Fruits of a “love haiku” workshop
Bashō meets two farmers celebrating the mid-autumn moon festival in a print from Yoshitoshi’s Hundred Aspects of the Moon.
At the Palmerston North City Library today we had a very satisfying workshop on writing love haiku. A small group committed to working on this strange task for two light-hearted hours. They read, they wrote, they shared, and some of them graciously agreed to let me publish their haiku here.
Bear in mind that these haiku were written in five minutes max, under duress, in company, as an exercise. (I don’t know how people manage to do such a thing.) Yet I think you’ll enjoy their charm and images and invention and emotion.
Note also that nobody was counting syllables. Instead we focused on four characteristics of modern haiku: brevity, a snapshot, a switch of focus, and naturalness. Thanks to all who took part! Here is a sample of their haiku, posted in alphabetical order.
Endless silky depths
Moving further from the shore
Back to burning sand ~ Alexia McEwen
Gift wrapped
the ink on your skin
draws in your tipuna. ~ Virginia
I know
on your knee
there’s a V. ~ Virginia
My child rises
above blue mist
roped securely to mountain peaks. ~ Judith Dell Panny
out of the shower
you walk around as you are
—twenty years married ~ John C. Ross
Plucking blueberries
with your grandson
brought on blueness. ~ Virginia
Reach for my phone
Checking my feed for news from you
Heart warms ~ Leah
Remember us driving
In opposite directions
Under the same moon ~ Fliss Norton
Sunshine lands
on back door-step —
ginger cat ~ Philippa Elphick
tasting tonight’s meal
we both prepared
—your degree of “hot” ~ John C. Ross
Thin winter twilight
Cross on the spire
Lost in grey ~ Tony Chapelle
white china cup
black coffee steaming —
early morning love token ~ Philippa Elphick
Love them!
Do you have any favourites?
Lovely!
Shows what lovely things happen when you don’t have time to self- edit.
There was some editing done even in that time. A 3-line poem can be transformed by changing a couple of words!
It’s all a balance, isn’t it. But sometimes creativity is about saying yes to ridiculous impulses before caution gets the better of us.
Totally agree! “First learn the rules… then break them” said Basho.
Especially taken by John Ross’ two contributions. Condensed love notes.
Yes!
Ooh. I really like the last one. Won’t look at my morning coffee the same way tomorrow:).
Appreciate!
Haiku proposes
an invitation to love….
don’t mind if I do.
Perfect. I sense a certain conversation starting up far away from Palmers ton North…