"Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry, consisting of 17 moras (or on), in three phrases of 5, 7, and 5 moras respectively. Although haiku are often stated to have 17 syllables, this is inaccurate as syllables and moras are not the same. Haiku typically contain a kigo (seasonal reference), and a kireji (cutting word). In Japanese, haiku are traditionally printed in a single vertical line and tend to take aspects of the natural world as their subject matter, while haiku in English often appear in three lines to parallel the three phrases of Japanese haiku and may deal with any subject matter.hokku, haiku was given its current name by the Japanese writer Masaoka Shiki Previously called at the end of the 19th century."
- Wikipedia
Of late I've been exploring one form of Japanese poetry - Haiku. I've been fascinated by the succinct but powerful expressions oozing out of it. The first Haiku I read, is a famous one by Matsuo Basho
"Furu ike ya
kawazu tobikomu
mizu no oto"
Translated in English by R.H. Blyth
"The old pond;
A frog jumps in —
The sound of the water."
Some further research revealed that Rabindranath Tagore, after a short visit to Japan, introduced this form literature to Indian poetry and did some translations. I wish to read some of his creations in near future.
That day at Taj Bengal, I saw a bubble like miniature hanging from the ceiling. It was the occasion of ISB interview and I was really tensed. To divert my mind from anxiety, I tried to create something which in turn became Haiku-esque -
Frozen ocean bed
Bubbles of hope rising to feel
Warmth of bright sunshine.
Frozen ocean bed
Bubbles of hope rising to feel
Warmth of bright sunshine.
