This week I thought I’d cover capitalization and since it is a short topic will write another one later.
Capitalization
I look back at my earlier haiku and see that I used standard rules I learned in English class. But now after reading many books and other works I have a better understanding of the use of capitalization. Below are a few simple tips to keep in mind.
1. Try and keep capitalization as unobtrusive as possible.
2. Capitalizing the first word of a haiku is like a neon sign advertising a poem is coming.
3. If a capital is used within the body of the poem it can detract from the simpleness that should be inherit in a haiku.
Personally I feel, currently, that only the pronoun “I” needs to be capitalized and I am considering going e.e cummings for a while and seeing how that goes too.
I hope this gives you food for thought and helps you along your journey.
Sources:
Blyth, R.H: History of Haiku 1964
Gurga, Lee: Haiku: A Poets Guide Modern Haiku Press, 2003
Higginson, William: The Haiku Handbook: How to Write, Share, and Teach Haiku McGraw-Hill, 1985