Wondering who Kahlil Gibran and Alphonse de Lamartine are? Read my posts here and here.
Welcome to part 2 of The 'After the Fires of Day' Series, in which I answer questions from people around the world about my new book, After the Fires of Day: Haiku Inspired by Kahlil Gibran & Alphonse de Lamartine.
What do you think is the most common misconception of haiku?That a haiku must follow the 5-7-5 syllable pattern to qualify as such.
The 17-syllable pattern is a "mistranslation" of what happens in Japanese. As a matter of fact, Japanese poets count in onji ("phonetic sounds or units."). In his excellent book titled The Haiku Handbook, William J. Higginson states that the 17 onji of traditional haiku are about 12 syllables in English. Other books talk about the number of words, and recommend sticking to 8-12 words.
So, if you feel constrained by the 5 / 7 / 5 syllable pattern, try different combinations. My haiku often have 4 / 6 / 4 or 3 / 5 / 3 syllables.
Greatest challenge in this form?
The best piece of advice I have ever received is a very simple one: "If you want your writing to be effective, leave the telling at home. Show!" The haiku embodies that idea perfectly! It teaches you to be concise and impactful with very few words. But, it also teaches you the importance of practice. It may take you years to actually write something that you consider good enough! Ask me how I know. 😉
A good haiku requires several readings to unleash its meaning. And when it happens, the meaning must hit you with a bang! You must be willing to leave a part of you in each piece you write, so readers can experience emotions. Many writers struggle with that idea, actually.
When did you write your first haiku?
I remember very distinctly writing my first real poem. It was January 2005! But as far as haiku are concerned, I do not have such a precise recollection. I would say that my first attempts date back to the mid-2000s...
Do you have other questions for me? Feel free to leave them in the comment section below!
This post is part of the "After the Fires of Day" Series, which celebrates the upcoming release of After the Fires of Day: Haiku Inspired by Kahlil Gibran & Alphonse de Lamartine.
