Haiku Corner
A Tricycle Poetry Club Discussion
Welcome to Haiku Corner!
Savor haiku … Buddha … your life; these are not separate.
"Everything changes; everything is connected; pay attention." — Jane Hirshfield
No matter if your practice be Vipassana (“Notice what you notice”) … Zen (“Close to the nose”) … Pure Land (“Everywhere, hear the Buddha Vow calling us to our true home) … Vajrayana (“Take a kindly attitude toward your mind”) … Christian, Jewish, Islamic, Hindu, indigenous, humanist, pagan, or nonpractice. From age 9 to 99. Published, pre-published, or doodling flowers in the margins. Here is Dharma Art, par excellence. Haikuyana.
You don’t have to be Buddhist, nor Japanese, to like haiku, anymore than being Jewish to like bagels, nor African American to dig the blues. Haiku teaches how dwelling in the present is to grow intimate with Presence. This shortest of literary forms opens onto the immeasurable. In her spare time the compassionate heart of the universe jots down haiku, and we can too.
Do you write haiku? Read haiku? —Same difference! Haiku enlists our active, imaginative participation. Our co-creation. Yesterday, I called haiku a creative training in deep listening / loving, living language. Tomorrow, I might say haiku is an unrepeatable formula from the source of creation. But criticism can be to haiku, like ornithology is … for the birds.
Haiku is … eclectic … democratic … empowering … educational … and fun . Don’t be shy, introduce yourself. Where do you live ? What’s your day like ? Share a favorite haiku with us.
For those just tuning in to haiku, or who’d like to add to our awakening wisdom, please visit our haiku wiki, in the garden alongside the teahouse. (What looks like a lock on the gate of brushwood twigs is only snail.)
Sweet community supports our growth. From time to time, we might focus on a topic or theme. Or zero in on a haiku for work shopping (play shop, as Paul Reps calls it). Some nights, people elucidate fine points, or share links. Some mornings, people from around the planet share a haiku moment, waking up, before going to work. From time to time, threads of haiku spontaneously cascade.
It’s a wonderful sangha! For easy reference, here are three haiku. One is by a classical Japanese master. One is by a contemporary American pioneer. And one is by …
Yrs truly, Gary Gach palms joined
A flash of lightning
… the jagged screech of herons
flying through the night
— Yosa Buson
A bitter morning:
Sparrows sitting together
Without any necks.
— James W. Hackett
ripples of heat waves across spider webs of last summer
— Gary Gach
Gary Gach is author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Buddhism (Silver Nautilus Award); editor of What Book!? : Buddha Poems from Beat to Hiphop (American Book Award); and translator from Korean of three books by Ko Un, SSN. His poems and translations have appeared in Big Bridge, Bottle Rockets, BuddhaDharma, Harvard Divinity Bulletin, Lilipoh, The Nation, The New Yorker, Tricycle, Turning Wheel, and World Haiku Review . He’s taught haiku at the Asian Art Museum, the Randall Museum, Stanford, San Francisco Zen Center, Spirit Rock, Venice Buddhist Temple, and Villa Montalvo Center for the Arts. He hopes to write two or three really immortal haiku in his life time. Home page: http://word.To
[sThe Complete Idiot's Guide to Buddhism (third edition). Preview 2nd edition: http://bit.ly/11Uqae Order: http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781592579112 Bonus: watch a talk at Book Passage Bookstore, Free Nirvana: http://bit.ly/AxlWK
What Book!? ~ Buddha Poems from Beat to Hiphop Preview: http://bit.ly/QmWvr Order: http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780938077923 Bonus: online adjunct http://bit.ly/8zjvQ
Flowers of a Moment by Ko Un, SSN (Northern California Book Award for Translation) Preview: http://bit.ly/3ija7V Order: http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781929918881 Bonus: hear a 20-minute reading (at Moe's Bookst0re) http://bit.ly/YbQcf
(IndieBound.com provides online ordering through your local, independent U.S. bookstore.)
If haiku is one of the 84,000 gates to Dharma, there are likewise 84,000 gates to haiku: as many as moments, and people. And as with Dharma, haiku is a process, not a thing.
There are also quite a few haiku pages on facebook.
are there any haiku pages on face book you wish to recommend ?
i can add them to the links section of the corner's wiki :
http://haikucorner.wikia.com
do you have any favorite haiku, duffman ?
I don't have anything to say about Facebook other than I am not involved in it anymore, but I do want to say 'hi' to you Gary....I have joined your little corner of the world. I do write Haiku, but don't think there is too much wisdom in it...it is just practice, or living and trying to pay attention.
hi john !
that's haiku is a practice ... living and trying to pay attention ... what more wisdom could there possibly be ?
I hope such practice continues & that we might share from time to time ...
_/|\_
here's a haiku chain:
the last line becomes the first
fall's leaves, spring's flowers
fall's leaves, spring's flowers
yet as light streams through branches
no sound in the leaves
& one more, please carry it on!
no sound in the leaves
long shadows by the big trees
crows breaking walnuts
crows breaking walnuts
pieces fall on fertile ground
full circle of life
full circle of life
a year of bad habits
sitting, waiting, watching...
