Responses
In the final lesson (lesson 6) of Write Like Issa, David Lanoue invites us to respond 'in kind' to specific haiku by Issa – answering them with our own, either in imitation or contrast. This is an honourable haiku tradition; Issa himself responded so to some of Basho's haiku. Below, Issa's originals are in italics. My responses are drawn also from my own lived experience.
the child hugs
her cloth monkey . . .
hailstorm
summer storm –
crouching
with my cat
*********
without you—
this grove
is just a grove
(1)
noisy bats gone –
the grove is again
peaceful
(2)
meditation complete –
sudden kookaburras
laugh in the grove
*********
spring rain—
in my lover’s sleeve
coins jingle
spring rain –
my wallet
empty
*********
into morning glories
with one shoulder bare….
holy man
walked past unseeing
weeds by the road –
morning glories
Sharing with Writers' Pantry #91 at Poets and Storytellers United.
I do love your responses to them all! I think the one that got to me most, or surprised me was "my wallet empty"! I wasn't expecting that. I can relate to crouching with a pet during a storm. My dog now is afraid of wind. Not a wind storm, just regular wind! I have to sit and watch tv and hold him.
ReplyDeleteWrite Like Issa sounds like a wonderful exercise. I enjoyed reading your responses. The spring rain piece offers a brilliant and unexpected twist.
ReplyDeleteThese are all great responses to Issa's poetry.
ReplyDeletei really like the one with the laughing kookaburras. this is in contrast to the seemingly silent grove in Issa's poem.
i think this is a good workshop practice. Maybe i should go & try some. :)
I'd love to see what you would come up with.
DeleteThe meditation one made me smile, because that's how things go around here when I meditate, except with children not kookaburas.
ReplyDeleteI love the jingle of coins in the lover's sleeves. These are all lovely.
ReplyDeleteWhat a marvelous exercise, Rosemary, and All of your responses are wonderful. I esp like the cloth monkey / cat pairing.
ReplyDeleteI wrote a response/reaction to Basho's (most famous?) frog/kerplunk haiku a while back and - though it's not actually a perfect haiku - it garnered publication in Plum Tree Tavern. I thought you might enjoy it: https://eggsovertokyo.blogspot.com/2019/09/what-basho-knows.html
Love your response to Basho!
DeleteThis is a wonderful conversation you are having with Issa. I hope you continue.
ReplyDeleteI have now finished the lessons in the little book I was working from, but think and hope I have learnt a lot. It would be good to revisit this practice of responding to haiku by Issa – or others.
DeleteBravo!!! You served up some excellent one
ReplyDeleteHappy Sunday
Much💜love
I like them all, but the spring rain one is my favorite. I enjoy how the response emphasizes the silence, while the original carries a jingle.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Your responses are perfection and I am inspired to attempt(answers in the honorable haiku tradition.)
ReplyDeleteIt is quite interesting to read your responses, since they both echo and contrast with the originals.
ReplyDelete