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Haiku is not a sentence in three fragments.
The best haiku are open ended.
Haiku is about nature and season as experienced or
observed by the poet.
Haiku uses minimal punctuation.
Metaphors, similes and other poetry elements are
unnecessary in haiku.
Haiku does not tell but shows the emotions as
experienced by the poet.
Haiku present specific moments rather than extensive
picture.
Haiku, senryu, haiga and tanka are used in both, singular
as well as plural form.
Haiku
The word haiku combines two different words haikai and
hokku. Haikai is a linked-verse Japanese poem in renga
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poetry style and hokku is the name given to the first
stanza of renga poetry. Haikai, a type of renga poetry,
consists of at least 100 verses in 5-7-5-7-7 pattern.
Haiku poetry form developed from hokku of haikai and
became an independent poetry form in the 17th century;
however, the word haiku was not used until 19th century.
Haiku was named by Japanese poet Masaoka Shik.
Haiku is non-rhyming Japanese poetry form. It is
composed in three lines, in 5-7-5 format, 17 syllables in
total. Haiku is about nature and plays with the imagery,
metaphors and emotions of seasons.
Japanese characters were developed from Chinese and
Korean alphabets, which are basically pictograms. The
style of haiku was perfectly compatible with the language
because a single character could say many things.
However, in other language such as English, an alphabet
is just a letter that cannot evoke feelings and emotions,
or even sensible meaning. Therefore, when haiku entered
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into English and other languages, there were few
modifications. The three lines form was maintained in
haiku, but the strictness of 17 syllables could not always
be retained.
The modern haiku does not strictly follow 17 syllables in
5-7-5 format. Some haiku poets follow 5-3-5 format,
whereas some do not even follow the uniform pattern of
syllables. The most common haiku format is unrhymed
three lines poetry.
Haiku poetry form was incorporated in the Western
languages in the 19th century. Imagists popularized
English haiku poetry in the early 20th century.
Haiku Poetry
Haiku: Rose
Haiku about rose. Pictures of rose.
Haiku: Nature
Haiku were originally written about nature. Two haiku
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about nature and a video based on haiku about nature
Senryu
In the 18th century, Karai Senryu (1718-1790) composed
short non-rhyming poems, about human foibles and
ironies, in 5-7-5 form. His poems were called Senryu.
Later, all the poems that followed the tradition of Karai
Senryu were called senryu. Karai Senryu is the pen
name of Karai Hachiemon.
Senryu a Japanese poetry form composed in 17
syllables, in 5-7-5 format is similar to haiku. Like haiku,
there have been some modifications in senryu pattern, in
modern times. The basic difference between haiku and
senryu is, haiku is written about season and nature,
whereas senryu is about the ironies of life. Sometimes it
is hard to differentiate senryu with haiku because
senryu can also be a commentary on nature or season.
To differentiate a senryu with haiku you have to consider
the tone. Thematic treatment in haiku is serious whereas
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senryu are humorous or cynical.
Normally, senryu presents setting, subject and action. It
is a commentary on human nature in satirical or
humorous tone.
Haiga by Vinaya
Haiga by Vinaya
Haiga
Haiga: Love
Haiga about carnal, ethereal and motherly love. Tips on
how to create Haiga.
Haiga
Haiga (hai=poem/haiku; ga=painting) is a visual poetry
form, which originated in China in the 7th century, and
was perfected in Japan the 17th century. Painting, poetry
and calligraphy were called Three Perfections in
ancient China. The Three Perfections was first practiced
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during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). The Three
Perfections of Tang Dynasty heavily influenced Japanese
art and literature.
Calligraphy, the art of handwriting, was highly regarded
in ancient China. Artists wrote deep and profound lines,
in beautiful script, over the painting. Japanese artists
emulated the tradition of writing beautiful lines over a
painting. Painting and poetry became complimentary art
forms. Poets with painting ability, or the painters who
were poets, created visual poetry.
During the Edo period (16021869) haiku and senryu
were combined with painting and calligraphy. Thus, a new
visual poetry form was born, it was called Haiga. Haiga is
a haiku/senryu poem written over a painting or
photograph.
Haiga is a poetry blended with picture that tells about
profound observation of life, living and the world.
Thematically the poetry in the haiga is similar to the
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picture. Haiga was initially painted over wooden blocks,
stones, cloths, and paper and used as room decoration.
Haiga is highly regarded in Zen Buddhism. Creating haiga
is thought to be a type of Buddhist meditation.
Modern haiga poet/artist combines haiku/senryu with
digital pictures. The modern haiga normally presents a
haiku or senryu written on painting or photograph.