A murder of crows,
an autopsy of vultures:
What are we again?
two rocks and a duck
each reflecting an image
all six say 'jump in'
Welcome, all!
-/ Housekeeping
While the white paint dries on the walls here, you might see if you can cross this improvised wooden bridge over the murmuring creek ... to the previous Haiku Corner, which is still ongoing, until the two become linked up :
http://community.tricycle.com/group/tricyclecommunitypoetryclub/forum/to...
From today's morning corner, from Pat Sparrow :
election day returns
stirring morning coffee
counterclockwise
And the Haiku Corner Wiki, yet to be linked up, for guidelines, etc :
http://haikucorner.wikia.com
Please continue.
Thank you.
palms joined _/|\_
Hello to all my ku friends!
Old frog
jumping in new pond
S P L A S H !
Cheers,
Pat
I was hoping to start a haiku chain here, similar to the one on Tao Bums which I've enjoyed. The idea is to keep to the 5 syllable, 7 syllable, 5 syllable format and use the last line of the preceding haiku as the first line of your new haiku, like this:
election day returns
stirring morning coffee
counterclockwise
counterclockwise
down the toilet bowl flushes
election day returns
OK, that was really unusual for first and last reversed. Let me try again:
election day returns
sun just as slanted, more so
rain in the forecast
a lotus for you
_(())_
a buddha to be
i did get the idea & the invitation ... 'tho couldn't see a link right off to crows as nutcrackers ... ( &, as speld out in the 'guide lines ' in the wiki, wonder why five seven five ) ... plus have been trying to juggle the logistics of transition ( still under way ) between this site & the one as intially begun last september ... & so thank you for being the 1st here to follow-thru past an initial post ... ( ! )
[ am told we can use italics here so i'll use this post as a test ... ]
rain in the forecast
driving in my suburu
not a cloud in sight
((( ¿ you mean ... ↑ ... like that ?
... so you continue beginning with
not a cloud in sight ?
interesting
i googled tao bums but didn't find the haiku chain there ... 'tho it's a neat idea, for sure )))
a while ago a kind of one- or two-word renga once spontaneously murshroomed here ... ¿ are you familiar with renga ? ( wch actually predate haiku)
by the way, i clicked on your name & picture & couldn't find any info, but am curious ... you're certainly welcome here with or without introduction ... or pre face ... & thank you for bearing with us as we transition from ning to druple software this month ...
may be a better
link ::
rain in the forecast
wrong again drenched in sunlight
through & through
through & through ...
rain in the forecast
the cat decides to rest now
she is the buddha
rain in the forecast
but i can't see the forecast
for the trees and rain
for the trees and rain
as an offering or shield?
the bright umbrella
first rain of winter
words washed away i go
puddle to puddle
ice pellets falling
liquid marbles dissolving
do I swim or skate?
does he dream or does he wake
floating in the pond the koi
eyes wide open
all of it a dream
waking is a dream as well
but sometimes, sometimes
this is to see how links work in this new rough-draft version of the new community software ( to which amenities & features will be added, so i hear ) ....
-/haiku walk (ginko )
courtesy of trike's good friend clark strand & his green meditation society, comes this 3-minute invitation to a haiku walk, by priscilla lignori
part 2, a minute longer, assays haiku form ( speaking of which ———
—— i see no one's commented on my proposed haiku corner wiki guidelines for haiku — and non- ...
gary,
much gratitude for this link. Ms. Lignori's explanations
are right on the target. My favorite---simple and profound
thankyou. I will take my 5-7-5 walk with Akka tomorrow.
ps: the squirrels are fine
she does take the 5-7-5 route, as does clark --
that's fine -- what i appreciate most of all
is the ending of the 3 minutes : voilà! haiku
.
first november chill
hummingbird wearing no more
nor less than before
_/|\_
.
first november chill
the chirpiness of sparrows
no more -- no less
Hi Gary,
Exploring the new site . . . . waiting to see how all of this comes together. At present I am not authorized to enter pat's page.
_/|\_
pat
¿ you mean you cannot enter your own page ?
the tricycle web manager is a bodhisattva, more than glad to work thru any of the initial glitches, and effect what changes are wished (and feasable) so let us know.
i like what meanwhile you do with my 'ku as a springboard for your own ...
I made it, wow ! I made it to the new site !
Nice videos Gary, thank you.
Your own page Pat? Never getting in it, i don't even see where to try... and what about our friends, do we have inboxes still, where?
I guess time will tell
first November chill
scratching the ground with a rake
this woman labors
I wish we still had the delete option and the 15 minutes edit option as i just noticed that i forgot the word " mind " after "never" On the old site i could have fixed that, here i can't. Oh well, i suppose it will teach me to pay more attention.
Blessings,
Agnes
new site
white puckered frost
november chill lingers
New format will grow in leaps and bounds, no doubt. Look forward to equivalent or better options for editing and adding to a post…
……will adjust to the blaring innocence of a white background¿?…an affirmation…
.
top of union street
sunday cars
in to & out of
bright white clouds
.
