This follows on from my post on 'Is Haiku Poetry?' where I say that, for me, haiku can be poetry if it's consciously crafted.
So here are some of the things I think contemporary haiku poets can consciously consider when writing haiku, or rather when editing their haiku, as I believe that the work of creative mind (the first draft/free writing) and the work of critical mind (editing and revising) need to be kept separate.
the shape on the page
contemporary diction and syntax
concrete language
images chosen for illumination (idea) rather than decoration (prettiness)
line break
subtle use of metaphor
assonance
consonance
repetition
rhythm
rhyme - sound and eye-rhyme
and, before we send it out into the world:
Is it saying something that's worth saying?
Does it avoid cliche?
What does anyone else think? Agree, disagree, anything else to add?
So here are some of the things I think contemporary haiku poets can consciously consider when writing haiku, or rather when editing their haiku, as I believe that the work of creative mind (the first draft/free writing) and the work of critical mind (editing and revising) need to be kept separate.
the shape on the page
contemporary diction and syntax
concrete language
images chosen for illumination (idea) rather than decoration (prettiness)
line break
subtle use of metaphor
assonance
consonance
repetition
rhythm
rhyme - sound and eye-rhyme
and, before we send it out into the world:
Is it saying something that's worth saying?
Does it avoid cliche?
What does anyone else think? Agree, disagree, anything else to add?