Here Comes the Light
Copyright 2014 by Janet Hovde
If you’ve been reading my blog, you know I’ve been using haiku as a part of my journey of healing from breast cancer (and its treatment!) I thought I’d give you a brief tutorial on writing haiku today.
Haiku is a Japanese form of poetry that consists of 3 lines, first line of 5 syllables, second line of 7 syllables, and third line of 5 syllables. It is often nature-themed and/or related to a particular season of the year. Americans take liberties with the number of syllables and the content, surprise!
So, your assignment today: write a haiku! You may start with a particular subject (choose something that has a lot of energy for you) and/or by tuning in to your senses (see, hear, taste, smell, touch, emotions) and/or by what you notice in nature during this season. You can start right in with the 5-7-5 syllable format. Or you might find it useful to list words and phrases that come to you, gradually choosing which ones to plug in to the 5-7-5 syllable format.
My haiku comes from a less overcast day than today:
A sunny backyard, I let gravity hold me, Breathing in, then out.
I encourage you to write your haiku now. You are welcome to share it here. Or you may want to savor it privately. You are also invited to share this post with someone today . . . use one of the buttons below if you like.
Oh, by the way, today’s art quilt, Here Comes the Light, was inspired by my painting shown in the Aliens Watching TV blog post.
Janet, I love haiku and have played around with it a bit. Here goes. Thanks for sharing this:)
Fall is on the way,
Vibrant rich colors call us,
Inhale autumn now
I’ve been investigating the Wabi-Sabi philosophy. On reading a book about it in art, they were using haiku as the jumping off point for inspiration for paintings. So – I’ve been thinking about this for awhile. (well – not this particiular one – I’m writing this on the sly right now!)
Live laugh and explore
journey and destination
imagination
I love that you’re still dancing with haiku and today’s piece is lovely. As is your art. I’m always happy to accept a haiku invitation, so:
Hear the morning dove
hidden in the berry bush
murmur sweet, high coo.
Not exactly the right number of syllables, but here’s mine.
Gentle rainy whispers.
The lorikeets are wet.
They want some bread.
I’d better go feed them now 🙂
Wind in the window
Winter is coming too soon
Where will I be warm?