Haiku

for Today's Flowers

A few weeks ago, I stumbled upon a thread in Arts and Literature of PinoyEXchange. Its about poetry, actually it’s the thread title, Scents of Childhood: A Poetry / Prose Challenge, that got me curious. The opening lines

What scents remind you of childhood? A sniff of it leaves you nostalgic, bringing back memories from childhood. Share them with us in poetry form or prose of your choice!

were inviting enough and as I read the replies, my mind wandered leading me to my poetry archives. There I found some of my haikus, an oriental form of poetry that is commonly considered as a 17-syllables-in-3-lines-poem. Haikus maybe short but I find them challenging, you have to compress a certain idea and feeling within its traditional limitations. When I was in second year high school, our English teacher asked us to write a haiku, as the papers were returned, most of my classmates had notes such as “Very good, haiku”, “an inspiring draft”, “you have to write more, just beautiful” and for those who are curious what was written on my paper – its “you have a nice penmanship”. Isn’t it like saying “No comment”? Hehe.

Of course, I didn’t mind her comment, after all she’s my teacher and I thought she was correct. I tried to read some articles and references about haikus but I found them too technical and I confess I am not fond of scanning through technical terms and instructions. I thought, I will write, damn those guidelines, knowing the basic ones are enough. My memory isn’t helpful to recall my very first haiku, all I can remember (thanks to my notebook) was the first haiku I wrote as a professional engineer. It was about Amina Lawal. It was a well-received ‘ku when I posted it in some of poetry groups, or maybe because it was the issue during that time.

a fickle flower
snipped by traditional wind;
now, stones to kiss her

I also tried to write a 3-part haiku about a street child Little Leah’s Leis. I like the poem but somehow I feel that only the 3rd ku can stand on its own. The first two seemed a bit forced though it fits the 17 syllable criterion

Every night you see
six-year-old Little Leah
on busy highways.

Sampaguita leis
she vends. A peso or two
for tomorrow's rice.

After a car's kiss,
blooms enwrap her. In heaven,
divine leis, she'll make.

And since I was obsessed in writing ‘kus before, I challenged myself to write haikus with the words having the same first letter. I know, I was crazy. I managed to write three until the desire in me died down.

skies silently screams
searching some stranded spirits
souls seeking solace

candlelight Christmas
charred carols comfort cold cheeks
cathedral's cobwebs

brownish butterflies
ballet besides blueberries
birds bedazzlement

Having stayed in Japan for three years inspired to write ‘kus about the changing seasons. Actually, I think they always dedicate haikus to at least one season and they have it on one line. Perhaps the 3-line haikus are from western influences.

delight of bald trees
birds still lull on their parched limbs;
bards' masterpieces

water-colored buds
between pink sea and green skies
birth of new concepts

hot maize spotlight
exposes sea waves’ jewels
continental range

cigarette’s slumber
silver quill remains silent
the ink is frozen

I have written a hopeful love poem in a haiku-esque style too aptly titled Sakura

The boulevard’s pink,
skies and streams too. The wind whispers
someone’s watching you.

The Sputnik Sweetheart,
a book, hides your pinkish face.
My bike routes to you.

Hi! Konnichiwa!
we say the words together;
the pink petals fall.

Trees are bare and bold,
sometimes white and cold, you wait
for me to come back.

The boulevard’s pink.
skies and streams too. The wind whispers
please start things anew.

Haikus with darker tones are cool too. Loved dark-themed poetry very much.

the lamp stops dancing
scent of dahlias fills the room
i am not alone

two chrysanthemums
dance in a glass that soon breaks;
fading yellowness

sang out of the womb
enchanting ninety two years;
singing in the tomb

Surprise visitor
welcomed by clueless people
her Medusa stares

There are lots to love and like about haikus. If you want to know more about it, click here. I am not a haiku expert. I am just sharing the passion I used to love, or maybe still loving it. Unconsciously.

Each one of us is an artist. I’m pretty sure of that – we all have creative juices that are waiting to overflow. Just try to explore yourself and you might be surprised about your other side. Write. Sketch. Express.

By the way, thanks Jeques for the wonderful thread. Oh, Jeques is new to blogosphere, after my subtle coercions, he finally made one. Please visit Jeques's Web Nook and welcome him to a colorful and complex world of blogging.

Sigh. It made me miss writing more. Writing poems, that is.

/totomai
08/16/07