Making Haiku Work in English
June 6th 2009 10:38
Making Haiku Work in English
Yes it can be done!
There are three frequent errors made by people who craft Haiku in English.
One is the tendency to write a long sentence and just break it into three lines.
The three lines of haiku should have three ideas or images that complement or contrast or both things .
Making Haiku too telegraphic.
Often done by people with no knowledge of Japanese. Haiku should be concise and information dense not shorthand! Just because Japanese does not have a definite article does not mean your English also needs to ignore them.
Use the definite article when it fits the overall poem and the syllable structure just as Japanese haiku crafters sometimes use and sometimes omit the topic and subject and object markers in poetry - for emphasis!
Obsessing on syllable patterns.
Haiku is 5 7 5 in Japanese. You can get 5 7 5 to work in English but equally well 6 8 6 or 6 9 6 can work. Whatever you do dont use the 5 7 5 pattern as an excuse to turn your haiku into bad free verse!
Here's a 5 7 5 haiku that I think works in English.
Dawn with mist and rain
Outside noisy protestors
The White Cockatoos!
Outside noisy protestors
The White Cockatoos!
You probably couldnt make dawn mist rain a five syllable line in Japanese.
This incidentally did happen this morning. I was awoken by the local sulphur crested white cockatoos lamenting the foggy weather and the absense of several tall trees along the street removed over the last few days that they love to roost in.
Just remember whatever you think of this poem Haiku can work in Englsih if you respect and study the Jpanese originals and but remmber English has a different syntax and grammar.
While its good if you cna read some of the original dont try to write in a Englishh version of 17th century poetic Japanese! Think about why haiku works in Japanese. It's the connection of the imagery and sounds and ideas arranged concisely !
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