A Haiku

An old, silent pond

A frog jumps into the pond-

Splash! Silence again.

-Matsuo Basho, The Old Pond

Haikus are like amber, capturing common, simple moments and feelings in a lasting, refreshingly beautiful way. Only, instead of a glossy jewel, the emotion and charm of a Haiku is encased within a 17 syllable phrase.

I love poetry, from lengthy, dramatic epics like The Song of Roland or The Faerie Queen to short nursery rhymes and silly limericks. Unlike these forms of prose, which seek to excite and stir with action or humor, engaging readers through fun, impressive, or clever verbiage, Haikus, quiet and introspective, highlight the aspects and occurrences of everyday life.

Haikus originated in Japan in the 17th century, a terse reaction to the period’s more common long ballads. One of the most famous haiku poets Matsuo Basho described the poetic movement, and the poems’ unique form and style, as “simply what is happening in this place, at this moment”.

The truth of this description is realized as we analyze the Basho’s work and others’. Although the poems were written centuries ago, we are, as readers, transported back to the place and time described. And, what’s more, we fully relate to it, a rarity in classic literature, as the times and customs of ages past are usually out of date and unfamiliar to the modern, 21st century person. This factor accounts for the enduring nature of these minimalist, simplistic poems, and insures that we will have haikus to enjoy and treasure for years to come.