them to be a delight and a challenge to write in the past, so I thought I would use the brain cells and write some more. It is also an opportunity to use some images I might not otherwise have considered, which gives rise to some interesting correlations. And I may or may not, use music to go with it. It has got to hit just as hard as the poem. I have found that the poetry form of Haiku seems to suit my poetry style, which is all about the many emotions we humans go through in life, in our pursuit of understanding, happiness, faith and peace.
On some of the works there might be a small introduction. But its power is in keeping it simple. So I shall have to curb my writing tendencies.
To see my other poetry and images, have a look at my website at:
Haiku 1 Emeralds
EMERALDS
serrated green leaves
across the cool forest path
cut through the sadness
As this is the start of a new Album and a different form of poetry to what I have shown on Flickr so far I thought I would do a small introduction to the poetry form of Haiku. From here on in we will just go with it and see what happens.
Haiku is a Japanese form of poetry that consists of three lines of poetry, traditionally containing 17 syllables, and this usually took the form of the first line being 5 syllables, the second 7 syllables and the third line, 5.
This major form of Japanese poetry flourished in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries and was written to strict rules. But as with all things, especially within creativity, and the gradual emigration of ideas to the West, the Haiku has adapted.
The English language can convey meaning in a more economical way, which can result in Haiku of fewer syllables, as well as the traditional format. There is more of a willingness to change and develop. The English syllable can be of varying length, providing more expression and possibilities with different meanings.
As with using less syllables in some cases, the standard 3 lines is not always used either. Sometimes only 2 lines are used. And in some cases, the use of space on the page is utilised in its design to explore and emphasise the meaning further.
Haiku has been described as the poem of the single breath. Where we experience the transiency of life. They are open-ended, pointing out the mystery, and depth of emotional experience, and the paradox that can govern our lives, the ambiguity, joy and sometimes futility of any given moment.
In some ways Haiku is a creative expression of what can come directly from the heart.
But this does not mean that intellectualisation and philosophical meanings cannot form part of the Haiku’s approach, or that further conventions cannot be expanded and develop.
Some western poets have explored other topics rather than traditional seasonal forms, and are using more modern ideas to broaden the poem’s form.
The present tense is often used however, to promote a sense of immediacy to the poem, highlighting that moment of insight, which is the Haiku’s main function.
Any poetical form conforms to some conventions, and with Haiku this often shows itself by keeping it simple grammatically, ie, no title, punctuation or capital letters.
I shall try and keep to some conventions, as this is entering into the spirit of Haiku. However, I have opted to give my Haiku’s a title, as well as a number, otherwise it will completely trash my filing systems and I won’t be able to find anything afterwards in my filing systems, let alone on Flickr! Not only that of course, but the use of images is a break away from convention itself, but my poetry has always been written in direct response to the image in front of me, as well as the experience of taking the image.
I have found them to be a delight and a challenge to write in the past, so I thought I would use the brain cells and write some more. It is also an opportunity to use some images I might not otherwise have considered, which gives rise to some interesting correlations. And I may or may not, use music to go with it. It has got to hit just as hard as the poem. I have found that the poetry form of Haiku seems to suit my poetry style, which is all about the many emotions we humans go through in life, in our pursuit of understanding, happiness, faith and peace.
On some of the works there might be a small introduction. But its power is in keeping it simple. So I shall have to curb my writing tendencies.
To see my other poetry and images, have a look at my website at: