Writing Assignment 10

Be finishing up on your poems because we will be doing your second and final workshop tomorrow.

Haiku
A Haiku is a Japanese form of poetry. A haiku consists of three unrhymed lines. The first line consists of five syllables and the second line is made up of seven syllables. Te third and final line is also five syllables. Another of the main features of a haiku is the tone. Haiku's are heavily influenced by Zen Buddhism. As a result, haiku are deeply connected with scenes from nature and oftentimes convey some insight or deeper meaning to life. Traditionally haiku include a seasonal reference. These seasonal references are sometimes little more than a vague reference like 'cold'.

Lets take a look at a haiku by Masaoka Shiki.


A mountain village
under the pilled-up snow
the sound of water.
I would recommend that you read this poem aloud to appreciate this haiku form. As you read count the syllables, they follow a 5-7-5 pattern. Even though there isn't very much to this poem, it speaks volumes. Shiki indicates that it is winter by telling us about the snow. What happens when the snow falls? When winter comes and the snow falls everything either dies or goes dormant in nature. So, in the first two lines of this poem we are introduced to a cold, dead environment. However, Shiki gives us a glimpse that not everything is dead, the “sound of water” that is mentioned indicates that the snow is melting and life will soon be returning. You could also take this reference of water running as an indication even in death (death being winter) there is life (water).

Since you have your poems to finish up for tomorrow, all I want you to do tonight is write me a haiku. To do so please use the following steps.

1.Choose a topic involving natures
2.Choose a season. When you write about this season you don't have to be specific. You can say 'cold' or 'hot' or any other word or occurrence that makes a seasonal reference (like snow)
3.Now down to the specifics, in the first line of your haiku describe your scene (A mountain village)
4.In the second line you elaborate on the scene (under the pilled-up snow)
5.In the third line show action (the sound of water)
6.Remember that this third line is supposed to get across some insight into nature and the poem.

Good Luck. Be sure you post your poems for tomorrow