.
top of union street
sunday cars
in to & out of
bright white clouds
.
winter suprised us
not to worry little mice
the hole is still there
I just discovered this site today.
This is my first ever blog
winter surprised us
not to worry little mice
the hole is still there
... & is your introduction a haiku by
you ... or by issa !?! ( so lovely )
i particularly like how ' us ' ( a hard word to use sometimes )
takes authority for all beings ... including little mice ...
& the haiku speaks to the mice ( the way issa would, as in
" don't worry spiders, i do my housework lightly " )
with that pure land / st francis sensibility for the most low
btw, the majority of posting is still happening over at old haiku corner but eventually it will all move over to this New Haiku Corner ... so, either way, welcome, welcome, motherbear ... please dont be a stranger here
greetings, from San Francisco
a summery november
stroll as if there's no tomorrow
◬
◬
[ am still getting used to the new software here ... so am trying again ]
winter surprised us
not to worry little mice
the hole is still there
... & is your introduction = a haiku by
you ... or by issa !?! ( so lovely )
sweet simple & with a heart as wide as the world
i particularly like how ' us ' ( a hard word to write or say authentically sometimes )
'takes authority' for all beings ... including wee mice ... ( you know the poem by burns about wee mice ? )
& the haiku speaks todon't worry spiders, i do my housework lightly " )
with that pure land / st francis sensibility for the most low
btw, the majority of posting is still happening over at the old haiku corner but eventually it will all move over to this here New Haiku Corner ... so, either way, welcome, welcome, motherbear ... please dont be a stranger here
..............greetings, from San Francisco .........
a summery november
stroll as if there's no tomorrow
◬
I must confess that the spider haiku is my mantra, but I did not know the origin. I love the rhythm of it and the honesty.It always makes me smile.
We had a surprise snowstorm in Minnesota, and it made me think of the many mice that will be trying to share our warm
hearth, and the fact that we haven't as yet found the hole in
the basement where they enter.
I apologize to issa and the community. It was a spontaneous,unconscous plagarism.
I am on my way to look up Robt. Burns wee mice.
Thank you. Namaste.
Autumn sunset—
the world turns pink.
--Rehn
So very beautiful I just sighed when I read it.
Thank you.
Rehn
Hi everyone. I wrote this haiku last Thanksgiving after work. It was a really bad day and I needed someway of letting some stuff go.
the baby girl is still
they push her chest again now
ghosts in this new home
i've been enjoying your haiku, scott -- and wish to invite you to cross over for now to http://community.tricycle.com/group/tricyclecommunitypoetryclub/forum/to...
which seems to be where the tricycle haiku community still currently is ... for the time
being
meanwhile i wonder aloud same thing i asked motherbear : if you've read issa ... your "all a dream ... " haiku reminds me of his " ... and yet, and yet ... "
tje
the baby girl is still
they push her chest again now
ghosts in this new home
wonder too if the 2nd & third line are 1 line enjambed, in
rain in the forecast
the cat decides to rest now
she is the buddha
( at least, i hear it best, as such )
wonder too are you a medical care giver ?
( 'cos of your most recent ...
the baby girl is still
they push her chest again now
ghosts in this new home
thank you
palms _/|\_ joined
Thanks Gary. I will move over to the new site. Yes I work in the medical field, and yes you heard it right. :) Namaste _/I\_
This Haiku came to me in full form without any editing during a conversation about Haiku. It's titled "Harry Callahan"
Weeds against the snow
A photographic haiku
Strict simple image
hi krankyone ... & welcome
yes, haiku have that tendency
of writing themselves
( if we get out of our own way
& allow them to ) ...
wonder if you might wish to cross over to
http://community.tricycle.com/group/tricyclecommunitypoetryclub/forum/to...
( you could, for example, post the harry callahan photo together with the haiku, for example )
... wet paint, work-in-progress, state of transition -- hope you you understand
thank you
namasté
_/|\_
My first Haiku, alas my only Haiku (must be writers block) I jest.
A Winters' morning
Soul-less
Sun radiates
¿ writers block ?
or
¿ the uncarved block ?
any ways
w e l c o m e
if you'd care to take a step over
http://community.tricycle.com/group/tricyclecommunitypoetryclub/forum/to...
is where the haiku corner seems still best (for now) active
thank you
_/|\_
karma tenzing wangchuk weighs in on 5 7 5
in the continuing corner at the beige community space :
http://community.tricycle.com/group/tricyclecommunitypoetryclub/forum/to...
[ highly recommended ]
Winter in Syracuse - three haiku
Chorus of tires sings
on a slush-covered roadway -
The Song of Zazen
Two passerby stop
and help with the shoveling
by bowing deeply.
Offering seeds to
sparrows on takahatsu -
filling the feeder.
my first time at the new format
white blackout
i can't spel anaseptic
winter supercedes
oh well.... sigh ...
ownward thru the fog