Writing Haiku
A Beginner's Guide to Composing Japanese Poetry
Ratings1
Average rating4
15
A Beginner's Guide to Composing Japanese Poetry
Ratings1
Average rating4
A world of dew And within every dewdrop A world of struggle The iconic three-line haiku form is increasingly popular today as people embrace its simplicity and grace--and its connections to the Japanese ethos of mindfulness and minimalism. Say more with fewer words. This practical guide by poet and teacher Bruce Ross shows you how to capture a fleeting moment, like painting a picture with words, and how to give voice to your innermost thoughts, feelings, and observations. You don't have to be a practiced poet or writer to write your own haiku, and this book shows you how. In this book, aspiring poets will find: Accessible, easy-to-replicate examples and writing prompts A foreword that looks at the state of haiku today as the form continues to expand worldwide An introduction to related Japanese haiku forms such as tanka, haiga, renga, haibun, and senryu A listing of international journals and online resources Do you want to tell a story? Give haibun a try. Maybe you want to express a fleeting feeling? A tanka is the perfect vehicle. Are you more visual than verbal? Then a haiga, or illustrated haiku, is the ideal match. Finally, a renga is perfect as a group project or to create with friends, passing a poem around, adding line after line, and seeing what your group effort amounts to. Ross walks readers through the history and form of haiku, before laying out what sets each Japanese poetic form apart. Then it's time to turn to your notebook and start drafting some verse of your own!
Reviews with the most likes.
Bruce Ross guides us newbie haiku writers on the path to writing this classic Japanese poetry form. He includes many great examples, and offers suggestions for getting started. He also includes information and examples of haiku variations including tanka, renga, haiga, senryu, and haibun.
haiku—“The essence of traditional haiku consists of two things. First there is an association with nature through one of the seasons either by naming the season...or by suggesting the season through specific elements of that season...The second essential part of traditional haiku is setting up a relationship between two images and separating those images with a punctuation mark...“
senryu—“...there is a kind of poetry that is similar in form to haiku but deals exclusively with human nature and most often is expressed as a joke. This form is called senryu.”
haibun—“A haibun is a prose narrative that is autobiographical...that is expressed poetically...What is unusual about haibun is that it includes a haiku.”
tanka—“...tanka is...poetry filled with highly personal and emotional expression...But usually tanka, which was most often written in five lines or phrases in a 5-7-5-7-7 syllable pattern, connect these thoughts and emotions to nature.”
haiga—“A haiga is not so much an illustration of a haiku as an artistic expression of the spirit of the haiku's feeling.”
renga—“Renga (is) an overall term for a poem that is written with other people...Its three main characteristics are spontaneity, improvisation, and fun.”
