tanka prose/ haiku

[Urszula]

I understand you can have tanka prose but do you get haiku prose too. I've written a piece, I think a haiku though not entirely sure but wanted some prose to go with it. I'm unsure of the set rules as the various forms of Japanese poetry seem to have blurred edges. I've included the piece I wrote to see what it would be classed as if anything.

We break bread amongst us, tummies full to the brim. A few hours until the midnight vigil, a new baby born.

grandmas pierogi-
drinking vodka
with smiles

Also as the ritual of breaking bread at home is specific to Polish Vigilia (and my childhood) does it alienate too many readers? This is an early draft but I just want to know if I'm heading in the right direction.

If anyone has any guidance for me it would be appreciated.

Thank you
Urszula

[Snow Leopard]

Hello Urszula,

Welcome to the forum. :)

The haiku prose is called haibun. There are some stimulating definitions of this form in the HSA site and also in Contemporary Haibun Online.

Re your draft - your descriptions of the Polish Vigilia is a wonderful window to your world and I don't think readers are alienated by such original and different themes and topics.

In terms of the techniques of haibun I think the prose is a little too brief. Why not add a few descriptions of the family around the table, perhaps the tableware you use (candles, plants, any special color scheme which have a significance for this celebration etc.) perhaps you have someone presiding over the table, prayers said, special dishes served. Is this an annual family get-together? Some descriptions of these details would enrich your prose passage and give the reader a vivid sense of your celebration. 100-150 words is not uncommon for a short haibun.

I like you haiku very much. :)

Here are some links to the major haibun journals on line:

A Hundred Gourds: http://www.ahundredgourds.com/ahg32/index_haibun.html

CatTails: http://www.unitedhaikuandtankasociety.com/haibun142=1.html

Contemporary Haibun Online : http://contemporaryhaibunonline.com/

Haibun Today: http://haibuntoday.com/

Icebox Haiku: http://hailhaiku.wordpress.com/ This has two parts (if you like) the winning haibun (s) of the contests: Kikakuza and Genjuan.

Frogpond: http://www.hsa-haiku.org/frogpond/2014-issue37-1/haibun.html (This gives a few samples and not all the haibun featured in its current issues).


The haibun is a wonderful and rewarding form. I wish you all the best in your exploration of this form. :)


Snow Leopard

[Urszula]

Hi,

Thank you for your lengthy response. I'm glad you liked the haiku. I've not had chance to look at all the links but will do so later on. I'm falling in love with this genre of poetry and can't believe I'd not heard of it until my daughter came home from school a few weeks ago talking about haiku.

Thanks again
Urszula