Haiku

On Wednesday evening, August 19, I took care of my niece Perri while my sister Susan and Brian took their other daughter Carlin to a parent night at her new pre-school. Carlin starts pre-school in the Fall. I told Perri to bring her Haiku book so that we could write some poetry together.

Haiku is a Japanese traditional poem that has a 3 lines structure which could vary from having specific line that forms a 5-7-5 syllables form done in the U.S. or it could be a non-specific line syllable in the Japanese tradition. Haikus generally have themes on nature, seasons, a specific moment or event. What is usually utilized in the poetic language are imageries derived from the 5 senses: taste, hear, smell, see, touch. Sometimes, a drawing or picture accommpanies the completed haiku.

Below are some snapshots of our haiku writing session in my bedroom, which is located in the deepest interior of my mom's house. There are four windows in my room that overlook ours and the neighbors' gardens. It is the perfect spot to be inspired by nature and to write. We started off brainstorming ideas, then using a pen or pencil, we wrote the haiku on paper. Then, we transferred the haiku onto the computer and superimposed it on an image we found on Yahoo that seemed to match closely with the haiku's theme. Perri really liked it. And, if I didn't mention already, Perri is entering the 2nd grade and is already reading on the 4th grade level. I'm always really impressed and amazed with her deep love for reading and writing at such a young age. I wonder where she got that from???? ;-)

Hope you enjoy the haikus and the photos below: