“Haikai is for freedom.” — Bashō (Kyoraishō, 1775) Parasol One of the eight auspicious symbols of Buddhism, though with no religious connotation here, the parasol “symbolizes preservation and protection of the [teachings] against suffering and sorrow . . . and can be viewed as an axis mundi, a … [Read more...]
This Week in Haikupedia — October 18, 2020
The Haiku Foundation welcomes you to Haikupedia! Each week we will release a few new articles in our ever-expanding encyclopedia of haiku. These we hope will give you a sense of the potential scale of this enterprise, as well as entice you to become a part of the project. The 2nd European Haiku … [Read more...]
Haiku Music Challenge 66
Welcome to the sixty-sixth iteration of the Haiku Music Challenge, hosted by Naviar Records. Last week I chose this poem from the haiku submitted to the September THF Monthly Kukai. coffee break a crumb for the sparrow Bill Kenney began writing haiku in December 2004, a month … [Read more...]
re:Virals 267
Welcome to re:Virals, The Haiku Foundation’s weekly poem commentary feature on some of the finest haiku ever written in English. This week’s poem was the grating voice so out of key but mellow after a few drinks — Karen Harvey, The Haiku Foundation's per diem … [Read more...]
The Renku Sessions: A Better Look – Week 9
Hello everyone. I am John Stevenson and I will be guiding you through the composition of a twenty-verse (nijûin) renku. Kiti Saarinen is our selector this week. We received 167 verses, from 29 poets. Here is her report: “It was a great honor to read everyone’s splendid offerings. Many thanks … [Read more...]