Haiku

Originaly Haiku were merely individual verses of a longer poem but over time became individual poems themselves. A Haiku is seventeen sylables long and are traditionally written in three lines, the first being five sylables, the second being seven and the final line being five. Often a haiku will contain a word that indicates a season and therefore indicates the tone of the poem, ie: the use of the word snow or frost would indicate winter and therefore a sombre mood.

Spending time with friends,
Setting sun on distant hills,
Moments spent in joy.

I'm curious to see what people come up with, the idea is easy, making it personal can be alot more difficult, give it a go.

I like this story of the last poem of the zen master Hoshin. Your post on haiku reminded me of it.

The Zen master Hoshin lived in China many years. Then he returned to the northeastern part of Japan, where he taught his disciples. When he was getting very old, he told them a story he had heard in China. This is the story:

One year on the twenty-fifth of December, Tokufu, who was very old, said to his disciples: "I am not going to be alive next year so you fellows should treat me well this year."

The pupils thought he was joking, but since he was a great-hearted teacher each of them in turn treated him to a feast on succeeding days of the departing year.

On the eve of the new year, Tokufu concluded: "You have been good to me. I shall leave you tomorrow afternoon when the snow has stopped."

The disciples laughed, thinking he was aging and talking nonsense since the night was clear and without snow. But at midnight snow began to fall, and the next day they did not find their teacher about. They went to the meditation hall. There he had passed on.

Hoshin, who related this story, told his disciples: "It is not necessary for a Zen master to predict his passing, but if he really wishes to do so, he can."

"Can you?" someone asked.

"Yes," answered Hoshin. "I will show you what I can do seven days from now."

None of the disciples believed him, and most of them had even forgotten the conversation when Hoshin next called them together.

"Seven days ago," he remarked, "I said I was going to leave you. It is customary to write a farewell poem, but I am neither poet nor calligrapher. Let one of you inscribe my last words."

His followers thought he was joking, but one of them started to write.

"Are you ready?" Hoshin asked.

"Yes, sir," replied the writer.

Then Hoshin dictated:

I came from brilliancy.
And return to brilliancy.
What is this?

The poem was one line short of the customary four, so the disciple said: "Master, we are one line short."

Hoshin, with the roar of a conquering lion, shouted "Kaa!" and was gone.

Open palm for a gentle wave,
Same palm, a defense like shame
That palm enclosed in his fist, no other great pain

Not a traditional, but close enough...it takes a lot of patience to write one, because they should make some sense and not neccessarily always profound, but the patience and sticking to the tradition could help and help one grow as a writer I think this was a good topic idea

Life is terminal.
The sun will set for us all.
Live without regret.

a few years ago I worked in an office with some hiku fans...we started a weekly "friday hiku of dispare" contest.

Explosion, death, blood.
Pain, scream, horror, fear, victims.
Not lyrics, but plans.

A gentle grip,
A forceful embrace,
When you hold me close.


I already posted that somewhere on here I think..

The speed makes me sweat.
Driving fast makes me feel good.
s***! The brakes don't work!

"Cool me," cried the sand.
"Wet my brow with your kiss."
And the waves rushed in.
Blu

Happy children cheer
as rockets in the night sky
reflect in their eyes

Blu

She wore the light well
as she stood by the window.
The moon thought so, too.

Blu

Sad, the sparrow's death
absent of mourner's pity
for all die alone

blu

I hate McDonalds.
Goddamn f***ing cardboard food!
Tastes like donkey s***!!!!

Whoa, Nellie, slow down!
Ya done plowed the corn under.
No more beer for you!!

Haikus can be hard,
Sometimes they don't make much sense,
Porcupine donut!