Cleo_Serapis
Aug 3 03, 16:40
Haiku is one of the most important forms of traditional Japanese poetry. Haiku is, today, a 17-syllable verse form consisting of three metrical units of 5, 7, and 5 syllables respectively.
Haiku (in English) usually appears as an unrhymed three-line verse. It should balance intense, fragmentary imagery with stress on rhythm and sound. Though it can be presented in three lines, a haiku structurally consists of two parts with a pause in between. The power behind it derives from the juxtaposition of the two images and the sense of surprise or revelation that the second image produces. A good haiku is like a good joke: the set-up, then the punch line.
In the broadest sense,Haiku is about Nature. In Japan, most haiku have a season word (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, New Years) that links the poem with the vast, archetypal round of the Year of Life. Today, in place of the season word, some contemporary haiku poets use keywords that express common themes of human experience (for example, "mother"). This, however, is a matter of controversy in modern haiku.
Some examples of tradition Haiku are listed below by Japanese Poet, Kobayashi Issa for you to enjoy.
in falling rain
one man remains...
blossom shade
the cherry blossoms
that stirred me, shade me
no more
through falling snow
a spring breeze
blows
have you come
to save us haiku poets?
red dragonfly
Please feel free to add to this thread your own haiku..
Mosaic Musings Staff
Seven sunrises
bumping up Tolt River Road
on the way to work.
A low gibbous moon
follows treetops and the bus
up the logging road.
Cascade eastwind blows
down long valley waking
young fir tips swaying.
I ride on logging roads
slippery with frost in the middle
of a sunrise fire.
Purpled pink hues pierce
frosted air to dance laketop
between mountain pairs.
Aphrodite
Aug 30 03, 06:52
QUOTE (Brahms @ Aug. 28 2003, 12:11)
Seven sunrises
bumping up Tolt River Road
on the way to work.
A low gibbous moon
follows treetops and the bus
up the logging road.
Cascade eastwind blows
down long valley waking
young fir tips swaying.
I ride on logging roads
slippery with frost in the middle
of a sunrise fire.
Purpled pink hues pierce
frosted air to dance laketop
between mountain pairs.
Hi Stephen~
Marvelously sweet and shining 
with colorful images!
Keep on writing!
Take care~
Aphrodite (Lindi)
Cleo_Serapis
Aug 30 03, 07:39
Nicely done Brahms! :sun:
Look forward to reading more haiku from you! :pharoah2
~Cleo :pharoah:
Morgan le Fay
Aug 31 03, 22:09
A small collection:
Soft air, clear night skies
Katydids and crickets sing
Moonbeams stretch for miles
Raindrops glisten, fall,
Silver Spider's garden web
Tears of the twilight
The Blue Heron lands
A stately Pterodactyl
Ancient Oak limbs sway
Morgan le Fay
Mistress of Magic 
Very fine, Morgan, besides the 5-7-5 balance they so easily place me into the place and time you captured. So good because that is part of the intention of haiku. I shall be happy to share more of mine as I learn to ride the 3-1-2 balance, after I share my next poem.
Riding with new saddle,
Brahms
Pasture Waiting
Water cascading
thin stream into water trough
summer layers land.
Munching horses bow
delightful evening dusk
extra hay now gone.
Horse-trough goldfish rise
up wondering dancing flies
anyone care dance?
Setting sun deepens woods
light green leaves becoming gone
quiet rests the land.
JustDaniel
Sep 1 03, 07:28
Summer Leaves for Fall
sunned limbs twist inward,
packing up her trunk, leaving
memories to wind
© Daniel J Ricketts 01 Sept 2003
Cleo_Serapis
Sep 1 03, 08:56
QUOTE (Brahms @ Aug. 31 2003, 23:30)
Very fine, Morgan, besides the 5-7-5 balance they so easily place me into the place and time you captured. So good because that is part of the intention of haiku. I shall be happy to share more of mine as I learn to ride the 3-1-2 balance, after I share my next poem.
Riding with new saddle,
Brahms
Hi Brahms.
In ALL the threads within "Karnak Crossing" - the 1:3:2 rule is NOT in effect. This is a learning forum and all the threads posted here do not have those 'rules' attached....
Cheers! 
~Cleo :pharoah2
JustDaniel
Sep 11 03, 05:26
Hey, LorII!
Try ignoring THIS one!
Strawberries Blonde
cut off their green hair;
bowl them over at knifepoint
to serve, cream-caked, whipped
© Daniel J Ricketts 11 Sept 2003
Cleo_Serapis
Sep 11 03, 05:29
Low clouds scuttling
gentle dark and white
these Trappist men.