Given a choice between different Japanese poetry forms,
what do you choose?
Haiku
Senryu
Haiga
Tanka
See results
Tanka
In the beginning, when Japanese poetry forms were not
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developed, waka was used to denote all kinds of poem.
Waka literally means classical Japanese poetry.
Manyoshu, which dates back to the middle of 7th
century, is the oldest book of Japanese poetry.
Manyoshu contains long and short poems. Manyoshu
categorizes short poems as waka and long poems as
choka. The word waka was later replaced with tanka.
Tanka is the modern name for waka. It is one of the
oldest Japanese poetry styles.
Tanka is non-rhyming Japanese poetry form composed
in five lines, in 5-7-5-7-7 format, 31 syllables in total. It
consists of two elements. The first three lines (5-7-5) is
called kami-no-ku (literally upper phrase) and the last
two lines (7-7) is called shimo-no-ku (literally lower
phrase).
In the ninth and tenth centuries, short poems dominated
Japanese poetry styles. Kokinshu is one of the earliest
collections of tanka. However, tanka poetry form was
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almost lost for one thousand years. Japanese poet,
essayist, and critic Masaoka Shiki (1867-1902) is
credited for the revival of tanka poetry, and the
invention of haiku from hokku (haikai). Masaoka lived
during the reign of Japanese emperor Meiji Tenno
(1852-1912). Meiji is credited for the development of
modern Japan. Masaoka tried to do the same thing in
Japanese poetry.
Kokin-shu, an anthology of poetry, was compiled by a
court noble Ki Tsurayuki in 905. Kokin-shu styles of
poetry ruled Japan for about one thousand years.
However, Masaoka praised the poetry styles in
Manyoshu (7th century) and degraded Kokin-shu.
Manyoshu contains long and short poetry forms. Tanka
is a short poetry form in Manyoshu.
The modern tanka poetry form was revived in the late
1980s by Japanese poetess Tawara Machi.
Tanka: Poems for Kids - and adults
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If a haiku is usually (mistakenly) thought of as a 3-line,
5-7-5 syllable poem, then the tanka would be a 5-line,
5-7-5-7-7 syllable poem. However, as with haiku, its
better to think of a tanka as a 5-line poem with 3 short
lines (lines 2, 4, 5) and 2 very short lines (lines 1 and 3).
While imagery is still important in tanka, the form is a
little more conversational than haiku at times. It also
allows for the use of poetic devices such as metaphor
and personification (2 big haiku no-nos).
Like haiku, tanka is a Japanese poetic form.
*****
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While Im sure there are problems with my attempt, here
is my tanka attempt, which you can use as an example of
the form:
Chopins waltzes
turn circles in my head
for hours
as I think of her hand
turning the world inside out
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Im waiting to die;
I think it will happen soon
this morning, I saw
two bright hummingbirds battling
over some sugar water.
I know; I was there.
I chased after them for you
until thirst stopped me.
Fetch me some water. I have
a little sugar for you.
*****
Get your poetry published.
*****
Senryu
By: Robert Lee Brewer | May 23, 2013
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Its been two months since our last poetic form challenge
and the April PAD Challenge is over, so lets get another
one started.
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This time around, the challenge is to write senryu, which
is a variation of the haiku. As with haiku, senryu are most
often 3-line poems containing 17 (or fewer)
syllablesoften in a 5-7-5 pattern. Senryu does not
include a cutting or seasonal word, and its usually about
human issues (not nature, as is the case with haiku).
In fact, many people write poems that they call haiku that
are really senryu. So in a way, its a form of poetry that
is often suffering from identity theft and mistaken
identity.
OK, so thats the form.
Here are the guidelines for competing in this challenge:
Write and share original and previously unpublished
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Include your name as you would like it to appear in
print (just in case youre chosen as a winner).
Speaking of winners, the top senryu (and maybe a
few extra, since the form is so short) will be
published in a future issue of Writers Digest
magazine in the Poetic Asides Inkwell column.
Anyone and everyone (from any location on the
globe) is encouraged to participate. Its free and fun.
Note to new poets: Youll have to register on the site
(dont worry; its free) to comment. And for your
first few comments, you may have to wait for one of
us editors to approve your comment. Dont worry;
well get to youand then, after that first approval,
you should be good to go into the future.
Good luck!
Katauta Poems
The katauta is a Japanese poetic form that is actually
considered an incomplete or half-poem. Its a 3-liner that
follows either 5-7-5 or more commonly 5-7-7 syllables
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per line. Sounds like a haiku or senryu, right? But this
poem is specifically addressed to a lover.
