H - Haiga

-

 H - Haiga

Haiga is a Japanese form combining a painting or drawing and a haiku written directly on the artwork.  In English we usually include the combination to include photographs.  However, in Japanese there is a word for photo-haiku, shahai, haiku + photo.

* 3 lines 

* syllable count of short/long/short - traditionally 5/7/5, but can be 3/5/3, or 2/3/2.  

* the haiku is the most important part of the haiga, and should not rely on the image to complete it, or make it understandable.  

* no title, no rhymes, no punctuation (as in haiku)

* include a kigo, or seasonal word or phrase (which all haiku need!)

So, here is a haiga, or what in English we usually call a haiga, which is really a shahai.

©2024 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved 


Comments

  1. Dave RollerApril 9, 2024 at 8:33 AM

    Haiku and picture/Spring Arrives will Winter leave/I really do not know.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LisaApril 9, 2024 at 9:24 PM

      Nice! I think my winter left this past weekend. Fingers crossed.

      Delete
  2. Torie LennoxApril 9, 2024 at 7:54 PM

    Oh my gosh, I didn't know that! I'm a fan of haiku, but never realized that when I saw an accompanying pc that it had its own special term!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LisaApril 10, 2024 at 10:05 AM

      Well, it's not quite the "real" thing, where the haiku was written on the paper when the artwork was made.

      Delete
  3. AnonymousApril 9, 2024 at 8:13 PM

    Jamie (jannghi.blogspot.com):
    Another I never knew about. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousApril 10, 2024 at 5:13 AM

    I was doing some more research, as I am always interested in poetic forms, and came across Tontoism (named after Tonto on The Lone Ranger!) on an old blog post. I usually do the customary 5-7-5, but have read about using 232 and 353(?) as in Japanese the syllable count doesn't translate. I also try to avoid the use of the word for the season, instead using phrases or wording that would indicate the season. What do you typically do?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LisaApril 10, 2024 at 10:03 AM

      Yes, the syllable count can be 2/3/2 or 3/5/3, usually in English. Some haiku sites, and contests, require the 5/7/5 form. I was taught to avoid the direct season word, however it is acceptable by most haiku sites. I usually avoid using the season. Have you seen the info at https://tankatuesday.com ? She has lots of resources and links to kigo words.

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Crow and Moon - Five Very Brief Poems

-
Image
Writers' Pantry #72   photo prompt: The Sunday Muse #162     Crow, or idea of Crow. Moon's interpretation. Crow admires. Crow-in-moon admires back. a moon a crow my soul is filled   Crow and Moon meet in reflection, their own counsel to keep.  Crow, speak to me, tell me secrets of the moon. ©2021 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved
Read more

A - Alphabet Haiku

-
It's April 1st, and time to start the 26 day alphabet countdown.  Every day, with Sundays off, I'll be posting a poem relating to that day's letter.  It may be a form (such as this one for A), a title, a subject, something to do with a prompt.  I fully admit, some will be better than others.  There is still time for you to join in.  www.a-to-zchallenge.com Here we go!  A - Alphabet Haiku  Alphabet haiku is an invented form created by Beatrice Evans.   Invented forms are new poetic structures that do not necessarily follow traditional or established "rules."  Alphabet haiku follows the traditional haiku syllable count of 5/7/5.  The only change required is each word begins with the same letter.   Wet windblown wastelands. Weary white winter weather. Wake, wonderous warmth! ©2024 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved  F will be another A poetry form, the American Sentence.  
Read more

Taco-Mania

-
Image
 For the inaugural Friday Writings at Poets and Storytellers United (no more Writer's Pantry or Weekly Scribblings, they've been melded into one with an optional prompt), I went with the prompt, albeit quite unremarkably!  A haibun, but not.  In other words, a paragraph and a 5/7/5 that is not a haiku.  Nor is it a senryu.  So, it's that "everything else" form zappai!  Can it still be called a haibun then?  🤷   Also, the first Tuesday of the month over at Tanka Tuesday is Poet's Choice.  My choice is a... um... prose/zappai, of the Taco Tuesday sort! Friday Writings prompt : "...write poetry or prose about food: cooking it, eating it, sharing it, craving it, dreaming of it … the choice is yours."  I like tacos as much as the next person does. They’re really a perfect food, completely customizable.   Beef or chicken, both or neither.   Pile on the veggies and cheese, or leave them naked.    Sour cream with a ...
Read more