for many, talking
is often a great pleasure
as limitless words
commute back and forth between
diverse types of cultured folk
Japanese writers
viewed things slightly differently,
prioritizing
brevity and short stanzas
in their poetry and prose
in light of all this,
Haikus became prominent:
Five-Seven-Five beats
square-dancing intimately
on three sharp and crispy lines
these Haikus served as
introductions to Tankas;
an additional
seven-seven beat couplet
meant for clearing mysteries
resulting Tankas
were compiled to form Rengas:
amalgamations-
myriads of poets’ voices
flooding myriads of verses
It has been agreed
that Haikus, and Tankas too,
express empathy
and emotion in details
no other style can capture
This entire post
is in itself sustained by
carefully placed beats
of five-seven-five-seven-
-seven screaming syllables
for what better way
to show the tough discipline
than by using it?
words can mean as much or as
little as you want them to
Use them wisely.
References
- Blyth, R. H. (1964). A history of Haiku. Japan: The Hokuseido Press.
- Blyth, R. H. (1952). Haiku. Japan: The Hokuseido Press.
- Emrich, J. A quick start to writing Tanka. Tanka Online. Retrieved from <http://www.tankaonline.com/Quick%20Start%20Guide.htm>
- Henderson, H. G. (1958). An introduction to Haiku: An anthology of poems and poets from BashÅ to Shiki. New York: Doubleday & Company.
- Higginson, W. J. (1985). The Haiku handbook: How to write, share, and teach Haiku. Tokyo: Kodansha International.
