The following paper was presented at the PALA (Poetics and Linguistics Association) 2015 Conference at Canterbury University, Kent, UK on 16th July 2015. Abstract: HAIKU: A POETRY OF ABSENCE OR AN ABSENCE OF POETRY? Minimalism in Contemporary English Language Haiku The popular perception of haiku as three lines of 5, 7 and 5 syllables persists in the mainstream poetry world and beyond as if nothing has changed since the first Western translators counted the onji, or sounds, in traditional Japanese haiku and created that misconstrued but enduring template fleshy enough to support a traditional English syntax. And while putting flesh on bones might be a useful metaphor for the construction of formal and free verse, contemporary English language haiku practice is often more akin to the trimming and polishing of bones to create a form where point of view, adjectives and even verbs may be dispensed with entirely. This 30 minute presentation will analyse exampl...
I like the first one. Its very real. Those moments of odd logic that you can only smile at.
ReplyDeleteDo you write tankas, too? This one's my favourite, written by Mokichi sometime in the late 1800's, I think.
ReplyDeletefrom where
a red tomato
lies rotting
I am only
a few steps away
It's tacked on the pegboard above my desk, and whenever I see it, it blows me away!
Hi Sue - yes I do, and have had a few published here and in the US. There a few in the recent Simply Haiku, link on the site list.
ReplyDeleteI love this Mokichi one - thanks for letting me know about it.
Best
Lynne
:))) so much truth in these
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting, Cathrine. I looked at your blog and see you write poetry. You might be interested in another blog I have:
ReplyDeletehttp://applehousepoetryworkshop.blogspot.com/
Best wishes
Lynne