Today is the first day of autumn, and for my writing practice in the next few weeks I’ll begin a series of autumn or fall poems. This is my favorite season, my soul season. I’ve done a few different types of haiku ranging from traditional 17 syllables to a poem in a single line. Do you have a favorite?
1.
biting into a Victoria plum, such guilty pleasure
2.
spent blossoms–
the last swallowtail
sips alone
3.
the season’s first soup
almost ritually cooked
stirs our senses
4.
sweet windfall apples…
bruised memories
autumn of long ago
Modern English language haiku are not always seventeen syllables. A haiku can be many things, but always it is a brief poem with a strong image that evokes a season and a moment of time captured simply in lyrical language. Scroll to the bottom of today’s blog to find a list of essential qualities of haiku.
The following list from the wonderful journal, Heron’s Nest, lists important qualities that make a haiku.
Here are some qualities we find essential to haiku:
- Present moment magnified (immediacy of emotion)
- Interpenetrating the source of inspiration (no space between observer and observed)
- Simple, uncomplicated images
- Common language
- Finding the extraordinary in “ordinary” things
- Implication through objective presentation, not explanation: appeal to intuition, not intellect
- Human presence is fine if presented as an archetypical, harmonious part of nature (human nature should blend in with the rest of nature rather than dominate the forefront)
- Humor is fine, if in keeping with “karumi” (lightness) – nothing overly clever, cynical, comic, or raucous
- Musical sensitivity to language (effective use of rhythm and lyricism)
- Feeling of a particular place within the cycle of seasons
These haiku are gorgeous, really breath-taking. I started writing haiku to help with my rambling problem, I thought they’d help me center in on the essence of what I wanted to express and they have helped. I love the list, it is perfect! I would have started haiku sooner if I’d come across this list. Fall is my favorite season as well XD
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a beautiful comment. Thank you. Haiku are challenging, but isnt that what we love about the form. Thanks for taking time to read these.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure =) I am not sure if I have ever written a proper, professional haiku but I keep trying and I do love the form
LikeLiked by 1 person
These are wonderful, Mary. My favorites are the first and fourth.
Thanks so much for following me.
LikeLike
Thank you for taking time to read and comment. I really appreciate it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really like your haikus. My favorite one is the last one, because I liked how you used the apples as bruised memories of fall.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m so glad you liked the autumn haiku. I think the last one is also my favorite. Thanks for sharing this with me.
LikeLike
Wow these are beautiful poems. True art. I also love the pictures, did you take them? What is your main inspiration for these poems?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Carina, No, none of these four pictures were by me, I’m afraid. Just the haiku. A number of other pictures on my blog are by me. My main inspiration? What a good question. For the haiku, it was thinking about my feelings about autumn and also about how the season has a certain sadness as the year draws to a close. I’m glad you liked my poems.
LikeLike
Those are beautiful poems. My favorite is the swallowtail butterfly. I could almost feel its lonliness. It’s a sad poem, but a good one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Chris. Yes, the loneliness of the solitary butterfly was very much on my mind. I’m glad you could feel that in the poem. Thanks for visiting my blog today.
LikeLike
These poems are really nice. They really put me in a fall mood. Also, I really like how you did four and not just one. It shows that you really care.
LikeLiked by 1 person
How nice that these haiku helped put you in a seasonal mood. It was so nice that you visited my blog today. Thank you so much.
LikeLike
I really like this poetry. Fall’s my favorite season. The pictures are very nice as well.
LikeLike
Thanks Jack for visiting my blog and reading my poems. I’m glad you liked the haiku about fall. It is a beautiful season, isn’t it?
LikeLike
Wonderful to wake up to your fall words, Mary. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much. Glad they resonated with you this morning.
LikeLike
These are really well written haikus. My favorite one is the last one. They all remind me of fall. -EG
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much. I’m glad you liked them.
LikeLike
This poetry really gets you in the autumn mood. You should do one about Halloween
LikeLiked by 1 person
When I taught I wrote many Halloween poems. I hope your class will give them a try.
LikeLike
I really liked the way you did this. I like a lot of these things. This blog is great!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for letting me know. 😊
LikeLike
This is such… Smooth poetry It is actually relaxing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m pleased to hear that. Writing very small poems can be very relaxing but also very focused. I hope you try your own hand at writing a few.
LikeLike
Early Autumn is my favorite time of year! Refreshing after a hard, hot summer of work! Love the photo of apples. Now I must make some apple turnovers! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Perfect thing to do now that apples are so fresh and in season.
LikeLike
Hi Mary,
Thank you for these lovely jewels. I immediately responded to 2 and 4, then I realized that is because my fall represents the passing of things rather than the beginning. So I reread and related to 1and 3 and immediately saw why you grouped them as you did-it is the very bittersweet nature if autumn that makes it so complex. Thank you again!
Sheppy
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m delighted you liked these, Sheppy. I agree with you completely about the bittersweet nature of autumn. Your comments are always so thoughtful.
LikeLike
These are lovely. I missed the day – and now I have it back! Thank you!!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Why thank you so much.
LikeLike
haiku and fall has always been favorites for me.
i’ll share one of the few poems i wrote oh so long ago:
distant silver birds
glistening like daytime stars
in the autumn sky.:)
jo anna
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely haiku, Jo Anna. Thank for sharing this today.
LikeLike