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...
Lovely way to start your July stones. The (French) summer has been captured!
ReplyDeleteI heard my first cicada just last night. And now I have a to go- because a small stone just dropped into my head! Have a great July and thank you for joining my small stones blog.
ReplyDeleteJust lovely, Lynne. I found myself nodding my head along to this one. I did part of my growing up on an orchard and this captures it perfectly :)
ReplyDeleteLove the repetition of cicadas at the end...very expressive stone.
ReplyDeleteHello old friends, new friends : )
ReplyDeleteand thanks for popping in here. x
What Jade said.
ReplyDelete