Friday, July 2, 2010

Haiku My Heart




from one transformation
to the next
tattered wings soar


Haiku My Heart Friday - Love this. Fabulous idea. Thank you!


A note about my haiku (in case you were wondering... ;)

I subscribe to the minimalist approach. Luckily for me, western haiku does not have to follow the 5-7-5 dictates of Japanese haiku; in fact, most does not. Haiku is a soft note carried on a gentle breeze... that can offer a powerful impact. Like being knocked over with a feather. :) As it was explained to me, a haiku should be able to be read in one breath. Yes. Feels right. The English language is too bulky, too cumbersome to aptly express the nature of haiku in 17 syllables.

Just my coupla cents. It is ingrained in us that 5-7-5 is the way, but if you like a bit of a challenge, give minimalist haiku a try.

This explains it simply (and probably more clearly than I have).

Oh, and as some of you probably recognize, the photo is another from my fun fun fun class with Lani.

Have a delightful week-end.

14 comments:

  1. lovely haiku .... no matter how it was constructed :)

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  2. lovely...

    welcome to haiku my heart,
    certainly, you have.

    warmly,
    rebecca

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  3. Thank you, Kimmie. Didn't want to sound preachy, but rather offer an explanation of why my haiku doesn't follow the prescribed pattern. :)

    Rebecca, thank you. This is truly an inspired idea you have had. So glad to have found it!

    ~Deb

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  4. this is beautiful! and i love butterflies.
    : )

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  5. love the photo and the haiku. I work with special needs children- and last year when we had a group of chrysalis in our classroom, one butterfly was hatched with a very deformed wing. She was so special to the children. One of those synchronistic moments that was so powerful to witness. Thank you for reminding me of it.

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  6. That is interesting. I love the idea of being aboe to read it in one breath. Yours is lovely!

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  7. SooOOooO pleasing to my eyes!!! Thank YOU little butterfly and to the one who captured it!!

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  8. I'm so glad you posted that explanation about Western haiku! Too long we have been constrained by that 5-7-5 pattern. I'm trying to break out of it myself (although, not without some struggle). Maybe my tattered wings will be the next to soar!

    Haiku My Heart … Suddenly!

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  9. Wow, thanks for all the kind comments. I love haiku - so much fun to write and to read. Isn't it wonderful how a few words can have such an impact sometimes?

    Caya-Papaya, I worked with special needs adults for many years, so I fully understand. So happy to be able to remind you of a sweet moment.

    Magical Mystery Teacher, give it a go. I look forward to reading the result.

    Turquoise cro, my daughter took the original photo of the butterfly, then allowed me to play with it. :)

    Christina and Sarah, thank you again! It's alway nice to connect through poetry.

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  10. your photo is fabulous....and I love your haiku chat...especially being "knocked over by a feather" May I quote you?

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  11. Deb, thank you. Feel free to quote whatever you like. I'm happy my words speak to you. The whole concept just feels right to me, in keeping with the original intent of haiku.

    Thanks for visiting!

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  12. Beautiful picture and haiku...I like the idea of reading the haiku in one breath, like the Wind who says so much in one breath.

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  13. Lovely butterfly, and I love your dragonfly header. When I see a dragonfly, I imagine it to be a spirit coming to visit me.
    I am not much of a poet or student of Haiku or poetry, but I like what you are saying here about being a minimalist. It makes sense. I tend to write too many words when a few will do, so.....

    Thanks for sharing.

    Peace.

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  14. to accept ourselves just as we are... that is something big to consider in our small little minds.... and i so agree with the haiku... shall we just write what we write and in one breath... now that is a keeper!!

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