The Haiku Foundation Forums

I love this question!  As a beginner I do tend to play it safe. But now and then I feel brave and I try something completely different. I think those haiku usually don't work out as well, they don't communicate what I want, but I think I still need to try those ideas, so that I can grow and learn.

Thank you, Al!!

Josie,

Your topic here helped me write a haiku yesterday.  I just posted it up on Mentoring and got a thumbs up.  Without your conversation on this subject I might not have come up with this one, so thanks!

metal detecting –
four faces crowd around
a 1990 dime

Laura

How about saijiki?

Looking it up, I believe it is pronounced sigh-gee-key (thank you, Grace, for requesting this as I too need help in this area).

A saijiki is a dictionary of seasonal words.

Is this too simple a definition?

When I was researching this I was interested to learn this from an article written by Jane Reichhold:

"Within each of these categories the poems are listed in a prescribed order of appearance according to the natural world. In spring (and saijiki traditionally start with the first and best season) plum blossoms are listed before cherry blossoms because the plum blooms first; slush comes before new grass. In many cases there is a natural sequence; in others - as in animals -  it is very arbitrary."

The purpose of this discussion is to create a glossary of basic terms for the newcomer to haiku. We would like to ask your help in developing simple definitions for the words we use in this forum.

Please do not provide links to articles or suggest articles a person could read to learn more about a topic.  We have a discussion in the Free Discussion Area called, "Learning About Haiku – Helpful Links," which is the perfect spot to provide links for newcomers.

Let's keep this relatively simple and uncomplicated.  

Remember what it was like when you were first starting your haiku adventure.  There were a number of terms that you needed to learn.  It helps to just get a simple, workable definition so that you can read articles and learn and improve.

We will regularly update this introductory post to include all the definitions that we create.

Any discussion that isn't relevant to a particular definition of a word (or one that gets off on some debate as to the merit of having a glossary) will be deleted.

Here is a sample post that would be helpful:

Jim Kacian presents this definition in his book, How to Haiku:

"A brief poem which records an experience of a moment of revelation into the nature of the world in an effort to share it with others."

Now it is worth noting that one's personal definitions of these words will expand and grow as one learns more and more about haiku. However one must start somewhere.

It would also be very helpful to include a pronunciation of each term you discuss.

Note: This is not an official glossary of term of The Haiku Foundation, but a group created one designed to help newcomers to haiku to understand the lingo.

Hi, Bea!  I'm a tad late in thanking you, but wanted to let you know that your enthusiasm is greatly appreciated!!

I had forgotten about this contest.  I discovered it last year and really enjoyed it!  Thanks for reminding me.

Lorin, I love these two haiku.  I have noticed that some poets do go in the other direction and almost eschew 575. 

I especially love how calamari fisherman rolls off the tongue.  It's a lovely haiku to say!

It's good to know that I won't be banned from the group for proposing a 575 now and again. :-)

What do you most want to see on these New to Haiku boards?

What are your current favorite discussions/threads?

If you're new to haiku, are these boards helping you to learn about haiku?

We'd like to hear back from you and welcome your thoughts, suggestions and feedback.

Thanks!

Laura

Thanks to our super hero, Dave, we are now unlocked!  I didn't know this feature was even there.  I followed his very precise directions to unlock this topic again.

Here's a link to the Event Calendars Page.

Bea, I think you should write what is true to you, what is in your heart.  You can always add an explanation, which helps the reader understand.

There are so many rules in haiku.  Many conflict with one another.  As I learn more and more about haiku, I try to understand the rules and follow them whenever possible, but in an instance like this, don't you dare back away from this powerful moment and beautiful image!!

I actually think it is very valuable to get a lot of feedback from others on a haiku.  Even if they just glance at it and comment, I know now what they saw and then can maybe clarify the poem.

Cat, I love this haiku. Thank you for the excellent illustration!  That's the thing with using "my." It is so personal.  For me it allows me to enter the scene far more easily than "the" in this case.

Don, Wow!  I really appreciate your thoughts on this subject. I applaud your passion and pursuit of truth. I love both haiku that you present here. Your cat one is brilliant and so intimate. It is beautiful and one that I will read many times for its beauty.

Through my exploration of haiku I run into many viewpoints. I enjoy hearing all sides so that I can learn.

Do you think it is OK to slip in a "me" or "my" into a haiku now and again?  Or does that take something away from the reader's experience?

I'm interested in your viewpoint!

Thanks!

Laura