| Author | Message | ||
| Denis M. Garrison
Advanced Member Username: denismgarrison Post Number: 505 Registered: 01-2005 |
On another list, I was asked what rules apply to unchained (avant garde, vanguard) haiku. Here are two lists I developed, just FYI. Eight Steps to Writing Unchained Haiku in English : 1. Memorize: "Haiku = haiku = haiku." Pronounce "senryu" this way: "hy-koo." 2. Learn as much as possible about haiku from reading A. the masters in translation and B. modern English haiku. 3. Study what others claim are rules. [Don't skip this step. Ignoring rules that you don't know is ignorance, not freedom.] 4. Decide for yourself what are rules. [Minimum entrance requirement for being a poet in any form.] 5. Knowing what the rules are (on your writing desk), write haiku. 6. If a rule ruins a particular haiku, forget the rule. 7. If someone objects to how you write haiku, forget them. Your role is writing haiku, not securing appreciation from whomever. 8. Keep writing haiku. Four "Rules" that are NOT applied to Unchained Haiku : i. Write haiku in 5-7-5 tercets. ii. "Haiku" is this and "Senryu" is that. iii. Don't write about anything ugly or painful or strange. iv. Don't write about anything that is not natural reality. bw, Denis www.dmgar.com Visit Haiku Harvest at www.haikuharvest.net Visit Loch Raven Review at www.lochravenreview.com My books are available at www.lulu.com/denismgarrison | ||
| Gary Blankenship
Senior Member Username: garyb Post Number: 4488 Registered: 07-2001 |
a break from packing - No fences, no rules. Haiku is... If it was good enough for Basho, why can't I? The exception, if the poet says these are the rules I'm using, then the rules need to be followed - in that instance. Smiles. Gary Drop in read the new MindFire, 2005's first Go in through http://www.mindfirerenew.com/ to get to the issue in a click or two. | ||
| Denis M. Garrison
Advanced Member Username: denismgarrison Post Number: 508 Registered: 01-2005 |
Gary, Right you are. I am not about to gainsay Basho. Any poet wanting to write classical / orthodox haiku most certainly needs to follow rules. My list is for writing UNCHAINED (avant garde, vanguard) haiku in English. And, note that, before one reaches the freedom of step 4, one passes through steps 2 and 3. But you know all this ... you be tugging my chain! :-) bw, Denis www.dmgar.com Visit Haiku Harvest at www.haikuharvest.net Visit Loch Raven Review at www.lochravenreview.com My books are available at www.lulu.com/denismgarrison | ||
| Gary Blankenship
Senior Member Username: garyb Post Number: 4490 Registered: 07-2001 |
Actually, I misstated. I meant that where Basho broke the rules - which was often - we can also... Smiles. Gary Drop in read the new MindFire, 2005's first Go in through http://www.mindfirerenew.com/ to get to the issue in a click or two. | ||
| Denis M. Garrison
Advanced Member Username: denismgarrison Post Number: 511 Registered: 01-2005 |
Gary, Oh. In the words of Emily Litella, Never mind. :-) bw, Denis www.dmgar.com Visit Haiku Harvest at www.haikuharvest.net Visit Loch Raven Review at www.lochravenreview.com My books are available at www.lulu.com/denismgarrison | ||
| Martin Murillo
Senior Member Username: martinmurillo Post Number: 64 Registered: 03-2004 |
Grass and Tree Cairn by Santoka (Red Moon Press) Right Under the Big Sky, I Don't Wear a Hat by Hosai Ozaki (Stone Bridge Press) are two books by "non-traditionalist" Japanese kaiku poets. | ||
| Kathy Paupore
Advanced Member Username: kathy Post Number: 2296 Registered: 12-2003 |
Denis, thanks for the info. Enjoyed the convo b/t you and Gary too. The only time I follow rules is when I'm entering in a contest that states specific rules. Otherwise I write whatever feels right. I'm probably more traditional at this point, but it took me a while and some pretty awful attempts to get here. I'm finally comfortable in these sandals for right now, but that doesn't mean I won't at some point try spike heals.  K | ||
