We who with songs beguile your pilgrimage / And swear that Beauty lives though lilies die, / We Poets of the proud old lineage / Who sing to find your hearts, we know not why ... (James Elroy Flecker)

28.2.19

NaHaiWriMo 2019 week 4


NaHaiWriMo 2019 week 4

The final week of this year's NaHaiWriMo month.

I found the prompts this year difficult to use to attempt true haiku. (If these succeed at all, I'd call them senryu.) I'd sooner take my inspiration from the natural world around me. 
But NaHaiWriMo aims to inspire a daily haiku habit, and in that respect succeeded with me, by showing me how I prefer to approach haiku and that I would like to do so, if not daily at least a lot more often.



#22 nearsightedness

labelled a snob –
until I get glasses
and see who’s who


#23 casserole

recipe  says 
cast iron dish –
my cauldron?


#24 school play

stumbling infants  
brilliant on stage
by senior year


#25 hair brushing

100 strokes 
night and morning …
the aunties lied


#26 bank account balance

pension day –
bills and groceries
balance zero


#27 canned meat

canned meat –
I turn
vegetarian


#28 school principal

Years later, ‘Look! it’s
Mr Wilson.’ Vague-eyed
he lifts his hat. 


To be shared with Poets United's Poetry Pantry #442.

23 comments:

  1. I call them senryu, too. I really like haiku, but... I love the human-energy senryu brings into the mix. Like your "canned meat" bit, it had me rolling with laughter, and saying, "Ye, me too!"

    I'm thinking about a senryu, haiku, or tanka a day radiation (5-7 weeks). We'll see how it goes...

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love "the aunties lied." Reminds me of my mom saying "you have to suffer to be beautiful." I told my then eight year old great grandson that, then added " hmmm...i've suffered and i didnt become beautiful" and he replied very seriously "no. You didnt." Cracked me up.

    ReplyDelete
  3. 22 and 23 had me laughing. I no longer believe in 24, but the rest are all too true! Nicely done. So what is the difference between haiku and senryu? Is it a formality?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haiku traditionally focus on the natural world, taking note of the seasons. Senryu deal with human behaviour. Of course, humans are part of nature and can be the subject of haiku – but senryu are also humorous, satirical or ironic.

      Delete
  4. I like your clever takes on these prompts. I especially smiled at the 'cauldron' and found myself nodding at the one about near-sightedness!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ha! I love the gentle humour and sweetness of these senryu/haiku. I really liked 24 and 27 in particular. Your witty take on these themes is plain delightful. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  6. 22 and 25 had me giggling and nodding at the same time.. it's amazing how quick other people are to judge us.. isn't it?❤️

    ReplyDelete
  7. 100 strokes
    night and morning …
    the aunties lied
    ..... that one especially made me smile!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Strong and gently insightful pieces here that were a treat to read this Sunday. Thank you...

    ReplyDelete
  9. These are like doorway glimpses...some make me laugh (#27...#25) and others just bring a shiver of recognition.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Yes, I definitely think you should use the cauldron! :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Literal LOL on 27. I've heard people say there are some creative ways to serve up something like Spam so that it's tasty, but I've never personally tried them myself.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love the cauldron one too! Cracked me up.

    ReplyDelete
  13. #26 sounds like my pay day...haha #25 do people actually brush their hair 100 strokes a day? Maybe?

    ReplyDelete
  14. I really like the wit of these short poems... sometimes real haiku becomes too much of a constriction... as for glasses, I got mine so early so I think now I'm snobbish about having them on.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I couldn't stifle a chuckle at the wordplay in:
    'labelled a snob –
    until I get glasses
    and see who’s who'!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Enchanting senryu - all of them with an unscripted backstory. Wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  17. These are enjoyable and clever haiku (or senryu) My favorites were nearsightedness and bank account balance, as I can relate to both.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Haiku, senyru, whatever is always a delight to read when so much is said and felt in so few words. My particular favorite was No 23 Casserole for the obvious reason.

    ReplyDelete
  19. haiku or senyru, no one's quibbling, because what your responses to the prompts are a delight to read. my favourite is #23, potions optional. :)


    ReplyDelete
  20. Aunties lied is my favourite. Sort of like eating the crusts to get curly hair.

    ReplyDelete

DON'T PANIC IF YOUR COMMENTS DON'T POST IMMEDIATELY. They are awaiting moderation. Please allow for possible time difference; I am in Australia. ALSO, IF YOU ARE FORCED TO COMMENT ANONYMOUSLY – do add your name at the end, so I know it's you!