nPostednon April 17, 2015
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nWaynback in 2011, I informed everyone that December 22 is National Haiku Poetry Day.
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nHowever,nin 2007 Sari Grandstaff registered April 17 as an “unofficial”nNational day, and in 2012 is was publicized as a part of a projectnfor The Haiku Foundation.
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nAndnof course, why not celebrate both dates?
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nAprilnis National Poetry Month in the United States,n so celebrating haiku poetry during the month seems like a great idea.nThis short poetry form originated in Japan and normally has 3 shortnlines with the syllable pattern 5-7-5.
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nMostnhaiku are inspired by some aspect of nature: a gorgeous glimpse of andew-decked spider web, perhaps, or the bright colors of some fallennleaves.
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nBecausenthey are so short and structured, and because they are usually aboutnnature, haiku poems are easier for most people to write than a morengeneral assignment like, “Write a poem.”
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nIt’snworth noting that many people writing haiku in English don’t follownthe strict 5-7-5 syllable pattern. Also, many of our examples ofnHaiku poems are translations that of course do not in all cases haventhe same numbers of syllables.
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Herenis an example from the first great poet of haiku, Basho Matsuon(1600s): n
Herenis an example from the first great poet of haiku, Basho Matsuon(1600s): nn
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nAutumnnmoonlight—
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nanworm digs silently n
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nintonthe chestnut.
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Andnthis is from Yosa Buson (1700s):
Andnthis is from Yosa Buson (1700s):n
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nLightnof the moon n
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nMovesnwest, flowers’ shadows n
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nCreepneastward.
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nFinally,nI really like this Kobayaski Issa haiku (early 1800s):
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nOnsnail, n
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nClimbnMount Fuji, n
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nButnslowly, slowly!
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nKidZonen suggests writing “What am I?” haiku such as this riddle:
n What Am I?
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nGreennand speckled legs,
Hop on logs and lily pads
Splash in coolnwater.
Hop on logs and lily pads
Splash in coolnwater.
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nAlsonon this date:
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nBatnAppreciation Day
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nAstronomernGiovanni Riccioli’s birthday
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nAnniversarynof the arrival of horses in the New World
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nPlannahead:
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nChecknout my Pinterest boards for:
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nApriln holidays
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nAndnhere are my Pinterest boards for:
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nMayn holidays
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nMayn birthdays
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nHistoricaln anniversaries in May
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