Japanese Haiku A beautiful sneeze

What is a Haiku? A three line poem with no more than 17 syllables. Expresses a thought, feeling or a mood, using nature. Traditionally at least one line must describe or convey a sense of season, or hour (day or night). It describes a frozen moment in nature. Haiku are also accompanied with a picture to help guide the reader. The layout of a Haiku is 5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables. To count syllables break the words into parts when you say it; for example: layout is two syllables lay-out. Let’s take a look at a few Haiku’s

This snowy morning That Black Crow I hate so much… But he’s beautiful This snowy morning That Black Crow I hate so much… But he’s beautiful! -Basho

No one Travels, Along this way but I This autumn evening. -Basho

WATCH THIS: How to write a Haiku (2:33mins): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KInBpl1zXFI 俳句と短歌　haiku and tanka (2:37mins) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIqStGLUdoQ Free Write Over the next few slides you will see some pictures, when I show you each one I want to you take 3mins and free write, describing the image using 10-15 words. Describe the scene, what emotions it evokes etc. anything that comes to your mind. If the image leads you somewhere else that’s fine.

But before we do that, let’s talk Tanka! Next Step Now hopefully you have got your creative gears moving, your next step is to pick one of the descriptions you like the best and transform it into a Haiku. Don’t forget an illustration to help you out. But before we do that, let’s talk Tanka!

Or The five-lined love letter (sort of) The Tanka Or The five-lined love letter (sort of)

Some History Much older than the Haiku Dates back about 1300 years Famous for being used as thank-you notes between lovers after a hook-up… WHAT!??!

Oh, yeah… In a culture where it was expected and accepted, one lover would send a “thank-you-for-that-go-round” tanka. Then the other lover would promptly reply with a tanka of his/her own. Even though such things were expected, it was still done in secret. It could be written on a fan or on a paper that was tied to the stem of a flower for covert delivery.

More History… The tanka form was also part of a popular poem-game One poet would write the first three lines Another poet would finish it with the final two lines – Repeat. This was called renga which means “linked poem” The tanka was also used when a poet wanted to commemorate a significant event.

Format 31 syllables divided into 5 lines: Line 1: 5 syllables

Format Like the haiku, the tankas traditionally deals with nature and seasons, but unlike the haiku, the tanka emphasizes the feelings of the author. Sometimes, in the third line would be an image or an idea that would link the subject of the first two lines with the subject of the final two lines, thus drawing a connection between the two ideas.

Example Since the nightingale kept soundless, its song’s echo renders me stone deaf. If it would know my sorrow would it maybe sing again? ~Vasile Moldovan Can you find all of its parts?

Example annotated… (5-7-5-7-7 Since the nightingale syllables) kept soundless, its song’s echo renders me stone deaf. Images in If it would know my sorrow first and last would it maybe sing again? two lines ~Vasile Moldovan Focus on both nature Image in line 3 and feelings

Examples in the check-out line a worn face ahead of me turns tentatively… realities of desire fade in final reckoning ~George Knox

Two Famous Tanka Writers Izumi Shikibu If completely cold were we and had ended it, forgetting you would come easily. Ono no Komachi Did he appear Because I fell asleep Thinking of him? If only I’d known I was dreaming I’d never have wakened.

Examples translations… My longing for you – too strong to keep within bounds. At least no one can blame me when I go to you at night along the road of dreams. ~Ono no Komachi

Examples translations… I know it must be this way in the waking world, but how cruel – even in my dreams we hide from others’ eyes. ~Ono on Komachi

Your Tasks: Through clear descriptive images these poems reveal an idea or emotion. Write a paragraph about one of the poems explaining whether description, idea, or emotion dominates. Include a strong topic sentence and specific references from the poem that support your main idea. Write you own haiku and/or tanka. Write a brief description of the skill and discipline needed to write poems in these very restricted formats.