17--Haiku In English July Newsletter

Email clarkstrand@aol.com for information on how to join any of these activities.

Upcoming Events for August and September

UPAYA: August 8 Summer Haiku Workshop (via Zoom) with Clark Strand, Joan Halifax, Natalie Goldberg, and Kaz Tanahashi. Click HERE to register.

ROWE CONFERENCE CENTER: September 24-26 Fall Equinox Haiku Retreat (in person). Click HERE to contact Rowe.

Haiku in English
17 Essential Points

1          A haiku is a 17-syllable poem written in three lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables. That form is the basic DNA of haiku.
2         By longstanding tradition, most haiku contain a “season word” such as dandelion or snowflake. The season word anchors a haiku in our common experience of Nature.
3          Every good haiku contains a distinctive turn of thought. Also called a “twist” or “pivot,” that turn gives the 17 syllables MORE than 17 syllables of meaning.
4         In Japanese haiku, the turn of thought is often said to produce “haiku humor.” Haiku humor is extremely varied—it can be bittersweet, funny, philosophical, or even dark.
5          At its most basic, a haiku is “whatever you can get away with in 17 syllables.” There can be no fixed rule for producing the turn of thought in haiku.
6         Haiku exploded in popularity during the 20^th century as it traveled around the globe. Haiku in each non-Japanese language has a unique identity of its own.
7          Over the last century, poets have experimented with various forms for haiku in English. However, 5-7-5 remains the form most recognized by the general reader.
8         Haiku in English most commonly fall under two broad categories: formal haiku and popular haiku. Formal haiku observes 5-7-5 with a season word; popular haiku observes only 5-7-5.
9         Although distinctive, these categories are not mutually exclusive. Increasingly, we find poets using season words to produce haiku with broad popular appeal.
10       Both formal and popular haiku aim to produce a distinctive turn of thought. In formal haiku, the turn of thought is inspired by the season word.
11        Poets the world over share haiku in groups that meet regularly—online or in person. When a group becomes influential, it is referred to as a “school” of haiku.
12       Our “17 School” is based on the idea that the 5-7-5 form for haiku is basic to its nature. Apart from that form, and a preference for season words, we do not set limits on haiku.
13        We believe that a haiku should function as a poem in English. Replicating Japanese haiku in style or technique is not our intended goal or concern.
14       We believe that the most essential aspect of haiku in any language is play. This is reflected in the word haiku itself, which means literally “playful verse.”
15        We see haiku in English as an invitation to play in 17 syllables. Haiku invites us to explore the unique sounds, nuances, and possibilities for poetic meaning in English.
16       We strive to produce haiku that are self-expressive. Even when we use objective images drawn from Nature, our best poems always have something to say.
17        We belong to a community of poets that includes our haiku ancestors and descendants. Writing haiku allows us to communicate with one another across time.

Clark Strand • Becka Chester • Clifford Rames • Susan Polizzotto • Suzanne Tyrpak

THIS MONTH’S HAIKU TIP:

Essential Point #1: Syllables Under Pressure

A haiku is a 17-syllable poem written in three lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables. That form is the basic DNA of haiku.

This is where we begin, and it is fundamental to all that follows.

“But I value freedom,” you might say. “I can’t put my creative voice inside a box.”

In fact, fitting your voice in a box is the first step in learning to write haiku.

Haiku is the art of compression, and compression requires a container. The stronger that container, the more pressure can build up inside of it. The result is a 17-syllable poem with MORE than 17 syllables of meaning.

U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins explains:

“I follow the seventeen syllable limit because it provides me with a pleasurable feeling of push-back, a resistance to whatever literary whims I may have at the time. If you want to create a little flash of illumination, the haiku tells us, start by counting on your fingers.”

Think of Collins’ flash of illumination as a flash-point, and you will understand why the 5-7-5 syllable form is essential.

The poet packs the 17 syllables with meaning, and the 5-7-5 form compresses that meaning. If the haiku is successful, it requires only the slightest spark from the reader’s imagination to set off an explosion of meaning.

—Clark Strand & Susan Polizzotto, Editors

June Highlights from the Weekly Challenge Group

Each month "17" features four haiku with commentary from our online Facebook community Weekly Haiku Challenges with Clark Strand. To learn more about the group and how to join it, go HERE. —Suzanne Tyrpak, Editor

Goldfish: summer / animals

on the breakfast bar,
goldfish in a bowl reading
cereal boxes

—Becka Chester

The confined life of goldfish is handled with such lightness and humor that, initially, we might miss the sadness.

Restricted by the bowl, as well as its placement on the breakfast bar, the goldfish have no choice but to look at whatever is placed next them.

Both the humor and the pathos of the poem derive from the choice of reading material. What could be funnier, sadder, or more banal than the text on a cereal box?

That goldfish can’t read doesn’t matter. Faces pressed against the glass, next to a cereal box, they appear to be reading.

