simonhlilly

THIS IS NOT HAIKU

I saw a post about a haiku competition, wasn’t particularly interested ( mainly because the example they gave I thought was flaccid and rather cliched). But then all last night……..

For those who don’t recall, haiku is a form of short poem from Japan that has a normal form of three lines of 5, then 7, then 5 syllables. There are many rules and elements, which make haiku much more difficult than they would appear in translation (and why foreigners who try to write ‘haiku’ are treated to rather blank, but polite, stares!).

I have always been very fond of this form of poetry and will be waxing endlessly, but hopefully lyrically, on accompanying PAGES for those with the spare time to peruse….. (see: “This is not haiku- extended version”)

I

Counting syllables –
Not a good way to find sleep.
Haiku for Japan.

II

Haiku for Japan?
Falling onto pristine snow
One drop of red blood.

III

Still they make a sound:
Each tree in the cold forest,
Falling unnoticed.

IV

Faces of the dead
Crying in the deep mountains.
Drifts of white cherry.

V

How long shall they stay –
Footprints in the drying mud,
Now that you are gone?

VI

They are not haiku,
So carefully wrapped with skill –
These are our sorrows.