Haikus are wonderful, color-saturated snapshots of life. They can be quite complicated, but when I’m running a writing class, I stick to the simple rule of 3 lines, with 5, 7 and 5 syllables in the lines. The point is to use few words to create a powerful image for yourself and your readers.
Here are some haikus from my most recent journal-writing class:
Kitty winks at me
in secret code. I wink back.
former life: a cat.
—–Vicky Ferguson
Open the journal
Stories unfolding within
Movie frame pages.
—–Paul Lagasse
Asphalt whizzes by
Spokes sparkling in the sunlight
View from handlebars.
——H.P.Clamann
A clap of thunder
Whisper of falling raindrops
A summer cloudburst.
——H.P. Clamann
No wonder I write
No one expects it perfect
The first time around
——Paul Lagasse
Sensing through a fog
A gnawing anger lurking
My job pays the bills.
——Donna McGonigle
Restful summer day
There is no need for talking
My friends around me.
—–Donna McGonigle
Off to work I go
Toiling to keep our health plan
On me they depend
—–Mindy Heindl
I pause to give thanks
Fortune has smiled upon me
Don’t let me forget
—–Mindy Heindl
Not herself lately
Her world circles around her
and tightens the knot.
—–Vicky F
Art makes me happy
I do it when I have time
I wish I had more
—--Mindy Heindl
All of them are good but,’Not herself lately’and ‘Kitty’ are gems.
“Found” haiku: http://www.wellingtongrey.net/twitterku/blog/
Discalculia
means can read but can’t count
haiku writers nightmare
I’ve written 3 poems in my life – 2 of them used the word Nantucket – the 3rd was a haiku. It was to celebrate my son’s advancemdent into a “real bed” from his crib/toddler bed:
Haiku for Peter