GREETINGS BLOGGERS AND WELCOME TO HAIKU FRIDAY!

Some of you are groaning. Please stop that!

This is supposed to be fun and you may even learn a thing or three. Let me be clear from the outset. I am no expert. Part of the reason I am doing this is to learn. I have borrowed bits and pieces of this from various places and Haiku boffins out there, please don’t bite my head off! I have tried to make this as simple as possible to encourage people to participate. All you have to do is follow Points 1 to 4 below.

Point 1: “What do you have we have to do?” Simple, make all you comments on the blog today in ‘haiku’ format. * Bloggers failing to comply will have all their blogs and comments posted in shocking pink. I hear. gulp. *

Point 2: “What is a ‘haiku’?” Haiku is an ancient style of Japanese poetry. It is often moving and inspirational and has the ability to capture a period in time, a moment, places and feelings into just a few words. For me personally, the beauty of Haiku lies in the succint way one can express oneself poetrywise. They say 'less is more'.

Point 3: “How does one ‘haiku’?” Much like good sex, a haiku has four essential elements:
1. a rhythm2. it encapsulates a moment3. it embodies a spirit4. it involves a ‘thing’ of some sort
Just think: rhythm, moment, spirit, thing. Haiku masters will also embody the following elements for a sure winner.

- maintaining the haiku ‘spirit’
- a sense of 'presence' (context, a season etc)
- success with juxtaposing images- appropriateness of the subject matter
- poetic taste
- poets sense of proportion in choosing the right form

Point 4: "What is the haiku format?"
The oldest and more complex form of traditional Japanese haiku is called Tanka and dates back to the 12th century. Traditionally haiku's have an odd number of syllables - usually up to 31 syllables. You can see some examples of 31 syllable Tanka at the bottom of the page.
The simplest and most popular form of Haiku though, is made of 17 syllables, which was traditionally written as a single sentence in a single line. A more formal and modern interpretation is the 5-7-5 rhythm three line format. This is just a guide as can be seen in the examples of haiku below.

It is important to note about Haiku poems usually have two images although some can have a single image such as this one:

Eg. Typical single-image Haiku formats.
like gold beaten to it’s utmost thinness
(Basho – a Japanese Haiku master - translated)

Others follow the more traditional two-image format. The second image is usually divided by a 'cutting word' or punctuation which can be seen in some of these:

Eg. Typical two-image, 17 syllable haiku formats. Note the use of the 5-7-5 syllable rhythm in some of them. Also note that this rhythm format is flexible and pick up on the moment, spirit and 'things'.

Still unopened
The greenish hydrangea flowers:
The taste of tea (Cicely Hill)

At last I am leaving:
in rainless skies, a cool moon…
pure is my heart
(Senseki - translated)

Farewell…
I pass as all things do
dew on the grass.
(Banzan - translated)

On a journey, ill:
my dream goes wandering
over withered fields.
(Basho)

Since time began
the dead alone know peace.
Life is but melting snow.
(Nandai - translated)

Eg. Up to 31 syllable Tanka formats.

Trailing on the wind,
The smoke from Mount Fuji
Melts into the sky.
So too my thoughts –
Unknown their resting-place.

(Priest Saigyo – translated)

Sixty-six times
have these eyes beheld the
changing scene of autumn.
I have said enough about moonlight,
Ask no more.
Only listen to the voice of pines
and cedarswhen no wind stirs.
(Ryonen - translated)

See! It's really easy. It is a challenge but try your best and there is no such thing as silly haiku.
________________________________________
Comments:

November 17, 2007 - 17:12 — Valhalla
I got it all wrong!
Counted words instead of syllables!! Ah sighs. Welcome to the jungle of underachievement, Slash said. My humble apologies. But it was great, thanks Flutts & Dex. (don't trust the bastard though but my heart still has a place for him.)

November 16, 2007 - 17:45 — Flutter
The end draws near...
I think Haiku Friday was a smash. Hats off to Val, Ramon, Gary, Dolce and Echoes who are particularly gifted in the art of Haiku and special kudos to everyone who gave it a bash. It was good fun!

Mort, glad you're feeling better and will hold you haiku-ing us when you're up to it.Cheers all. Lekker naweek... alcohol beckons...

November 17, 2007 - 16:45 — Ramon
Flutter
You are pretty damn good yourself. And it was an excellent day - one of the best! Next year again, Haiku organiser?

November 17, 2007 - 17:08 — Flutter
Thanks Ramon
I had great fun too and I learnt so much from the guru's - yourself included. I am looking forward to many more learning sessions. Will think about some more interesting Friday fun.
How are you?

November 17, 2007 - 17:18 — Ramon
Damn fine, Flutter
Life goes on and all that.Going to Bangkok on Thursday for some training course and will be staying with old Vaan. I'll see if I can score another shirt or two.
Flu gone, then?

November 17, 2007 - 18:00 — Flutter
Ramona
Last dregs hanging around but on the mend I think. Doesn't help that every other person has it too. My dad has been struck doen with a particularly bad strain - jeez.
Enjoy Bangkok!! Say hello to Vaan - handsome devil and have fun. Vaan's T-shirts are cool. I wore mine on Diwali :-)

November 17, 2007 - 07:24 — nossie
Fluts
and mine??? Pffffft.

