The Haiku, why I wrote them and what they mean
Dream your own story
I've never liked pontification. I like people to get to the point and precis was one of the few things I was good at when at school.
To me, a haiku is the epitome of precis. In a few words the mind can be stimulated to imagine a whole story.
The mind is free to fill in the unstated implications of a few lines of verse.
Maybe sometimes my haiku are a bit obscure but I set out here what I intended with each one. You may of course take away something different when you read them.
First things first, what exactly is a haiku, a senryu, a kireji or a kigo?
The following definition is taken from Wikipedia (précised of course)
A Haiku is a short form of poetry that originated in Japan. Traditional Japanese haiku consist of three lines of verse composed of 17 syllables in a 5, 7, 5 pattern; they should include a kireji, or "cutting word"; and a kigo, or seasonal reference.
Similar poems that do not adhere to these rules are generally classified as senryū.
Senryū tend to be about human foibles while haiku tend to be about nature, and senryū are often cynical or darkly humorous while haiku are more serious.
So, the question is, have I written haiku or senryu? (Note: Japanese do not use s for plurals).
You will have to make up your own mind on that, to me it doesn’t matter, but if you wish to, you can categorise my verse and try to spot any kireji. (The closest translation of kireji would be the significant word of the verse). Have fun!
Use your imagination to fill in the gaps
Daydream
There's a whole story in every haiku
The opening haiku for all the Hucclecote Creatures books
Most times it’s hidden
But always everywhere
It’s life all year round
This is the introductory haiku for all the Hucclecote Creatures books. It's about being surrounded by all the diverse small creatures that make up our world and of whom we are mostly unaware. We have increasingly learnt that they are part of the whole chain of life and that without them us humans just wouldn't survive.
CHAPTER 1
Freddy needs some medicene
Always ask for help
The most unexpected can come
Happiness results
We are all to some extent reluctant to ask for help. The story illustrates how help can come from unexpected quarters but, importantly, the happiness resulting affects giver as well. In the story, the fox finds a new role in life. We all hear of lonely people and it is often advised that volunteering helps with this.
The Hucclecote Creatures and the Secret Garden
Notes on the haiku (or senryu)
Join the Forum to comment or leave your own compositions
CHAPTER 2
Granny Grasshopper's stuck leg
You take a deep breath
Can you trust someone you know?
A gasp, a big smile
This is also about asking for help but this time it's about asking someone you know who maybe you are wary of. We all know someone like that but sometimes they just need to be trusted
CHAPTER 3
Sidney Shrew has a bad idea
A butterfly swoops
Crazy ideas form in your mind
Best love butterflies
I'm imagining here someone relaxing in a deckchair in a warm sunny garden and instead of just enjoying the beautiful surroundings their thoughts stray to problems and they have silly ideas. The moral is, sometimes it's best to just clear your mind of everyday things and simply enjoy the beauty around you.
CHAPTER 4
Hercules has a family
A falling star
The shattered sky is split
Children just enjoy
This is about how children have the ability to find joy in things. While adults may analyse and contemplate the mysteries of the universe, children simply enjoy the beauty of a falling star. We need to keep innocent pleasure where we can.
CHAPTER 5
Flies versus vegetables
What's our role in life?
What is best?
It is achievement and hope
Perhaps knowing our way in life is what it takes to be happy. Even the lowliest can have achievement and hope.
CHAPTER 6
Babies
A happy mother
A suitcase put by the door
Still happy, now proud
This is about children leaving home. Things can be sad and happy. Parents can be sad but happy and proud that their children are making their way in life. The story also illustrates how us humans separate animal families without much thought.
CHAPTER 7
Freddy forgets something
A wall mirror shows
A smiling face, that way
You are beautiful
Poor Sarah, she so wants a mate. The verse is trying to say relax, smile, everyone is beautiful that way. Love will come.
CHAPTER 8
Water, water everywhere
Curiosity
Everyone should have it
Adventures await
The twist in the story comes at the end when all the creatures who didn't go exploring are relieved they don't have to when the hole is repaired. The verse is saying we should all be more adventurous.
CHAPTER 9
Angels' voices
A warm cosy feeling
A hubbub swelling louder
Family and friends
The story is of course about loneliness. Some millipedes go out of their way to befriend Millie and all is well. The verse is trying to conjure that feeling when you are surrounded in a noisy friendly gathering.
CHAPTER 10
Worms
An Autumn leaf falls
Proudly flashing its beauty
Soggy mud awaits
This is about the saying "pride comes before a fall". The bossy unpleasant worm made no friends and one day everyone forgot to warn her and that was her end. The verse is about a proud leaf, if you can imagine such a thing, hurtling inevitably towards a soggy doom.
CHAPTER 11
Love hurts
When love comes calling
We fall into its embrace
A fond memory lasts
The story is about how trying to change yourself too much to suit another eventually doesn't work. The verse says we are helpless in love but when it all goes wrong fond memories can still last.