Haiku

Haiku is a Japanese form of poetry with limited words conveying deep meaning. The thoughts expressed through haiku are profound and drive insights within. The words are not rhythmic but follow a set pattern of syllables arranged in a way to express feelings.

Traditional Japanese haikus are influenced by nature, seasons, animals and life in general. The most widely practised non-Japanese format for a haiku is three lines with a set of seventeen syllables. Five syllables in the first and last lines and seven syllables in the middle line.

This pattern is a more western or modern style, the olden Japanese haikus were written in a single line commonly found on paintings. Although simple, they provoke the reader to think deeply and drive lessons for oneself.

The most common known Haiku is by Basho’s old pond written in the 17th century, translated in English here as –

“Old pond

frog leaps in

water's sound”

Since then haiku writing is widely popular around the world in its local forms and format. India also has a strong community of haiku writers.

Until a few weeks back I had never heard or read about a haiku. Going with my current disposition to learn and grow while keeping myself busy in lock down, I enrolled for a workplace competition to write a haiku on upcoming international women’s day. Since never attempted it before I took the challenge to at least introduce myself to this Japanese art.

Believe me, the first day was the hardest to even read, understand and think about a haiku. For someone like me, who has a knack for writing long and widening sentences, expressing thoughts in just seventeen words in a fixed format, with deep meaning was a herculean task. You might have noticed the previous sentence itself has thirty-one words. Imagine how long it took me to even think of a thought and then pen it.

Thankfully, I was given a theme #choosetochallenge by the team to help restrict my thoughts. Now all I had to do was empty my mind, concentrate and innovate, simple. However, it took many attempts to rewrite the haiku on the given theme. I preferred the three lines, seventeen syllables style on how women chose to challenge the status quo these days.

Finally, I managed the haiku for my submission. It may not get selected but was happy to take initiative to learn something new. Like the haiku, I learned if you want to do something make a resolve, stand firm and go ahead, no one is stopping but you alone.

As they say, once you start there is no looking back, I too penned a new haiku each day. Taking a cue from the Japanese tradition my haikus are based on nature, seasons, animals and life in general. And of course, the current pandemic was not left behind, as it is now an integral part of my lock down life. Sharing a few of my haikus -

Nature

The beauty around us which we miss to notice at times

Winter

The long and dark days of winter

Animal

Even a small animal can teach us a lot

Life

Its as beautiful as it gets

Lock down

It took an entire pandemic to make us take notice of life and live it well.

I took inspiration from my day-to-day life and surroundings to view the old things from new perspectives. Hope you like them and can drive meaning to your life. Even if you don’t understand them just smile, keep calm and carry on.