Do You Haiku?
I never thought this would ever be a topic for my writing but here it is....
I received an invitation the other day to join a Facebook group, the invitation came from an old high school friend, Diane. She enjoys writing haiku and started the group - in part because she found other, similar, groups starting to get mean and politically oriented. Welcome to social media! This group is for fun and I thought it would be fun to join. It's been a very long time (45 years or more?) since I've written a haiku (and it was probably just one!) and actually had to look up the definition. I thought it would be a nice diversion from my work life and a nice creative outlet - something new to explore.
What is a haiku?
So, what is a haiku? The following definition was taken from Webster's Dictionary
1:
an unrhymed verse form of Japanese origin having three lines containing usually five, seven, and five syllables respectively
This definition is from Grammar.YourDictionary.com
2:
Traditional Haiku Structure. Traditional haiku are always the same, including the following features: There are only three lines, totaling 17 syllables. The first line is 5 syllables. ... A haiku does not have to rhyme, in fact usually it does not rhyme at all.
Lastly, from Wonderopolis.org
3:
It's a special kind of poem called a haiku. ... Traditional Japanese haiku typically describe nature, while English haiku include many different subjects. A haiku contains 17 syllables in three lines of poetry. A syllable is a unit of language that consists of an unbroken sound used to make up words.
Many definitions also include a reference to the natural world and/or seasons.
Some Originals
As I mentioned earlier, I joined the group because I thought it would be fun but never thought I would really "get into it." I was wrong! I wrote my first haiku just a couple hours after joining the group:
I'm hiking each day
Thru a field where war was fought
Nature lives there now
- by Joe Valencia
I was out for one of my lunchtime hikes and wrote it on my way back to the office. I had just finished hiking along one of the trails at Monmouth Battlefield State Park - site of the Battle of Monmouth during the Revolutionary War. It's not going to win me a Nobel Prize but I thought it was reasonably good for a beginner.
I was really getting into it and have written 20 in the past 10 days, including the two (2) appearing below. The one about the city lights came to me the day after I shot the accompanying New York City skyline, while the one with the pastel sky was written long after the image was shot.
City lights glowing
Tranquility deceives all
City never sleeps
- by Joe Valencia
Pastel sunset sky
Silhouette tree stands alone
Goodbye to the day
- by Joe Valencia
I am having fun, as you may have noticed, and will continue to write haiku from time-to-time. It is a nice diversion because it isn't something that is expected of me and if they aren't very good - who cares? That's not to say I will just write stuff I know isn't very good but I'm not going to agonize either. There is also no pressure to produce which is a blessing.
In Closing
I hope you enjoyed this little poetic stroll thru my mind (I hope you didn't step in anything 😉 🤣). If you are interested in joining the Facebook group - you can check it out
here. If you do join, please remember that it is a fun group and anything political or mean-spirited will get you removed from the group.
If you have written any haiku - I would love to read some! Leave one (two, three, etc....) in the comments below. Thanks for stopping by!
Merriam-Webster Definition of haiku
Rules for Writing Haiku - English Grammar Rules & Usage
What Is a Haiku?
All haiku and photos are copyright Joseph S. Valencia All Rights Reserved They may not be used in any way without express written permission of the author. If you wish to use any of the photos you may contact the photographer at valencia32photo@gmail.com
