haikaiTALKS: a saturday gathering! 17th august

haikaiTALKS: haiku aesthetics | a saturday gathering_under the banyan tree

host: Lev Hart

17th August 2024

haikaiTALKS: a saturday gathering_under the banyan tree

Haiku Aesthetics: Wabi 2 (of 2)

William J. Higginson describes wabi as “austere beauty.” In the following passage, Basho appears to offer an example:

       If you describe a green willow in the spring rain, it will be an excellent

       renga verse. Haikai, however, needs more homely images, such as

       a crow picking mud snails in a paddy (Hass, p. 235.)

Kanjini Dev and Basho appear to have the same idea:

       winter sun

       two sparrows bathing

       in a pothole

       (HAIKUsutradhar, June 26, 2023.)

In contrast to the peacock, for example, the sparrow has a simple beauty. Kanjini's palette is austerity itself, with the winter sun, the sparrows and the puddle in grey. The juxtaposition is a harmony of tones. Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to write two haiku with images of austere/simple beauty, and, like Kanjini's verse, with no human figures. Remember the kigo.

Your host for haikaiTALKS Lev Hart

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Thank you for doing this for us, Lev.

Members,

Please give your feedback on others' commentary and poems too. _()_

This is an exciting phase for haikaiTALKS! Have fun! Keep writing and commenting! _kala