November 17, 2007 - 16:36 — Flutter
And Nos!!
I am sorry. You were great too. I particularly like this one.
It's hard enough to
speak my mind tho' the words are there
my own silence deafens me.

It speaks to me as does your frangipani one - for reasons I cannot explain here.

November 17, 2007 - 20:30 — nossie
Flutter
The silence of the Lambs, hey?

November 17, 2007 - 20:43 — Flutter
Lambchops
Mmhhh... :-)
How are you and your doing? Better?

November 17, 2007 - 20:46 — nossie
With a hint of
mint...yeah, better now. Time heals most of what ails us...physically.

November 17, 2007 - 20:52 — Flutter
I can't do a roast lamb
or beef for that matter. It's always stringy or dry or just plain crap.
Glad to hear it and sadly the emotional stuff will take alot more time. Does she have a better retraining order? Is he in jail yet?

November 17, 2007 - 20:57 — nossie
Yep...
the bastard is where he belongs...in jail...awaiting trial...no bail...and he's a pretty boy....he WILL get his, I'm sure.
As for the roast lamb...mine is legendary.
Poke the leg full of garlic, butter and rosemary.Add 3 cups of water to roasting dish.Place (closed) dish/pot in oven overnight at 100 degrees C.
it will fall off the bone - garuenteed.

November 17, 2007 - 21:04 — Flutter
Overnight?
Never thought of that. Last year's xmas roast was a disaster and I am determined to get it right this year. Shame everyone was so polite. That sounds way to easy but will give it a bash! Any cool receipes for a beef pot roast. My Italian friend's mom did this legendary rosemary beef pot roast but sadly has died with the receipe and my friend is traipsing around Germany.

November 17, 2007 - 21:08 — nossie
Overnight!!
You cannot go wrong. Just warn everyone that the oven is on for a purpose...I've had hubbee turn it off late one night before a big family lunch only to discover naught had happened in the oven overnight....we had a braai instead. Roast beef...pretty much the same only add mustard seeds and red wine instead of water. Good luck!!

November 16, 2007 - 17:46 — dex
pffft.
well, i just didn't want to do it well, okay.
-- picks lip off floor and shuffles away.

November 16, 2007 - 17:53 — Flutter
Dexie
I suck worse than you,
wait! or is that, I suck better
than you? ag whatever!

November 16, 2007 - 11:23 — kachasu
Kayoda say
haiku is for those who live on msg
and have very smellytoes.

November 16, 2007 - 11:27 — Flutter
Amiflutter says

she who has smoke breath
should not cast first stone, for glasshouses,
I do not design

November 16, 2007 - 11:37 — kachasu
Kayoda says
queens should beware of fate
in store like her majesty marie antoinette
who cannot eat cake again...
because, amiflutter, her head
was lobbed off by an angry mob.

November 16, 2007 - 11:42 — Flutter
Amiflutter says
what's this angry mob
of which KaYoda speaks? I can
eat cake gluten free

November 16, 2007 - 11:47 — kachasu
Kayoda says
Mob of one, small jedi is.
Angry, quick, happy to smack stick
against haiku and poetry pricks.

November 16, 2007 - 12:05 — Flutter
AmiFlutter says

solitary jedi
dwarfed by smack? I fear
you have not enough whip!

bring your mob and pit
against haiku wit typhoon,
small windy bag you.

November 16, 2007 - 11:59 — Dolce
Small Jedi
Small Jedi indeed
dwergie on attack again
beware your ankles!

November 16, 2007 - 12:01 — kachasu
hahahaha
oh dolce...
you funny blogette.

November 16, 2007 - 10:47 — Echoes
Dum de dum
Writing her memoirs
The bemused flutter
reads her first haiku

November 16, 2007 - 10:53 — Flutter
Echoes...
I like the quiet
echoes of your words that resound long
after I have read them

November 16, 2007 - 11:03 — Echoes
Flutter
Words that taps your
imagination
Fluttering around
your conscious mind madly
Seeking recourse
in quiet contemplation

November 16, 2007 - 11:20 — Flutter
Too true Echoes
too madly these words
flutbutterflies only live so longbefore
exhaustion takes over

November 16, 2007 - 11:24 — Echoes
Flutter gods
Butterflies are
but winged gods
Briefly breathing sun
into our world Let them
flutter by reverentially

November 16, 2007 - 11:33 — Flutter
Echoes
I shall then, flutter
words across new and strange lands
bathing in my warm sun

November 16, 2007 - 11:38 — Echoes
Double flutter
Until snatched by flutterby hunters
You struggle briefly in green net
Pinned forever to white death
Your winged beauty echoes on
But for steel pins of death
Wonder for hunter and child

November 16, 2007 - 11:52 — Flutter
Echoes
your words speak great truths
green traps savage, await me
all I have to give I fear,
is wingless offerings, not enough
for this mothy gifted mass

