When writing haiku, many poets submit you must have what is called an "aha" moment.
This occurs primarily because of something called juxtaposition.
For example, take a look at this haiku by the Japanese master Basho: Not one traveler braves this road - autumn night It consists of 3 lines.
The first 2 lines describe something specific.
In this case, it's describing something that is not taking place, i.
e.
no people on a road.
In line 3 we have the setting "autumn night.
" The aha moment occurs when we read the haiku as a whole and go back and forth between line 1 and lines 2 and 3.
This juxtaposition causes one, hopefully, to pause and wonder how the lines relate to each other.
Because haiku is such a small poem, it's not difficult to do this.
Many modern haiku poets insist that you must have this aha moment or you're not writing haiku.
I disagree.
I think haiku can be snapshots of something and that is all! I like to call this an "ah" moment where instead of seeing how clever or cute the poet is in their use of juxtaposition, we get a more Zen like experience.
For instance, look at this haiku poem by Canadian haiku poet Bruce Ross: Silence -- The snow covered rock Under winter stars Here we have something a little different.
The contrast between line 1 and lines 2 and 3 isn't so different.
What this haiku does so well is give us what I like to call a "feeling picture.
" We get a sense of being there.
There is no attempt to create the aha moment because the poet does not wish to surprise us.
He simply wants to show us what he felt! Quite a difference in approach and one that I whole-heartedly endorse! When I read haiku, I don't want surprise or work.
I don't want to spend 3 minutes trying to figure out what the poet means.
I want to experience the mood! I want the experience directly and the above haiku gives it to me.
This occurs primarily because of something called juxtaposition.
For example, take a look at this haiku by the Japanese master Basho: Not one traveler braves this road - autumn night It consists of 3 lines.
The first 2 lines describe something specific.
In this case, it's describing something that is not taking place, i.
e.
no people on a road.
In line 3 we have the setting "autumn night.
" The aha moment occurs when we read the haiku as a whole and go back and forth between line 1 and lines 2 and 3.
This juxtaposition causes one, hopefully, to pause and wonder how the lines relate to each other.
Because haiku is such a small poem, it's not difficult to do this.
Many modern haiku poets insist that you must have this aha moment or you're not writing haiku.
I disagree.
I think haiku can be snapshots of something and that is all! I like to call this an "ah" moment where instead of seeing how clever or cute the poet is in their use of juxtaposition, we get a more Zen like experience.
For instance, look at this haiku poem by Canadian haiku poet Bruce Ross: Silence -- The snow covered rock Under winter stars Here we have something a little different.
The contrast between line 1 and lines 2 and 3 isn't so different.
What this haiku does so well is give us what I like to call a "feeling picture.
" We get a sense of being there.
There is no attempt to create the aha moment because the poet does not wish to surprise us.
He simply wants to show us what he felt! Quite a difference in approach and one that I whole-heartedly endorse! When I read haiku, I don't want surprise or work.
I don't want to spend 3 minutes trying to figure out what the poet means.
I want to experience the mood! I want the experience directly and the above haiku gives it to me.
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