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A Little Something More to Blow Your Mind or to Rephrase, How New is Modern - Charles Henderson's Blog

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Never would I have thought I would start writing at 73 years of age. I have thoroughly enjoyed my voyage into the written spirituality of poetry and am thankful for the opportunity. In my seven years here I have met many new and wonderful persons. Having them accept me as a friend has been a moving experience.

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A Little Something More to Blow Your Mind or to Rephrase, How New is Modern

Blog Posted:11/8/2012 3:45:00 PM

Modern Haiku. The following information came unverified from the internet.
I have no reason to believe or disbelieve any of it other than it came from seemingly factual basis.

The poems came from a compilation by Faubion Bowers, a small book given to me, of which I can not vouch for the vality of it's statement. The compilation is the culmination of 30 translators with a single translator signing a single poem, with the exception of very few who had co-translators. I saw recently a book of translations of Basho's poem about the frog, the pond, and the splash. I did not count the pages but there were several (maybe as many as 10 which had three to four translations on a page. All the translations were different somewhat. So, just a little background to not get too uptight about the actual meaning of some of these poems, because you are only looking at one person's translation of a single poem.

The history of the modern haiku dates from Masaoka Shiki's reform, begun in 1892, which established haiku as a new independent poetic form. Shiki's reform did not change two traditional elements of haiku: the division of 17 syllables into three groups of 5, 7, and 5 syllables and the inclusion of a seasonal theme. I welcome any question or conversation relevant to these selections. I probably can't answer but maybe someone will step up and we can all learn something.

note:
To me these examples are as modern or more so than many modern haiku today. Please note the one with two lines, and two parts. View these as if they are correct translations, so all participants in the blog will be on the same playing field. Tell what you think, how you feel-- content, confused, whatever. Ask questions, anyone is invited to answer questions. I certainly wont be able to answer many of them. If one looks like a poor haiku, do not be afraid to voice that. We can only comment to the extent of our knowledge but collectivly we can stretch the parameters. Just remember that some of us will not know what you are talking about so go to lengths to be clear. If you do not understand what someone is saying. Be cool and just say so. Hopefully all will be upbeat, polite and in the vogue of learning, that this blog hopes to produce. If it turns out to be a bust, well we tried and that is important.

trying to sleep
go easy
when you swat flies

the tree cut
dawn breaks early
at my little window

I've turned my back
on Buddha
how cool the moon

men are disgusting
they argue over
the price of orchids

coming out to close the gate
I end up listening to frogs

Surprise!
a moonflower fell
midnight sound

unable to devour
those persimmons I adore
oh this illness of mine

all I can think of
is being sick in bed
and snowbound

again and again
I ask how high
the snow is

Please note the seemingly single perception in this one. My only explantion is the "again and again" completes it. The mind thinks:
I ask how high the snow is
I ask how high the snow is
I ask how high the snow is

no matter how hard I look I only see one part. Unless we are Juxtaposing from a staement modifier to the statement. But I do not see it.

a paper kimono
shows the guts of
haiku

how much longer
is my life
a brief night

Post Comments

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Joann
Grisetti

Date: 11/9/2012 1:24:00 PM

I enjoyed reading your blog and all of the comments.A wise person once told me if you have to ask someone else if it is a haiku, it is not a haiku, because they are felt, not written.

Brian
Strand

Date: 11/9/2012 6:23:00 AM

My third place would be ..trying to sleep/go easy/when you swat flies. Again with the ceasura at the end of line one,it reminds me of many translated 'older' Japanese haiku I have read over the years in my studies of this particular form.It still works well as a modern ELH, and could have been written yesterday ,so eternal is its subject matter

Brian
Strand

Date: 11/9/2012 6:17:00 AM

This two liner..coming out to close the gate....... I end up listening to frogs ....reminds me of the 'spaces' image form I introduced here a while back.Between line one and two there is an unwritten line which the reader fills in .This I would place second in my 'imaginary contest'

Brian
Strand

Date: 11/9/2012 4:18:00 AM

If these were in a contest I judged- men are disgusting/they argue over/the price of orchids ..would the winner even though without an 'as is moment' ,it is very poetic with the delightful caesura at the end of line one.Asto content . it sums up for me the importance of 'art' ie beauty over form , never sullying it with 'money or price' and lastly works well in English therefore a good example of a ELH( as Su labels them)

Debbie Guzzi
Date: 11/9/2012 11:29:00 AM

I think it could be seen very well as the discription of an AH HA! moment in time, one teacher Chas and I listened to a bit said IF working from memory [memory is passed/past BUT the moment of that memory is frozen in your mind]

Charles Henderson
Date: 11/9/2012 11:16:00 AM

Brian, thank you for you comments, I am amazed at how timeless some of these selections of Shiki seem to be.

