An explanation/apology for the haikus found here
A few things to keep in mind when reading my haikus:
- These aren't really haikus.
- This site implicitly perpetuates some gross oversimplifications about true haiku poetry.
- I don't care.
- Get over it.
Okay, I'll expand on this a little...
Haiku History
Haiku is a form of traditional Japanese poetry that has evolved into its modern form only recently. In the 15th and 16th centuries in Japan, a popular form of poetry emerged called renga (and later haikai) consisting of 17 or 14 syllable verses; often these were constructed cooperatively by several poets. The first verse or stanza of these poems were called hokku and formed a kind of introduction to the longer poem. Eventually, the hokku began to be used independently and formed the basis for today's haiku, particularly under the teachings of Shiki Masaoka.
Today, haiku typically takes the form of three lines of 5 then 7 then 5 syllables. This is probably the most over-exaggerated feature of modern haiku. In Japanese, the 5-7-5 meter is perhaps more strict, but in English and in other languages, the syllable count is often too difficult to maintain without sacrificing the other aspects of traditional haiku, about which there's more below.
What Makes a Haiku a Haiku?
Haiku is concerned with everyday life. As such, it can sometimes seem mundane or boring, but good haiku will elicit a unique reaction to everyday events. One way in which haiku provokes this reaction is by producing an "aha!" moment, or a flash of insight or emotion. This is typically achieved by juxtaposing two seemingly unrelated sections and letting the reader make the connection. Here's an example, one of the most famous of all haiku by Matsuo Basho:
The old pond--
a frog jumps in,
sound of water.
(For added insight to the 5-7-5 mystery and why it just does not apply to English versions of haiku, check out the variety of translations that have been made of this poem.)
Pure haikus should also exist in a seasonal setting, typically accomplished through the use of a "season word." Tree buds might evoke spring; a cricket, summer; an orange moon, autumn; snow, umm...winter. I'm not sure why season words are so important, they just are.
But really, the notion of what a haiku is has changed over the centuries. At its most basic level, a haiku should provide a zen-like moment of realization. Beyond that, the rules might just as well go out the window. Here's a site that provides a good explication of this idea. Plus, here are a couple of other links for those who are interested in exploring traditional haiku further.
My "Haikus"
As far as I'm concerned, I'm going to stick with the 5-7-5 construction and will continue to employ Western poetic features (such as metaphor) only because that's what's fun for me. I enjoy the puzzle-ishness of fitting an idea into the 5-7-5 framework. It satisfies my nerdly cravings, I guess. Maybe someday I'll aspire to a more zen-like treatment of the haiku form, but we'll just have to wait and see.