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October 31, 2005
Haiku you do
On the subject of poetry... In my World Literature course tonight we discussed Japanese poetry, specifically Tanka, Haikai no renga, and haiku.
Haiku is obviously the most well-known form of Japanese poetry in our culture. The 5-7-5 syllable structure can seem limiting to some, but contains just enough power in my opinion. Depends what you like...
Here's a Tanka I particularly liked:
Chillier still,
The wind, blowing,
Brings mingled snow
In this cold twilit sky
Of spring rain.
-Eifuku Mon'in
(This reminds me of the reverse effect we experienced with last week's grossly unwelcome snow.)
And this Haiku is so perfect that each time I read it I hear the sound:
An old pond;
A frog jumps in--
The sound of water.
-Basho
The subject matter normally contrasts the moving with the unmoving. There is so much life crammed into a few syllables that the word choice is imperative to the "sink or swim" approach. Although Japanese syllables, by definition, differ greatly than our English syllables.
A truck pummels on
This PC rests on highway--
My Mac, she triumphs.
How's that work?
Yeah, I need practice. But it'll come!
Posted by KarissaKilgore at October 31, 2005 8:46 PM
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Comments
I really like your Haiku. I stumbled across your blog as I was searching for something else on Google. It really puts my blog to shame. Great work! Anyway...good luck at Seton Hill, it is a really beautiful campus. (went to choir camp there once)
Posted by: Cara at November 9, 2005 11:21 AM