November 16, 2007 - 11:59 — Echoes
Flutter Reborn
But renew you will
Escape from your netted hell imminent…
through death you will live
Them come back - bring sun
and summer, happy memories in fields
Of lavender and echoing dreams

November 16, 2007 - 12:18 — Flutter
If only you knew Echoes...
constantly renewed
everyday, this ghostly place
soars with smiles my soul
sunny fragrant dreams
happy tears carve new
paths a-cross, jaded hearts

November 16, 2007 - 12:32 — Echoes
And we stumble on Flutter
life - a vicious circle
drags us along, our jaded hearts
constantly broken and mended
as our cursed nature
requires yearning to love forever -
lust mere thieves of hearts

November 16, 2007 - 10:24 — Flutter
Adminguy
You need to chill bru
storm in teacups should not rile
you so. Deep breaths Dex!

November 16, 2007 - 10:32 — dex
Fluts
a knife in the dark
is sometimes justified as
a means to an end.

November 16, 2007 - 10:38 — nossie
Adminguy
You are a dark knight
with a caring warm heart buried deep
may you shine on eternally.

November 16, 2007 - 10:37 — Flutter
AG I think
silence strikes greater fear
than death cut by deft finger
strokes, or so I hear

November 16, 2007 - 10:42 — Flutter
ok...
your point speaks to me
like shit it fades into dus
tlet itches be scratched

November 16, 2007 - 10:37 — Dolce
Adminguy
Adminguy, did you just
do what I think you did?
Knight to Bishop 4

November 16, 2007 - 10:40 — nossie
Adminguy
64 block on the board
be you king or pawn black or white
history comes to us rejoicing.

November 16, 2007 - 10:45 — Arbchick
adminguy
another kindness
would be to delete all
signs of his existence

November 16, 2007 - 10:54 — Arbchick
Adminguy
thank you sexy thingyou are amazing you know we're very grateful

November 16, 2007 - 10:56 — adminguy
shhh
quiet, leetle cheeckin
let us not dwell on events
that never took place ;)

November 16, 2007 - 10:40 — adminguy
he looks to the sky whistles
he looks to the sky whistles a tune: whateverare they referring to?

November 16, 2007 - 08:46 — Valhalla
5-7-5
They speak in ancient tongues
cold honey leaks from the secret mouth
bees shiver in frozen flowers

November 16, 2007 - 10:15 — Dolce
Halla
Again, I'm humbled
by the beauty of your verse
Sensory art work

November 16, 2007 - 08:37 — dex
Another world 1st:
i can like to build
the first Benoni Haiku.roll your R's, mo-fo.
i am deep like Boksburg lake.

November 16, 2007 - 09:43 — Flutter
Deksel
kwatmeisterrr drrrreams of me?
like Boksburg lakes deep frrrreee wild
frrrreeee speech Flutterrrrrrrrr.......

November 16, 2007 - 08:41 — Dusty Muffin
Dex
Ag man Dex you knowYou make me fall off my chairI can like to laugh

November 16, 2007 - 10:17 — Dolce
Schmex
My rrrrs rolls perfectwhen I'm wearing a jean pantand a high heel shoe.

November 16, 2007 - 08:22 — kachasu
sounds like shit to me
so, i will hang out on my forums for haiku friday.
you lot are such poetry snobs.
*mutter*

November 16, 2007 - 11:13 — Flutter
KC
i see you watchingfrom fringes. Me thinks you have uch to offer this end

November 16, 2007 - 08:24 — dex
Ah.
i see it was a moooo-sli morning, Pixie.

November 16, 2007 - 08:26 — kachasu
i am groovy dex
just so long as i don't picked on for lack of haiku.

November 16, 2007 - 08:31 — dex
ag KC
who will pick on you?you've been spoken of the world over;mountains tremble in fear.

November 16, 2007 - 11:16 — Flutter
Dexie
tis true ja, KC strikes
fear into the most warring heart
cowering like lambs

November 16, 2007 - 08:38 — Dusty Muffin
KC - Haiku 101
You just write three lines with syllables in each, of three, five and then three.
You will need fingersto make sure you do it right.There! Done and dusted.

November 16, 2007 - 08:51 — kachasu
i don't care!
bloody haiku nazi flutter is.

November 16, 2007 - 09:37 — Flutter
Excellent KC...
single image haiku brilliant Thatch

November 16, 2007 - 08:46 — dex
dusty
its 5-7-5 isn't it?

November 16, 2007 - 09:34 — Dusty Muffin
Dex
you are a smartie
and today you win the prize.
What’s your wish, Master?

November 16, 2007 - 09:40 — dex
Dusts
simple man, I am
-feet in a cold, clean river
is all that i want.

November 16, 2007 - 10:12 — Flutter
Yeh...
Mmhh.. rainbow rivers
colour mundane days with
fresh splashes of light

November 15, 2007 - 22:05 — dex
err
not so very sure
i am, of whether i have
what is needed here.

November 15, 2007 - 22:23 — Flutter
...
why Dex, you haiku
winter croaks broken chainsaw
men have poor rythym

November 15, 2007 - 22:53 — Arbchick
grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr DEX
just grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr