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Poets, Poems n Poetry > Haiku and Coffee - S Jayanth

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message 1: by Sankara Jayanth (last edited Feb 22, 2018 07:54AM) (new)

Sankara Jayanth S (sankarajayanth) | 1158 comments I used to write haiku a few years ago, but I stopped. I want to get back to writing them again.

Here's the definition of haiku for those unfamiliar with it:
a Japanese poem of seventeen syllables, in three lines of five, seven, and five, traditionally evoking images of the natural world.


That was the initial interpretation of the structure and thematic nature of Japanese haiku. But creativity is never bound by rules, so later another structure became famous, a haiku with eleven syllables, in three lines of three, five, and three. The theme is flexible. But the challenge of writing haiku lies in trying to abide by the rules. I write some that do follow the 3-5-3 or 5-7-5 structures strictly and I also write many that are a syllable or two off from the desired count. Maybe if I get better at writing, I could modify them to fit the structure correctly.

Before reading my haiku, you should read some haiku(translations) of Matsuo Bashō who is considered to be the greatest haiku poet:

An old silent pond...
A frog jumps into the pond,
splash! Silence again.
~ ~ ~
From time to time
The clouds give rest
To the moon-beholders.
~ ~ ~
In the cicada's cry
No sign can foretell
How soon it must die.
~ ~ ~
No one travels
Along this way but I,
This autumn evening.
~ ~ ~



I'm going to write haiku and other very short poems(I like the terms micropoetry or vignettes) that aren't structurally haiku, but are very similar. I'd like to call this collection Haiku and Coffee. Do share your thoughts and criticisms, or maybe a haiku of your own. :)


message 2: by Sankara Jayanth (last edited Feb 22, 2018 07:51AM) (new)

Sankara Jayanth S (sankarajayanth) | 1158 comments .
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#1. A Cruel Season

A season of war,
Garden of wilting lilies,
And widowed roses



message 3: by Sankara Jayanth (last edited Feb 22, 2018 08:00AM) (new)

Sankara Jayanth S (sankarajayanth) | 1158 comments .
.
#2. Sand Castles and Sea-creature Carcasses

Waves crashing,
Water frothing, and
A beached whale.



Sankara Jayanth S (sankarajayanth) | 1158 comments .
.
#3. Impermanence

I open a window,
Lingering scent of her body,
Leaves in hurtful haste.



Sankara Jayanth S (sankarajayanth) | 1158 comments .
.
#4. Not Enough Fingers

Waiting at a bus stop,
Under a burnt neon light,
I count my failures.



message 6: by dely (last edited Feb 22, 2018 11:55PM) (new)

dely | 5488 comments Nice!

If you like haikus, maybe you will like hermetic poetry. Look for Giuseppe Ungaretti.


message 7: by Ravi (new)

Ravi (goodreadscomuncertainp) | 4905 comments Nice work! @Jayant

Gazing at bubbles,
Depicts the split second,
between life and death.


Sankara Jayanth S (sankarajayanth) | 1158 comments @dely Thanks! I will check out his works. :)


Sankara Jayanth S (sankarajayanth) | 1158 comments @Ravi Thanks! Nice haiku :)


message 10: by Sankara Jayanth (new)

Sankara Jayanth S (sankarajayanth) | 1158 comments .
.
#5. Creepers and Cracks

Walls of broken heart,
Stand against trials of time,
Ivy hides rogue scars.



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