When paired together, multiple katautas act as a
question and answer conversation between lovers to
form sedoka. If the concept of sedoka sounds familiar,
its similar to somonka, in which 2 tankas are written as
love letters.
*****
Heres my attempt at a Katauta:
Untitled Katauta, by Robert Lee Brewer
Why do winter stars
shine brighter than summer stars
as if they are shards of glass?
And while were at it, heres a Sedoka:
Untitled Sedoka, by Robert Lee Brewer
why do winter stars
shine brighter than summer stars
as if they are shards of glass?
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dont blame the seasons
on the ever changing heat
of your lovers quick embrace.
*****
Dodoitsu: Poetic Forms
By: Robert Lee Brewer | July 14, 2015
0
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havent found any word on whether dodoitsu traditionally
have titles or not.
*****
Here is an example focused on work:
when a geologist speaks
& the earth trembles seven
meteorologists get
sucked in a twister
Here is an example focused on love:
i gave her all my heart &
heartache but she returned it
with the admission they gave
her severe heartburn
*****
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why do winter stars
shine brighter than summer stars
and why do i notice them?
i cant hear them laugh,
but i remember the way
they once entered the darkness.
*****
If mondo seems a little too much like sedoka, I totally
understand. I think the main difference is a focus on
nature and trying to attain a zen-like meaning from
natural source material.
*****
Katauta: Poetic Form
By: Robert Lee Brewer | December 19, 2016
1
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Katauta Poems
The katauta is a Japanese poetic form that is actually
considered an incomplete or half-poem. Its a 3-liner that
follows either 5-7-5 or more commonly 5-7-7 syllables
per line. Sounds like a haiku or senryu, right? But this
poem is specifically addressed to a lover.
When paired together, multiple katautas act as a
question and answer conversation between lovers to
form sedoka. If the concept of sedoka sounds familiar,
its similar to somonka, in which 2 tankas are written as
love letters.
*****
Heres my attempt at a Katauta:
Untitled Katauta, by Robert Lee Brewer
why do winter stars
shine brighter than summer stars
as if they are shards of glass?
And while were at it, heres a Sedoka:
Untitled Sedoka, by Robert Lee Brewer
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why do winter stars
shine brighter than summer stars
as if they are shards of glass?
dont blame the seasons
on the ever changing heat
of your lovers quick embrace.
*****
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comments first-hand, I figured Id make it easy on people
since the advice is very useful.
Some highlights:
My sense of things is that practically no current
literary haiku writers believe the 5-7-5 pattern of
syllables is applicable in English (in Japanese they
count sounds, not syllables, which is why a
one-syllable word like scarf, in English, is counted
as FOUR sounds when said in Japan, something like
su-ka-ar-fu), so Im not sure Id call 5-7-5 a
traditional viewpoint in English. More like a
traditional misunderstanding.
Rather, what matters most in the tradition of haiku
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At any rate, I always like to quote philosopher
Roland Barthes on haiku. He said that The haiku has
this rather fantasmagorical property: that we
always suppose we ourselves can write such things
easily. Paradoxically, haiku is both easy and hard.
Welch also provided to links to check out:
1. His essay Becoming a Haiku Poet at
http://www.haikuworld.org/begin/mdwelch.apr200
3.html
2. Keiko Imaokas essay Forms in English Haiku at
http://asgp.org/agd-poems/keiko-essay.html
I would like to thank Welch, who is an expert in his field,
for sharing so much great information with everyone.
This is what having a community of poets is all about as
far as Im concerned.
Haiku, Senryu, Haiga and Tanka
The Chinese contribution in the development of Japanese
script and literature is immense. Even though the history
of Japanese literature goes beyond 7th century AD,
much of the Japanese literature took inspiration from
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Chinese literature during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) in
China.
Kojiki (712) and Nihonshoki (720) are the earliest
records of Japanese literature. Kojiki and Nihonshoki are
the books of Japanese mythology, history and poems.
Mythology and history in these books were recorded
from the oral tradition by Hieda no Are and credited to
Yasumaro. The poems in these books are said to be
composed by Japanese God Susanoo.
In the beginning, Japanese poets used Chinese language
to express their emotions, observations and insights.
After the hundred years of writing in foreign language
and form, Japanese poets developed a native style, which
became integral to Japanese culture.
This one of the hundred prints illustrating the Japanese
poetry anthology called the Hyakunin isshu, which was
compiled by the poet Fuhiwara Teika 1162-1241
This one of the hundred prints illustrating the Japanese
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poetry antology called the Hyakunin isshu, which was
compiled by the poet Fuhiwara Teika 1162-1241 | Source
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