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WHChaikujunior
- Poetry & Multimedia |
What is haiku? What is senryu?
Haiku is a short poem from Japan,
where it is traditionally written in 17 beats. The beats, usually 5-7-5, are
similar, but not the same as English syllables. Japanese haiku is written
vertically in Japanese characters. Classic haiku is set in a season of nature.
Many modern and Western haiku are not seasonal. Haiku can include humanity and
events and usually have a sense of humor even when the poem is not funny.
Haiku usually employs a "kire", which is a pause in the speech that
cuts a poem into two parts. A "kire" can be used to make a strong
contrast between the two different elements, one in each section.
Senryu is another form of poetry
from Japan where it is also traditionally written in 17 beats of 5-7-5. A poetry
of humor, senryu is often witty with a focus of human nature. It may or may not
include seasonal elements. In Japan, senryu are written without a
"kire" or "cut", but rather, as one line of thought. Some
Western poets use the kire in their senryu.
There are many other elements of
haiku and senryu which interested poets can learn through reading haiku, senryu
and books about these poetic forms.
Exercise: Read the poems below.
Which ones do you think would be haiku, and which ones might be senryu?
Age 10
'Outwoods Edge Primary, Loughborough, UK'
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Age 14
Grade, Standard 9
Baroda, India
a child on a ship..rocked
to sleep
..near the shore..a
woman drowns
bustling city life
all is dark
behind the veil
tranquil lake..a
bird flies off
.the camera..is out of
focus
the hand
chisels away at the stone
a face emerges
....the
dancer toils..on stage
a cell phone beeps..the dancer falls
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Willow Katsumi Relf-Descartin
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Age 6
San Diego, CA, USA
peacock feathers
so beautiful
but the peahen, drab
oh--dandelions!
so many
on the neighbor's lawn
the moon
cut into pieces
by the electrical wires
where's the moon?
the night swallowed
it whole
(Willow and her mother study Kung
Fu together...)
it's easier to hold the cauldron
than to gaze at the moon
but I still like the moon!
(Kung Fu meditation haiku...)
ants all over the spiderweb
jumping off the plant
did they eat the spider?
spirits in the house
stuffed animals and mommy
guard the four directions
such a sweet baby
I want to hold her
until she grows up
at Kung Fu meditation:
meditating is hard
why does the monk
hold the cauldron?
after a discussion on
reincarnation...(with tears...)
will I recognize myself
when I come back?
will I know you?
A Tree
Poems from the Daily Journal of
Samantha Klesko, age 4
Louisiana, USA
no
leaves on the tree
the branches all mixed up
waiting for spring
a red
bird
on a broken tree branch
singing
old
friends
a bird, a spider
a tree and me
age 11
grade 5
Florida, USA
is this me or
just a shadow...long call
of a mockingbird
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seeing snow
a haiku series by Kayla C. Kohlmaier
Two years ago (winter 2001) I saw snow and
icicles for the first time:
Christmas holiday
one day's drive to relatives
seems like two
quilted jackets --
my cousin and I fight
with icicles
making snow angels --
mine turns out little because
my wings get stuck
my first white winter
dad's snowman wears his visor
and two old carrots |
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