Haiku

 

 

 

Keiko Maoka lists something like twenty-six rules for writing Haiku in the English language and then makes 78 suggestions about how to write good Haiku in the English language. But concludes by saying that Haiku is not well suited to the English language because a syllable has different connotative value in each language so just write and have fun. I have taken this last injunction to heart and written a series of haiku, sennyruu and tanka that pays small obeisance to the rules or suggestions.

These poems(?) will probably be meaningless to any one not in my immediate family who did not experience the things they evoke. The sole purpose of writing these is to evoke some memories of growing up among my children.

As I learn more about haiku, sennyruu and tanka and for that matter pengo I may write some more that would have some merit.

Meanwhile these are just for fun.

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Washing machine is

not meant for doll's plastic face.

Wrinkles replace dirt.

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Tiny feet turned in,

special shoes---bar between feet,

difficult to walk.

A test--was it meant

To have meaning for them ---or me.

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Uniform of blue,

It was just ROTC haiku

And yet it scared me.

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Warm child cuddled close,

"Fox went out one stormy night"

deep breathing---all relaxed

Sometimes a joy tear

wets childhood hair.

 

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Jimmy Timmy Bear,

Unafraid at Yellowstone--

Noble bear--now in box.

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Soccer game rained out

boy bounds up stadium seats

breaks leg--hospital.

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Gran buys a horse for

more than he meant to pay

'cause Pam said he would.

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Girls game of paper,

scissors, rock ends abruptly

at ice cream cart bells.

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Light of rising sun

shows spider builds web at door.

Red hourglass! I fear

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Arm in cast from jump

off Chamber's porch. Good deal!

Cast makes perfect hammer.

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Dirty dishes on

park table covered in snow.

At night snow cleaned up

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Beaver Cleaver! No?

You say it is a fire truck?

Well it-------stupid game.

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The fish hook in the ear.

Snip. Snip. By father surgeon.

All right now to play

It is good that we

cannot remember pain.

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Walking the fence rail,

a fall, a gush of blood.

Thirty miles to doctor.

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Little soldier girl

in pink cape says "I willn't"

And I know she won't.

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Dancing round the room

his feet are both on my shoes.

We may win award.

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Turning spit on the

cabrito pit---while dad drinks

beer and watches TV.

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I will have many more of these and then I will have some that can be called haiku. I think most of the three liners above are really sennyruu.

LOVE dad