Haiku is the Poetry of Life

Don't worry, there is Haiku but first you need an introduction, else you will miss the essence.

Prelude

Some time ago, while writing a fiction article with a Japanese character, I came across a Haiku competition right here on Vocal.

I must admit that coming from the Western world, I couldn't fathom any sort of poetry that did not rhyme. I know about it because of literature classes in high school. Over the years I indeed wrote several poems, mainly when I was heartbroken. Those literally fell off the edge of existence. Next time I find one, I will make sure to keep it, but it may be too late for that.

Haiku is about observation and internalization

At any rate, the Haiku thing captured my attention, and I started reading more about it. Before long I learned it was not about rhyme at all, but about delivering a message. A sudden realization or observation, and typically about the seasons.

Those of us who are glad to live in the tropics, don't have the comparative luxury of the four distinct seasons of the years. We merely have the dry season and rainy season. It may sound boring, but that is all that we got.

In the tropics, the rainy season represents life; all is green and very much alive. In the dry season (our Summer) things die little by little, withering, drying and becoming part of that cycle of life and death in two acts.

In northern and southern latitudes however, that cycle is different. Fall executes a preemptive strike and threatens with a knife. And then Winter takes care of twisting that knife in the guts of your soul like an alligator's death roll to ensure you die. Spring comes back with a renewed cycle of life.

In Japan they enjoy all four seasons, and they get to experience it beautifully with those awesome flowery trees. Therefore, no wonder Haiku —as a form of poetry— was invented in Japan.

Haiku could be summarized as a poem with:

• Three (3) verses
• Not necessarily with a rhyme
• Structured as three verses with 5-7-5 syllables respectively
• Traditional Haiku mentions one season of the year in the 1st verse.
• Describe a fleeting moment of beauty or reflection.

After I had comprehended that about Haiku, I came to understand it better as an art form. I decided it to give it a try, and this is what I came up with:

Beautiful Summer.

My tender soul enchanted,

The day I met you.

There is a whole story about that moment in a time and place far away from the wet, green landscape that extends before my eyes. It was that Summer in that wonderful southern European city that I met キア who became my friend, and just that.

At the time, I had been mourning an ended relationship for a couple of years. I remember the moment, because the little I got to know about her, the beautiful mystery woman. I realized that my love life needed not to remain a Winter. Those two weeks we saw each other during language class, or strolling in the city, taught me that there was a time for Spring. A time to move on to mend a broken heart.

I remained a uninvolved a couple more years, though. Somehow in the affairs of the heart, my healing time took way too long. But I am living my eternal Spring now, with the star God intended for me.

But my very first Haiku, I wrote in Spanish:

Viento de Otoño,

Me tiene en desvelo.

Muere mi sueño.

Enjoy!

And remember, I am the original (not the copycats) LostInWriting™ you can also stay in touch via my new Substack @lostinwriting (Sorry, it doesn't reflect my current avatar, shown at the end).