| Denis M. Garrison
Advanced Member Username: denismgarrison Post Number: 515 Registered: 01-2005 |
Martin, Thanks for the references. One of the good arguments for unchained haiku is that some haijin have always written them. bw, Denis www.dmgar.com Visit Haiku Harvest at www.haikuharvest.net Visit Loch Raven Review at www.lochravenreview.com My books are available at www.lulu.com/denismgarrison | ||
| Denis M. Garrison
Advanced Member Username: denismgarrison Post Number: 516 Registered: 01-2005 |
Kathy, Yes, rules can be chains. bw, Denis www.dmgar.com Visit Haiku Harvest at www.haikuharvest.net Visit Loch Raven Review at www.lochravenreview.com My books are available at www.lulu.com/denismgarrison | ||
| Danielle Stokes
New member Username: abornpoet Post Number: 6 Registered: 08-2005 |
Hi Denis, I see there are a lot of Haiku fans here and you seem to be the expert. I love the other styles of Japanese poetry as well - tanka, sedoka. Are you very familier with those styles? Wondering if the 5-7-5-7-7 (tanka) rule truley applies to this style. Thanks, Danielle | ||
| Denis M. Garrison
Advanced Member Username: denismgarrison Post Number: 523 Registered: 01-2005 |
Hello, Danielle. Me, the expert? No, far from it. I am the haijin that should be kept in the attic. I know just enough to run my mouth and not enough not to. A straight answer to your question: No, I specialize only in haiku. What I know about tanka is mainly from listening to those around me. However, as the editor of Haiku Harvest, I do not require tanka to be 31 syllables in 5-7-5-7-7 or any other configuration; generally, tanka are between 17 and 32 syllables and written on 5 lines. Of course, purists say otherwise, as they usher me back into the attic. As you watch the postings, you will see who the tanka poets are and they can be of more help to you than I. All I would leave you with is this: Rules can be chains. bw, Denis www.dmgar.com Visit Haiku Harvest at www.haikuharvest.net Visit Loch Raven Review at www.lochravenreview.com My books are available at www.lulu.com/denismgarrison | ||
| Danielle Stokes
New member Username: abornpoet Post Number: 7 Registered: 08-2005 |
Thanks Denis, Good to know that I haven't broken any rules ;) ~D | ||
| Denis M. Garrison
Advanced Member Username: denismgarrison Post Number: 533 Registered: 01-2005 |
For a basic text on haiku, I recommend heartily "The Haiku Handbook: How to Write, Share, and Teach Haiku" by William J. Higginson with Penny Harter. More good common sense advice on haiku in this one book than in twenty others. On Amazon, it can be bought together with Jane Reichhold's fine book, "Writing and Enjoying Haiku: A Hands on Guide" with several dollars' savings. Having spent hundreds of dollars on haiku books in years past, I can tell you that many of them are of little interest or use to anyone but seasoned specialists. These, above, are where to start. Just a recommendation. There are buttons for these books in the WPF Book Shop. bw, Denis www.dmgar.com Visit Haiku Harvest at www.haikuharvest.net Visit Loch Raven Review at www.lochravenreview.com My books are available at www.lulu.com/denismgarrison | ||
| Denis M. Garrison
Advanced Member Username: denismgarrison Post Number: 567 Registered: 01-2005 |
Here is the URL for a fine article on metaphor and simile in haiku, well worth the read. http://www.haiku.insouthsea.co.uk/metaphor.htm Follow links there for other interesting articles. bw, Denis www.dmgar.com Visit Haiku Harvest at www.haikuharvest.net Visit Loch Raven Review at www.lochravenreview.com My books are available at www.lulu.com/denismgarrison |