—Clark Strand

Beach Umbrella: summer / human affairs

so slowly at first
shade from this beach umbrella
became a prison

—JoAnn Passalaqua

There are three tasks to master in learning the craft of formal haiku: form, season words, compelling turn of thought. This poem satisfies all three. The phrasing falls naturally within the 5-7-5 syllable form, beach umbrella” creates a strong seasonal feeling, and the last line’s particularly fine “twist” of perspective.

The umbrella that provided shade, now barely protects the poet from the scorching day. It has become a prison—a symbol for so many other “prisons”: the comfortable job that becomes a trap, the safe relationship that becomes constrictive.

A deceptively simple haiku with deep reserves of surplus meaning.

—Clark Strand

Summer Moon: summer / sky and elements

in my dream last night
your face was warm but distant
like the summer moon

—Oxana Holtmann

Dreams of a lost loved one can be powerful, evoking both joy and sadness. The clear vision of their face is often much more vivid than any image one struggles to summon while fully conscious. The subconscious is a treasured repository of visions and memories.

The moon is a stable, constant presence, the glowing celestial orb we gaze upon for solace. Like the distant moon, memories and love for those now gone remain a constant, in spite of physical distance. They will always be there, in heart and mind, just like the moon, warm in the summer sky.

—Becka Chester

Cumulus Cloud: summer / sky and elements

early morning swim
I turn my head to inhale
a cumulus cloud

—Valerie Rosenfeld

In the early morning, swimming with even strokes across the mirror-like stillness of the water, the poet turns her head to breathe…and seems to inhale the reflection of a cumulous cloud. This is letter-perfect as a modern “sketch from life” haiku: restraint, precision, visual wonder, and subtle humor.

Shiki invented this style of haiku and his disciple, Takahama Kyoshi, perfected it, making it the gold standard for Japanese haiku from 1900 to around 1970, when its influence began to wane somewhat. This is still the style of haiku that most Japanese poets aspire to, and it is hard to achieve.

—Clark Strand

Upcoming Season Words for the Weekly Haiku Challenge

For those belonging to the Weekly Challenge Group, it can be helpful to know what words are coming up over the next month, but we encourage all of our subscribers to write and share haiku on these themes. In this way, we can begin to follow the seasons together—spring, summer, fall, and winter—and share the joy of haiku together as a community. —Becka Chester, Editor

July 19 Season Word: “Cactus Flower,” all summer / plants

With numerous stamens in their center, cactus flowers are often yellow, although some are white, pink, orange, or red. Its symbolism is diverse. Many Native American cultures believe that cactus plants are a symbol of a mother’s unconditional love. In Japanese culture, the gift of a cactus flower suggests sexual attraction, while in Western culture, it is an indicator of chastity (untouchability).

Blooming from spiky, often hostile-looking plants in the desolate surroundings of deserts, cactus flowers can often seem like a beautiful miracle.

July 26 Season Word: “Canoe / Kayak,” all summer / humanity

Historically, canoes and kayaks have existed in cultures throughout the world. From the wooden Pesse canoes in the Netherlands (c. 8200-7200 BC), to today’s models made from aluminum, fiberglass or plastic, these small vessels are a proven mode of simple, self-propelled water transport.

Canoes and kayaks are narrow, usually tapered at each end and propelled by one or more seated paddlers who, unlike rowers, face in the direction they are traveling. Kayaking along coastal waters is now a popular pastime for seaside dwellers. Today, both types of water vessel are used primarily for recreation rather than for transport, They are often rented at vacation spots and have become an icon of the summer holidays.

August 2 Season Word: “moss,” all summer / plants

Mosses have existed for nearly 300 million years, and account for at least 12,000 species of spore-bearing land plants today. Found everywhere in our world except for salt water, moss is crucial in our ecosystem as it breaks down exposed primordial growth, releasing crucial nutrients for the continued sustenance for new growth.

Moss often presents as a plush emerald blanket carpeting a forest floor. With the heat and humidity of summer, stationary stone is also often cloaked with moss – hence the ancient proverb, “a rolling stone gathers no moss.”

August 9 Season Word: “Perseids,” mid-late summer / sky and elements

Considered the best meteor show of the year by NASA, the Perseids begin in mid-July and peak in mid-August. Prime time for their viewing is just before dawn, with scattered sightings occurring from 10 pm onward. It is best to view them far from bright city lights.

The showers occur yearly as the Earth passes through a cloud of dust particles from a comet called 109P/Swift-Tuttle. The comet’s particles become heated as they hit our atmosphere and appear as bright streaks across the heavens.

The Perseid shower were named because the meteors seemed to originate from the constellation Perseus.

Kool ‘Ku News

Haiku is the most popular form of poetry in the world. That’s why it so often appears in popular culture. Here are some of the poems that made the news in our online community—plus special mentions in the media, contest announcements, and more. –Clifford Rames, Editor

Kukai Results

A Kukai is a monthly haiku gathering where poets submit 3-5 poems anonymously for commentary by their peers. Participants choose the five haiku they liked the best from those submitted and explain briefly what they liked about them. Below is the First Place poem for our June Kukai, along with selected comments from our members. Congratulations to all!

hanging out the wash
a butterfly on the line
letting her wings dry

—Lorraine Padden

Resa Alboher—I love the surprise of the butterfly amid all the wet clothing also drying … drying out her wings in the sun that I feel shining through this lovely poem.

