 Home Haiku and Its TheoriesHaiku: Why to Study it? Jane Reichhold's answers to some questions
Rosa Clement: Why have we western folks decided to study haiku? I mean, why did haiku spread so widely and why do people have so much interest in it?
Jane Reichhold: "There are probably as many answers to this question as there are people who love haiku. I think that as poetry got longer, wordier, sprawling and without form, it became a wonderful change to find something short, right to the point and in a strong form as contrast. Also, as our world has speeded up, the shortness of a haiku makes it quick to grab, easy to hold in one's thoughts, and a delight to go over and over in recollection. Also, because of its shortness and its simplicity, it gives even the non-poet the courage to put thoughts into a poetic form. The Japanese genre use simile and metaphor in a direct fashion, as opposed to Euro Literature so that the forms seem even more refreshing and delightful. The connections of poetry to nature, especially after so much "I" and "me" poetry have deepened and delighted people and is indicative our new approach to the world to save it before it collapses before us. I find that for myself, the way I live waiting and watching for haiku is much more important than the poems that I write. This attitude of being in the present, being focussed on what I am doing at the moment, being open to inspiration is such a blessing daily that I continue the 'practice' of haiku even when I am rarely so delighted with the newest verse. And I am always being given a great gift.
The other week, we were off on a trip in the dark of the night. As the sky began to finally lighten I saw:
first light It may not mean much to you, but I have been thrilled for days with this verse. No other poetry form gives me this simple pleasure."S
Thanks to Jane Reichold |