Trappist quiet
rainsong
on the pond.
Gentle rain
wetting yellow grass
men move inside!
Youthful purpose widens
child and mother distance
walking home.
A hermit bullfrog
bellows all his eveings
over monk's path.
Hi,
One can also have a haiku cycle where there are several verses (stanzas if one prefers) and in which the first line of the one verse is the same as the last line of the previous - with a final wrap-round at the end, back to the beginning. Moreover, the concept should also by cyclical. I present one below. I seem to remember that I had a doubt about the exact syllable count - I can never seem to assess those correctly. However, basically it is a genuine haiku cycle (it was written for a class in which I was a student some years ago). I will re-post this for crit at some future point; I post it here as an example of a haiku cycle (although you may make any comment if you wish - feel free). It is also in the haiku tradition of observing nature and its changes. By the way, it really was inspired by watching my dogs leap into the air in futile attempts to catch flies.
© James Oxenholme 2003. I, James Oxenholme, hereby assert and give notice of my right under Section 77 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (Law of Wales & England - as recognised by the international Berne Convention) to be identified as the author of the following article:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The World's Dog Days
by Jox (Writing as JL - # 0025)
Subtitle: The Splendid Futility Haiku
(With acknowledgement to Wilfred Owen)
Dogs jumping for flies;
An ancient tree gently dies.
Summer fades each day.
Summer fades each day;
Ferns turn brown along the way.
Winter's coming soon.
Winter's coming soon;
Insects wrap in their cocoon.
The World hibernates.
The World hibernates;
Frosty hoar clings to the slates.
All is quiet now.
All is quiet now;
Snow covers every tree's bough.
Spring awaits its time
Spring awaits its time;
Magically, brown turns to lime.
The World in flourish.
The World in flourish;
Life everywhere to nourish.
The sun's rays give life.
The sun's rays give life;
Why have a World full of strife?
Dogs jumping for flies.
Cleo_Serapis
Sep 11 03, 18:20
QUOTE (Jox @ Sep. 11 2003, 17:52)
Hi,
One can also have a haiku cycle where there are several verses (stanzas if one prefers) and in which the first line of the one verse is the same as the last line of the previous - with a final wrap-round at the end, back to the beginning. Moreover, the concept should also by cyclical. I present one below. I seem to remember that I had a doubt about the exact syllable count - I can never seem to assess those correctly. However, basically it is a genuine haiku cycle (it was written for a class in which I was a student some years ago). I will re-post this for crit at some future point; I post it here as an example of a haiku cycle (although you may make any comment if you wish - feel free). It is also in the haiku tradition of observing nature and its changes. By the way, it really was inspired by watching my dogs leap into the air in futile attempts to catch flies.
© James Oxenholme 2003. I, James Oxenholme, hereby assert and give notice of my right under Section 77 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (Law of Wales & England - as recognised by the international Berne Convention) to be identified as the author of the following article:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------
The World's Dog Days
by Jox (Writing as JL)
Subtitle: The Splendid Futility Haiku
(With acknowledgement to Wilfred Owen)
Dogs jumping for flies;
An ancient tree gently dies.
Summer fades each day.
Summer fades each day;
Ferns turn brown along the way.
Winter's coming soon.
Winter's coming soon;
Insects wrap in their cocoon.
The World hibernates.
The World hibernates;
Frosty hoar clings to the slates.
All is quiet now.
All is quiet now;
Snow covers every tree's bough.
Spring awaits its time
Spring awaits its time;
Magically, brown turns to lime.
The World in flourish.
The World in flourish;
Life everywhere to nourish.
The sun's rays give life.
The sun's rays give life;
Why have a World full of strife?
Dogs jumping for flies.
WOW! :artist: :musicband: :angel:
These are great! You've added another level to this form.
Wonderful! :pharoah2 :cloud9:
Excellent sample as well!
Cheers!
~Cleo :pharoah: :fish: :tigger: :glitter:
Dear Jox
What'a all this about "I don't do poetic forms" !
This cycle is brilliant, and as said, takes us to a new level .....
Love
Alan
Cleo and Alan,
Thank you very much indeed. I really only dabble in poetry whilst trying to be a successful novelist (ie have one published!). Even more rarely do I use a form - think this and my recent toilet are the only two, apart from a three-line odd hikau. I suspect that the only time I can write in form is when the whim (sounding like Cleo now!) provides me with a strong tale to tell. Anything weaker and it has to be free-form.
Still, I have the scissors here and will be cutting your very flattering comments off the screen and framing them on the wall.
Thank you. Jox.
Hello Daniel,
Summer Leaves for Fall
QUOTE
sunned limbs twist inward,
packing up her trunk, leaving
memories to wind
Clever use of colour to illustrate this one Daniel and a great image of Autumn's end. 
Cheers
Grace
Grace; most kind of you (as always!). Thank you very much. That's one of the nicest things anyone has said about my writing. Keeps one going and all that. So, if anyone asks why I'm still turning out poems when I should shut up I'll blame you!
Again, thank you Grace. I really appreciate what you said.
Strangely, I have just been replying to a crit of that very poem (I have posted it in the poetry crit area now). So if you wish to take a look please feel free to do so.
James.
Cleo_Serapis
Oct 20 03, 07:15
This is coming along nicely! :)
Although I must admit that this one:
I ride on logging roads
slippery with frost in the middle
of a sunrise fire.
Is not Haiku (too many syllables per line) although it is pretty! :sun: Brahms - would you like to re-write that one perhaps so it's 5/7/5?
Cheers!
~Cleo :pharoah:
Hi,
Brahams is arguing (see his crit of my Hikau cycle in the crit area) that 5/7/5 is merely a recent American constraint on the Haiku - nothing to do with the original Japanese. I am trying to find out more. He says 5/?/5 is the proper original Japanese format. Of course I hope he is right but if I - or anyone out there - can find evidence either way it would be useful.
J.
Haiku - THE RINGER
(A Tragedy In 17 Syllables)
This morning I rang
To ask you to marry me
But you were engaged .......
Alan McAlpine Douglas
JustDaniel
Oct 26 03, 16:25
Here's one to break many of the 'rules' I've read of haiku: titled, rhyming, acrostic, unseasoned:
S.O.S.
see a ding-a-ling
overkill this haiku thing;
scant impressioning
© M Lee Dickens’ son 26 Oct 2003
Lightly, Daniel
Michelle
Oct 26 03, 20:27
This is my first haiku. A very knowledgeable
poet taught me his expectations of a haiku
and I wrote this hoping to impress him. lol
bushy tail fox hides
green field camouflages frog
perilous limelight
JustDaniel
Oct 27 03, 00:11
Bushed Fox?
vixen’s hoary tail
camouflaged nothing from frog;
who visits who’s pad?
© M Lee Dickens’ son 26 October 2003
The (Dahl-iesque) F R G
Take nothing from frog
and you spawn new word thus : frg.
Unpronouncable .....
Alan McAlpine Douglas
JustDaniel
Oct 27 03, 06:09
QUOTE (Alan @ Oct. 27 2003, 01:26)
The (Dahl-iesque) F R G
Take nothing from frog
and you spawn new word thus : frg.
Unpronouncable .....
Alan McAlpine Douglas
Hey Alan, you're in the wrong thread. You're not supposed to extract frog's clothes or anything else in this one!!
Haven't we disgust this before? 
fall's frog in my throat,
slugs in nasal passages;
lungs drown in refuse
sLightly congested, Daniel
Michelle
Oct 27 03, 19:30
Tadpole grows strong legs
Surmounts pond, embarks on land
Splash! wash dust from back
JustDaniel
Oct 28 03, 00:12
how about silly senryu?
Whether one hump
or two its always perfect
here on camel lot
© Daniel J Ricketts 29 Jan 2003
First attempts at Haiku
from petrol droplets
swirling in a small puddle
A rainbow shines out
Sparrows in springtime
writing on telephone lines
their musical notes
In the pristine snow
birds tracking convict arrows
across the white lawn
Dear Grace
I prefer my haiku to be precisely 5-7-5, but that is not the only reason to LOVE your 3rd one :
In the pristine snow
birds tracking convict arrows
across the white lawn
What an image, what observation !
Love
Alan
Good Sir Knight 
Thank you for your kind comment. :upside: I see now the format involved and have corrected the first two. I think they now conform. Haiku is great fun. Will attempt some more.
Love
Grace 
Dear Alan
QUOTE
Haiku - THE RINGER
(A Tragedy In 17 Syllables)
This morning I rang
To ask you to marry me
But you were engaged .......
Very clever, very poignant and very funny!! 
Love
Grace
Michelle
Oct 28 03, 03:13
Grace, it's hard to believe this is your first haikus! Wonderful!
All three are very good. I like the third the best though.
Great job!
Michelle
ooops, thank you too for your kind words.
To the 12 minute double haiku-ist, aka Grace !
From my post to your brillaint corrections in less than 12 mins ! Who knows how many elapsed before you even saw my comment !
Now I LOVE all three.
You have an observational ability that I really enjoy, keep it up !
Love
Alan
PS and thanks for your comment on mine too !
Hello, excellent haikus everyone... good show.
Talking of "good show" - just a technical point which many of you might already know - so apologies if I am only telling you again. However...
It is "Quite Interesting" that the word "limelight" comes from the theatre. In the days before electric lighting, stage hands used to burn lime to illuminate the stage. This cast an eerie green glow upon the thespians. From then onwards, actors were said to "be in the limelight". So "wanting to be in the limelight" means that one wishes to be on show etc. Ok, everyone knew that? Well I've done no harm then! And I enjoyed my moment in the limelight.
Toodle Pip, J.
PS I knew that Michelle would like that "foxtail" reference!
JustDaniel
Oct 28 03, 07:25
Thanks for the info, Jax. I for one never understood the "limelight" thing, never having experienced it!
It occurred to me this morning that the appropriate sentence for the California arsonists, should they find them might be the following:
Punishment Fits Crime
west coast arsonists
seem to long for the limelight;
burn them at the stake
© M Lee Dickens' son 28 Oct 2003
And Grace, exquisite stuff! I hope you'll forgive this take-off (I know; it burned up before landing! ) 
ICU Phone Home
wintering sparrows
lined up itinerary;
crossed wires – last fryday
© M Lee Dickens' son 28 Oct 2003
Hi Daniel,
Thank you for your comments
After reading your last two offerings I think you should choose a new pen name, how about Jean D'Arc? Might be a good time to stake your claim to this one.
Cheers
Grace
Cleo_Serapis
Oct 28 03, 09:44
Just so no one gets confused, this tile is for the serious HAIKU postings.
We have dubbed Alan's "Extraction Haiku tile" as the one for comedic haiku.
Thanks all!
~Cleo 
Dear Cleo
Ha, I have a problem : My haiku, while I hope funny, usually have a serious intent behind them. So do I post twice ?
love
Alan
Cleo_Serapis
Oct 28 03, 10:42
QUOTE (Alan @ Oct. 28 2003, 10:17)
Dear Cleo
Ha, I have a problem : My haiku, while I hope funny, usually have a serious intent behind them. So do I post twice ?
love
Alan
Sure - why not? :cowboy: :grinning: :read: :viking:
Having started writing Haiku, I now can't stop... help!!!
borne on the spindrift
a seagull feather takes flight
without its owner
footsteps skip lightly
child carrying a balloon
after the party
sepulchral ship's horn
attempting to pierce the fog
seeking safe harbour
laughing impishly
grand daughter tickles my cheek
with butterfly kiss
tipsy butterflies
dreamily drunk on pollen
all their curtailed lives
through the woodland trees
Snow Moon points bone-white fingers
at nodding snowdrops
the swing still moving
she has run away laughing
but she is still missed
soapy bubbles fly
puppy, tiring of the chase
flops down, falls asleep
Dear Grace
"I now can't stop... help!!!"
Answer : GOOD !
Out of these 8, there were only about 7 I liked. Some I even loved, they give such a concise pinpoint pen picture.
May I suggest ship's horn ? alliteration !
Grace has haiku bug :
she is occupied painting
pinpoint pen pictures .....
Love
Alan
Michelle
Oct 28 03, 12:37
James, thank you for the information. I had no idea
of its origin. You've taught me something today.
Grace, your haiku are wonderful. I especially like:
tipsy butterflies
dreamily drunk on pollen
all their curtailed lives
I find this one has great depth.
I dug up another one of mine.
Salmon fights current
Berries lead black bear to stream
Fated compulsions
Hello Michelle,
Such a wonderful mind picture. I wish I was there with my camera. I am crazy about photographing wildife and this is the nearest I shall ever get to a grizzly. You have taken me right into this picture. Thank you
Love
Grace
Hello Alan
Thank you. I never could distinguish between ship and boat. Certainly sounds much better now.
This is great fun. I'm sure some of these will lead on to poems, but I am having great fun writing them.
Thanks to you and Michelle for the encouragement.
Love
Grace :farmer: :cloud9:
Dear Grace
"I never could distinguish between ship and boat"
Nor can half the nation, there is a correspondence going on in the D Telegraph just now on this very point.
Bit like the Q "What's the difference between a dog and a flea ?" - "Well, a dog can have fleas, but ....." - generally, a ship can have boats .....
Love
Alan
New pasture bride-way
600 foot mud puppies
from wetland to here.
Dear Brahms
Not being in the least a country boy, I have to ask
1. what is a bride-way, or do you poss mean bridLe-way ?
2. What's a mud puppy ?
Love
Alan
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Daniel! :laugh: :sun: 
:pharoah: 