Haiku
Watching shooting stars—
What did they do to deserve
Such an awful fate?
* * *
As many of you are aware, I wrote about the influence of haiku on modern poetry for the critical component of my MFA thesis. During the course of my research I came to learn that haiku written in Western languages generally don't follow the traditional 5/7/5 line and syllable count found in Japanese haiku (due to the differences in the way words are pronounced, etc.). I also came to learn, via my association with the Haiku Society of America, that most haiku poets sticking to the 5/7/5 format are considered amateurs by more "authentic" practitioners of the form.
After much consideration and haiku writing, I have decided that I prefer to stick to the 5/7/5 structure, as a perverse way of doing the thing purposely incorrect. That is to say: I am intentionally writing my haiku in a manner that is sure to irk the purists, and cement my reputation as a haiku poet with a grade-school aesthetic.
Let it not be said that I eschewed structure. Conversely: "Tough shit," as they say in Toledo.
What did they do to deserve
Such an awful fate?
* * *
As many of you are aware, I wrote about the influence of haiku on modern poetry for the critical component of my MFA thesis. During the course of my research I came to learn that haiku written in Western languages generally don't follow the traditional 5/7/5 line and syllable count found in Japanese haiku (due to the differences in the way words are pronounced, etc.). I also came to learn, via my association with the Haiku Society of America, that most haiku poets sticking to the 5/7/5 format are considered amateurs by more "authentic" practitioners of the form.
After much consideration and haiku writing, I have decided that I prefer to stick to the 5/7/5 structure, as a perverse way of doing the thing purposely incorrect. That is to say: I am intentionally writing my haiku in a manner that is sure to irk the purists, and cement my reputation as a haiku poet with a grade-school aesthetic.
Let it not be said that I eschewed structure. Conversely: "Tough shit," as they say in Toledo.
posted by Steve Caratzas at 11:42 AM
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2 Comments:
Fuck Haiku purists! They're taking over Las Vegas, I tell you. I can't go into a casino without being handed anti-5/7/5 literature. Keep doing it your way. FIGHT THE POWER!
..and, I tried Haiku writing as a kid, but I'm from the south, so a lot of the words I used had less syllables than I thought, due to the drawn out speaking patterns of family and friends.
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