This
is a boxed kit containing a blank book, 50 one-word tiles
(not ceramic) and a draw-string bag for them, and a 70-page
how to write haiku book titled Footprints
in the Snow.
The
books introduction mentions how writing haiku can
be a spiritual journey and gives several examples of Japanese
haiku in translation and English-language haiku. The writing
of haiku in 5/7/5 syllables is stressed: . . . especially
if youre looking for spiritual practice. Spiritual
journeys require disciplines . . .
Chapter
One: What Makes a Haiku? quotes haiku by Basho,
Buson and Issa, including this by Wallace Stevens: Among
twenty snowy mountains/The only moving thing/Was the eye
of the blackbird. which the author attributes to Buson!
The 17 rule is again mentioned, and the second
rule is given as . . . the poet must establish an
intimate relationship between the poet and nature, even
though the poem isnt necessarily about nature.
Chapter
Two: Haiku and Nature again mentions 5/7/5 and
that the haiku is untitled and unrhymed. The second rule
about nature in haiku (given above) is stressedthere
must be a presence of nature in haiku.
Three:
The Discipline of Haiku. Yes, 5/7/5 again! Fortunately
the author does mention that Haiku work best when
written in the present tense. and that Often,
not many verbs are needed . . . , but nothing about
adjectives and adverbs as generally having the same restriction.
Also, mention is made that each line generally be a Where
or What or Who. And the author does indicate that the rules
of haiku need not always be followed when one has mastered
haiku.
Four:
Finding the Haiku Moment. The haiku takes
that one specific experience and tells us about it in seventeen
syllables, using nature to help express it or illuminate
it. Although the author does not specifically use
the phrase juxtaposition of seemingly disparate entities
she alludes to it: Feel absolutely free, then, to
build details that seem unrelated . . ..
Five:
Haiku and Zen. Haiku is like Zen because
of its simplicity and clarity. Zen fosters a clear mind
and a direct unclouded perception of the world.
Six:
Getting Started. 5/7/5 again, along with finding
the haiku moment and its emotion (feeling perhaps
would have been a somewhat better term) and the use of nature,
and how to use the blank book.
Seven:
Exercises. Various ways to inspire the writing
of haiku, including use of the tiles, each of which has
a single word on it, as: silent, chirp, crimson, willow,
drink, clouds, hair, ringing, river, wind.
The
kit appears to be reasonably useful for a haiku neophyte,
although the stress on 5/7/5 syllables can lead easily to
padding haiku with unnecessary words, especially adjectives.
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