Haiku Musings

Ah poetry and nature. Two things that naturally go togther. But if you're looking for nature poems that really get it so to speak, you should look into haiku. Why? Because haiku is especially suited for describing nature. For example, take a look at these two nature poems by the author:

Nature Poem #1

egrets move
through the marsh...
morning clouds

Here we have "egrets" as our subject. A beautiful bird that most people either have seen in a picture or are familiar with. In just 7 words a picture is created. And not just any picture but a complete scene! First we have the phase "egrets move through the marsh." Nothing special in itself. But, when we combine this with the fragment "morning clouds," we get a picture of place and time - a sense of something happening.

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Haiku is a centuries old Japanese form of poetry that uses just a few words to capture the essence of its subject. Woods, forests, and oceans have been topics traditionally used by haiku poets and for good reason - they are all inspiring natural phenomena.

Seashore haiku combine both the love of the ocean and haiku's inherent ability to portray nature subjects. For example, take a look at this seashore haiku by the author...

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Most people understand what haiku is. And most will tell you that a true haiku poem must have a certain pattern of syllables and lines. For example, the first line will get 5 syllables, the second 7, and the third 5 again. This is all well and good but it's not necessary at all! In fact, most modern haiku in the western world no longer adhere to this structure. I for one think that's a good thing! Let's look at some haiku examples to see why.

Haiku Example #1:

steady spring rain --
a tree takes shape
at dawn

The above haiku poem is from one of my favorite poets, Bruce Ross. Notice that the 5-7-5 rule does not apply here. Also notice that the poem is still a haiku. Why?

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So, you want to publish your haiku poems. But you think it's not worth the time or effort. If I hadn't published my own successful book of poems, I'd say you were right. But by actually doing it myself I've learned a lot. Let me share with you what I did.

First, of course, I finished writing the poetry. I write haiku so my task is a lot easier than most, but that shouldn't deter you either way. I wrote at least 5 poems a day (usually a lot more) and I finished an entire book in less than a month! That's from not having anything, to having a finished book in hand.

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It may sound like a tasty sushi dish, but the concept of wabi/sabi is a Japanese idea that literally means "sweet sadness." It's a feeling one may have when winter is approaching and you notice the change in nature's cycles. It's a feeling of impermanence that surrounds all living things on this planet. Nothing lasts and this idea finds its expression well in haiku poetry. For instance, look at this haiku poem by Bruce Ross:

winter sun...
the pigeons foot crackles
a dry leaf

The first line suggests the time of year and the general ambiance of the day. It is wintertime and as we all know, the sun's position and relative affect on the earth is quite different during this season.

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I really get turned off when people refer to the "great masters" of anything. As if one could call someone a master of anything that has to with poetry or any art. In art, you either like something or you don't. Period.

Basho is the Japanese poet who is credited for coming up with the haiku genre. And if you're read any of his poems, you may have come to the same conclusion as me which is that you just don't like it that much.
For example take this poem by "the master:"

Lead my pony
across this wide moor
to where the cuckoo sings

As far as haiku goes, it's OK. But I just don't get the wow factor so many people attribute to him. Am I wrong?

You love the idea of writing your own haiku but you don't know where to begin. Not a problem. Get Wisteria Press's new report and you'll understand the underlying principles behind modern haiku poetry!

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Poetry Contests have sprung up like wildfire around the internet. And why not? It's a fun way to test your skill at poetry writing.

There are poetry contests that are judged by a few people at a time. They assign the poem points. The poem with the most points wins. Seems simple enough and it's a good strategy.

What they don't tell you is what they're looking for. Let's face it. Poetry contests are biased. And that's a matter of fact. After all, you're being judged by people predisposed to a certain way of writing. If they like it, it passes the test. If not, it's put away and quickly forgotten.

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