Debbie
Guzzi

Date: 11/8/2012 6:50:00 PM

[Surprise!/a moonflower fell midnight sound] I find this one particulary annoying LOL a moonflower is like the shape and weight of a morning glory [wee bit bigger] but no way it would make a sound falling..and what the heck is [surprise?} or surprising about a flower falling?

Charles Henderson
Date: 11/8/2012 9:45:00 PM

the surprise was the next morning it was found on the ground (my opinion)

Charles Henderson
Date: 11/8/2012 9:08:00 PM

I'm with you on this one Ruben. I think he is indicating all were asleep, hence no one to hear anything. Like the tree falling in the empty forest makes no sound.

Charles
Henderson

Date: 11/8/2012 4:12:00 PM

"the tree cut"-- begins with an objective statement, then lines 2 and 3 are a mental observation that now the sunshine wakes him up earlier. To me this seems subjective, or can someone fit it into the 5 senses or a feeling?

Charles Henderson
Date: 11/8/2012 9:01:00 PM

Deb, I was viewing "dawn breaking" as a metaphore, but you are right the tree being gone simply let the light in earlier, and the light woke him ealier. However, the "my" is why I said "subjective". to say my enters him into the poem. He is "at the window" in the poem.

Cyndi Macmillan
Date: 11/8/2012 6:46:00 PM

IT'S IRONY! It is complete irony. The wording is perfect! The tree "CUT" (somebody is cutting a tree down) dawn BREAKS---- the tree being CUT BREAKS the morning. It is an observation that what was once whole has been severed. I LOVE IT.

Debbie Guzzi
Date: 11/8/2012 6:33:00 PM

I do not see the [dawn breaks early at my little window] as subjective at all, the tree is gone so now full dawn without the shadow caused by the tree comes through the window earlier and wakes him sooner. I do not see it as a mental observation, I see it hitting his lids, warming his skin

My Past Blog Posts


My 129 mile walk down the Appalachian Trail Date Posted: 12/13/2018 1:56:00 PM
How to make copyright and other symbols on the computer. Date Posted: 2/20/2017 1:31:00 AM
Why Read Poetry Soup Poems Date Posted: 12/6/2016 10:22:00 PM
True Beauty Date Posted: 1/19/2016 6:48:00 PM
Objective and Subjective Haiku Date Posted: 1/13/2016 3:15:00 PM
new kiddie trick Date Posted: 1/8/2016 4:53:00 AM
A Neat Card Trick Date Posted: 12/22/2015 8:33:00 PM
Charles' Answer to the Riddle blog Date Posted: 12/22/2015 4:18:00 PM
A Riddle Date Posted: 12/22/2015 9:51:00 AM
Haiku Date Posted: 12/21/2015 9:08:00 PM
Expanding Deb's Blog Date Posted: 5/19/2014 11:44:00 PM
Possum Branch Road Date Posted: 3/31/2014 11:22:00 PM
Calling All, Want To Be, Haiku Writers Date Posted: 2/20/2014 3:46:00 PM
My Bear Story Retold Date Posted: 2/5/2014 2:35:00 PM
Poetry Soup Imbeded Ads Date Posted: 11/4/2013 7:31:00 PM
The Elusive Monoku Date Posted: 7/27/2013 11:20:00 PM
Computer Games Date Posted: 7/12/2013 9:08:00 AM
Contest Winners and Bear String Date Posted: 5/3/2013 11:47:00 PM
My Contest Date Posted: 5/2/2013 2:01:00 PM
The Bear III Date Posted: 4/1/2013 5:23:00 PM
Another Bear Story Date Posted: 3/31/2013 10:23:00 PM
The no contest Contest Date Posted: 3/30/2013 2:51:00 AM
Hanging Ten Date Posted: 3/22/2013 10:59:00 AM
Feedback Wanted Date Posted: 1/27/2013 1:06:00 PM
Wise Guys Date Posted: 1/22/2013 9:28:00 AM

My Recent Poems

Date Posted	PoemTitle	Form	Categories
5/13/2020	Without Your Love	Rhyme	romantic,
4/14/2020	The Doldrums	Free verse	introspection,sound,uplif
4/14/2020	The Doldrums	Free verse	introspection,sound,uplif
4/14/2020	The Doldrums	Free verse	introspection,sound,uplif
2/25/2020	Observations	Rhyme	analogy,people,perspectiv
2/18/2020	Bora, Bora	Rhyme	12th grade,allusion,fun,p
2/13/2020	The Battle of Kings Mountain, Nc	Rhyme	america,patriotic,war,
2/12/2020	My Cat Number 2	Free verse	cat,friendship,pets,
10/7/2019	Stank Breath and Funky Shoes Blues	Rengay	funny,
4/25/2019	Noises	Haiku	dedication,emotions,
4/23/2019	The Cause	Rhyme	12th grade,encouraging,en
3/31/2019	The 1940's and 50's Movie, Radio and More	Prose	truth,world war ii,
3/31/2019	Fighting Chilblains	Rhyme	12th grade,allegory,analo
3/31/2019	Loyalty	Rhyme	allegory,analogy,characte
2/4/2019	My Coat of Many Colors	Rhyme	appreciation,love,
1/9/2019	Ad Hoc	Rhyme	inspirational,
1/4/2019	Reclamation of Number 21	Narrative	inspirational,
12/28/2018	Time	Free verse	allegory,analogy,
12/12/2018	The Core	Free verse	love,
10/23/2018	A Blue Moon Shining Light In Heaven My New Babe Our Cat Now With Her Kits	Tanka	appreciation,
10/1/2018	Love of the Subconscious Mind	Rhyme	lost love,love,
12/10/2017	New York	Haiku	analogy,
11/8/2017	Rising	Haiku	symbolism,
10/29/2017	Well, Here I Am, I Think	Free verse	allegory,
10/11/2017	Young of Mind and Heart	Rhyme	allegory,analogy,
8/27/2017	Yesterday's Pollen	Haiku	nature,
7/7/2017	A Vow	Rhyme	love,
6/17/2017	My Day	Haiku	anxiety,
6/15/2017	A Secret	Haiku	allegory,betrayal,conflic
6/15/2017	Deception	Haiku	betrayal,
6/9/2017	The Deep	Prose	adventure,inspiration,mys
6/4/2017	Metamorphosis	Haiku	beauty,nature,
5/9/2017	Wild Dreams	Tanka	dream,
3/6/2017	Massacre of Glencoe	Narrative	bereavement,
2/26/2017	The Culmination	Free verse	muse,
2/25/2017	Legacy	Tanka	allegory,
2/21/2017	Tribute To My Wife	Dramatic Monologue	devotion,love,
2/10/2017	In My Mind	Rhyme	allegory,character,emotio
2/4/2017	Snails	Haiku	nature,
2/2/2017	A Sunday Drive	Prose	life,
2/2/2017	Reheating	Haiku	life,
2/1/2017	Moments	Haiku	life,
1/23/2017	About Snails	Haiku	nature,
1/23/2017	All I Need- - -Is a Little Sunshine	Free verse	change,character,confiden
1/15/2017	Faith	Haiku	inspirational,
1/11/2017	The Angel's Tribute	Rhyme	tribute,
1/9/2017	Tall Pines	Haiku	nature,
1/9/2017	Lady Bugs	Haiku	nature,
1/8/2017	Deluge	Haiku	nature,
12/24/2016	Reflection	Rhyme	allegory,
12/8/2016	The Campout	Free verse	imagination,
12/7/2016	The Final Chapter	Tanka	angst,
12/4/2016	Aurora Borealis	Free verse	beauty,dedication,univers
11/22/2016	Futility	Free verse	allegory,
11/12/2016	Loneliness	Haiku	anxiety,
11/6/2016	The Keys To the Kingdom	Rhyme	faith,
10/30/2016	Aloneness	Haiku	appreciation,
10/30/2016	Mt Fuji	Haiku	philosophy,
9/7/2016	To My New Grands and Great Grands, Et Al	Free verse	love,
9/3/2016	The Blurb	Prose	angst,
9/2/2016	Izzy Baby	Prose	best friend,dedication,
8/28/2016	Zodiak	Rhyme	allegory,
8/28/2016	Mood Indigo Ii	Free verse	feelings,muse,sensual,
8/24/2016	The Celts	Free verse	love,
8/23/2016	Blank Eyes	Haiku	people,
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8/23/2016	Bent Limbs	Haiku	body,nature,sorrow,
8/8/2016	Keeping Time	Haiku	nature,
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8/8/2016	Education	Haiku	emotions,
8/8/2016	Equalizing	Haiku	appreciation,
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8/8/2016	The Girls From Worchester	Rhyme	environment,humor,
8/8/2016	Evening Mist	Haiku	nature,
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8/6/2016	Day Passes	Haiku	people,
8/5/2016	Morning Dew	Tanka	senses,
8/5/2016	Whispers	Haiku	child,
7/21/2016	Spring Rains	Tanka	life,
6/16/2016	Possum Branch Road	Narrative	humorous,
5/21/2016	Her Reply	Haiku	judgement,stress,
4/26/2016	Temptress	Free verse	allegory,
3/30/2016	The Old Man	Haiku	life,
3/30/2016	Aspiration	Haiku	life,
3/29/2016	Strong Grip	Haiku	nature,
3/24/2016	Tiny Fingers	Tanka	family,father,father son,
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3/21/2016	On My Broom	Haiku	life,spring,
3/17/2016	In the Bath	Haiku	nature,
3/11/2016	A Mother's Breast	Haiku	mother,
2/19/2016	Into the New Wave	Free verse	love,
2/10/2016	Wild Grapes	Haiku	nature,
1/31/2016	Karma	Prose	life,
1/31/2016	A Day In the Life of An Old Man	Free verse	lonely,old,people,
1/27/2016	The Crossing	Free verse	destiny,old,
1/26/2016	The Grave	Tanka	death,
1/24/2016	The Shag	Rhyme	art,beach,birth,dance,mus
1/23/2016	Life's Changes	Senryu	life,
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My Photos

ps_104.jpg

Fav Poems

PoemTitle	Form	Categories
Hard Times	Cowboy Poetry	cowboy-western,family,fun
Petal	Verse	love,
Violin	Personification	death,love,rose,
The Sowing	Free verse	devotion,
Disposable Wisdom	Rhyme	age,cat,endurance,life,wi
Footprints	Free verse	introspection,life,
Alabaster Night	Free verse	nature,planet,sea,
Forgotten Heroes of the Somme	Rhyme	brother,death,history,lif
Mona Lisa	Free verse	artme,
Love Beyond the Pale	Quatrain	abuse,devotion,lost love,
Humanity	Couplet	life,peoplechild,lost,chi
Hunting Sevens	Rhyme	funny
Frosted Panes - Re-Post	Quatrain	girl,life,me,sea,time,win
When Madness Rides On Moonlight	Sestina	god,life,
-unlatched-	Rhyme	childhood,family,mother,s
Missing Mother	Verse	depression,devotion,me,mi
Her Silent Seams	Free verse	words,
Wet But Wiser	Quatrain	adventure,funny,pets,
Love Passing By	Rhyme	love,love,pride,
- My Dreams -	Verse	dream,faith,hope,love,
A Police Man's Grave	Epitaph	death,funny,
Long Goodbyes	Sonnet	faith,happiness,holiday,n
Hear Oh L-Rd	Kyrielle	faith,family,happiness,un
Haiku 20	Haiku	introspection,nature,
Light a Candle	Verse	faith,history,
Spring Showers	Free verse	nature,rain,rain,

Fav Poets

Poet	Country
Debbie Guzzi	United States	Read
Dakarai Cobb	United States	Read
Cyndi Macmillan	Canada	Read
Tracy Edwards	Australia	Read
Skat A	United States	Read
Leroy Max	United States	Read
Carolyn Devonshire	United States	Read
Charles Henderson	United States	Read
Carol Sunshine Brown	United States	Read
Kathryn Collins	United States	Read
Leon Enriquez	Singapore	Read
Susan Gentry	United States	Read
Constance La France	Canada	Read
Amy Green	United States	Read
Mick Talbot	United Kingdom	Read
Thvia Shetley	United States	Read
Robert Lindley	United States	Read
Trey Hamner	United States	Read
Terry Henderson	United States	Read
Terry Henderson	United States	Read