Haiku poems written by students
of the Japanese Culture and Civilisation Centre
Selections and comments by Sonia Cristina Coman
Constanza, RO
first
day of flight—
a baby quail
staggers
Carpali
Gina
6th grade, Middle School nr. 12
Flight is one of the students' favourite themes. They have watched the swallows'
flying lessons in the early spring, and of quails and ducks in in the
countryside or grandma's courtyard. While it is a rather common view, Gina and
the other students are particular impressed by such scenes.
For the very young, memories of first discoveries and contacts with the world
are fresh and very important. Because children are at the beginning of their
lives, they feel a special fondness for all young forms of life, like buds ready
to burst open or little birds trying to fly. A human baby staggers unsteadily
partly because of fear, but also because of the joy and emotion of such a new
experience. Maybe the birds don't have such feelings, but while watching these
events, children surely experience those well-known moods.
the sleeping baby
swings,
bothered by
a
moonbeam
Dumitru
Andreea
6th grade, Middle School nr. 12
This
poem creates a fairyland atmosphere. Tenderness is exaggerated in order to
emphasize it. The silvery beam reaches the child's rocking-cradle as he swings
back and forth in its light. The soft, repetitive movement has, in the reader's
mind, the effect of a lullaby.
falling
star—
two youngsters walk side by side
in the moonless night
Anagnoste
Carmen
7th grade, Middle School nr. 12
Romance is another favorite theme. In this haiku, the couple witnesses a falling
star in a dark night, without moon. In the popular belief, a star falling is a
bad sign; in the countryside, people respect various customs to drive away the
effects of a falling star.
So, Carmen's poem suggests quite a classical story: two young people falling in
love, but forced by the destiny to renounce at each other. The moon is a symbol
of happiness, while its disappearance emphasizes the natural threat.
A kigo would probably improve the poem, adding freshness and new significance.
However, it should be wisely written, because the haiku already tends to be too
wordy.
chestnut blossoms—
frisking in the air,
petals and butterflies
Panca
Oana Cristina
5th grade, Middle, School nr. 12
A nice spring haiku, expressing joy and
exuberance; the petals and butterflies seem to be mixed up in the onlooker's
mind. The images strongly suggest an arena of whiteness and movement, pictorial
qualities that are most meaningful to this poem.
Following are some haiku poems about the sea, a never-ending source of
inspiration and joy for the students:
waves
hit against the rocks
ground by time
Cristu
Ovidiu
6th grade, Middle School nr.12
sea
shore...
wet sand caresses
the shells
Huiban
Sabina
7th grade, Middle School nr. 12
violent
waves—
water and dykes strike
against each other
Nasta
Elena
7th grade, Middle School nr.12
These
haiku present the sea in different ways, expressing tranquility, tenderness,
violence, wildness. The battle between rocks and water, a very frequent theme,
is appaant because they have "lived" together for centuries, an
observation which is nicely suggested in Ovidiu's poem.
Elena introduces a human role in nature, through the word "dykes". So
in her haiku there are higher meanings -- nature versus humanity -- creating a
tragic effect.
Unlike the other poems, Sabina's haiku describes a calm, tender atmosphere,
which makes you feel the salty breeze and the sun lighting the shells.
summer sky—
clouds scattered
by the sunbeams
Istrate
Nicoleta
9th grade, The Art High School
May
I finish this presentation with this haiku, written by a haiku enthusiast and
sensible student? The atmosphere of a summer day is suggested through this image
of the sky. The sunbeams are so powerful that they scatter the clouds.
I think that the poem would be even better if the season was suggested and not
named. In order to change this, Nicoleta could include a terrestrial reference;
but I am not sure if this would be such good advice, as the poem could possibly
become too wordy and superabundant with images. Or the variety of summer cloud
also could be named, such as "cumulous" or "billowy".
Nevertheless, it is a beautiful poem. While reading, you can imagine clouds
moving slowly on the sky and the sun burning over the city.
I hope you enjoy these poems. The students are always happy when asked to write
and present new haiku poems!
Yours respectfully,
Sonia Coman
Also
read Haiku in Education: Frequently
Asked Questions with Answers
by Sonia Coman (RO)
Click
here to view gallery page of the Centre