Marcia Burton—Whimsical, simple. and just lovely!

Shelli Jankowski-Smith—The clothesline is the functional object that ties our world to the butterfly’s… you’re lifted out of the mindlessness of your chore by sharing a bit of butterfly consciousness as you use the clothesline together.

To read all the winning poems, entries, and commentaries, you can subscribe to the WEEKLY HAIKU CHALLENGE with Clark Strand on Facebook. For information on the group, how it functions, fees, and how to register, click HERE.

Results of the June 2021 Tricycle Monthly Haiku Challenge

“A good haiku is a tiny temple with nothing in it but a tree or a frog…and a brief moment of awe.”

Congratulations to winning poets Lynda Zwinger and Genevieve Wynand.

wind chimes say nothing
that you don’t already know—
it’s now, then it’s not

— Lynda Zwinger

storytime beneath
a processional of stars…
my small Orion

— Genevieve Wynand

To see the June results and commentary, or to submit poems to the Tricycle Monthly Haiku Challenge for June, click HERE.

BREAKING NEWS: Tricycle Magazine now has its own private Facebook group, the Tricycle Haiku Challenge—a place to connect with other participants, respond to calls for submissions, discuss the winning poems, and ask questions. Membership is free. You may join the group HERE.

International Haiku Day

In case you missed it, April was National Poetry Month. Introduced in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets , National Poetry Month was designed as a way to celebrate and raise awareness about poetry. Since 2007, an important part of this culture-wide observance has been International Haiku Poetry Day, founded by Weekly Challenge Group member, Sari Grandstaff, and celebrated each April 17^th.

Haiku Success Stories

More and more haiku written by our Weekly Challenge members are finding a place in the wider world. Below is a selection of publishing successes and competition wins by members. Enjoy!

Loree Griffin Burns and Clifford Rames each scored an Honorable Mention in The 24th Mainichi Haiku Contest, International Category. Reflecting on a milestone birthday perhaps, Loree stops to capture a bit of her childhood. Also on the theme of birthdays, Clifford ponders the tenacity of life. You can read the poems below, or click HERE to see all the results.

Sharon Rousseau helped usher in National Poetry Month with a sweet dragonfly haiku, selected by guest poet, Samuel Getachew, on NPR’s All Things Considered. To see all the poems selected by NPR guest poets, go to You Sent Us Your Poems. Here Are The Ones That Resonated With Celebrated Poets

Washington Post columnist, John Kelly, recently invited poets to submit cicada-inspired haiku to mark the 17-year return of this year's massive Brood X invasion. We are thrilled to report that haiku by Weekly Challenge members Clifford Rames, Genevieve Lehr, and Sari Grandstaff were selected for publication in Kelly’s June 08 column. Check out the winning poems below, and the full article HERE.

Upcoming Competitions and Submission Deadlines

Kyoto x Haiku Project
Mayuzumi Madoka, one of Japan’s most widely recognized haiku poets and the foremost proponent of formal haiku in the world today, has invited poets to submit haiku to her Kyoto x Haiku Project. The theme for this month is “life”, and you may submit up to eight haiku.

“It is our hope that you will look at living through the small window of haiku and glorify it in seventeen syllables,” Madoka writes on the website.

We encourage you to submit! To view the submission guidelines and entry form, click HERE.

Haiku In the News

New York Times
In times of stress, hardship, and mourning, people often turn to poetry, and especially haiku, to cope. New York Times columnist Jane E. Brody revels how poetry can help us “process difficult feelings like loss, sadness, anger, lack of hope” in her April 12, 2021 article,
“When the Doctor Prescribes Poetry” .

JStor Daily
As he lay bedridden with dysentery, “Native Son” author Richard Wright discovered haiku and fell in love with the 5-7-5 syllabic form. In her article “The Haiku of Richard Wright”, columnist Ashawnta Jackson explores what was it about the form that captivated Wright and inspired him to write over four thousand haiku in less than a year.

Yoga Journal
Like so many of us, Susan K. Hartman of Yoga Journal found her mental well-being strained during the pandemic. Then she came across Clark's book Seeds From a Birch Tree: Writing Haiku and the Spiritual Journey. In her July 12 article, I Rediscovered This Type of Creative Writing, and I’ve Never Felt More Present, Hartman reveals how writing haiku helped her connect with nature—and herself—in meaningful new ways. She even mentions the Tricycle Monthly Challenges and recommends that readers get involved in the Weekly Challenges on Facebook.

Quote of the Month

“The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter. “Tis the difference between the lightning-bug and the lightning.”

—Mark Twain

If you would like to share a news story, competition announcement, submission invite, or other relevant news, please feel free to contact us at newsdesk@17haikujournal.com

17 explores the possibilities for haiku as a literary art in English. Founded by poet and author Clark Strand, the group sponsors four activities: