Writing Haiku: A Beginner's Guide to Composing Japanese Poetry

by Bruce Ross

A world of dew
And within every dewdrop
A world of struggle

The iconic three-line haiku form is increasingly popular today as people embrace its simplicity and grace—and its connections to the Japanese ethos of mindfulness and minimalism. Say more with fewer words.

This practical guide by poet and teacher Bruce Ross shows you how to capture a fleeting moment, like painting a picture with words, and how to give voice to your innermost thoughts, feelings, and observations. You don't have to be a practiced poet or writer to write your own haiku, and this book shows you how.

In this book, aspiring poets will find:

-Accessible, easy-to-replicate examples and writing prompts

-A foreword that looks at the state of haiku today as the form continues to expand worldwide

-An introduction to related Japanese haiku forms such as tanka, haiga, renga, haibun, and senryu

-A listing of international journals and online resources

Do you want to tell a story? Give haibun a try. Maybe you want to express a fleeting feeling? A tanka is the perfect vehicle. Are you more visual than verbal? Then a haiga, or illustrated haiku, is the ideal match. Finally, a renga is perfect as a group project or to create with friends, passing a poem around, adding line after line, and seeing what your group effort amounts to.

Ross walks readers through the history and form of haiku, before laying out what sets each Japanese poetic form apart. Then it's time to turn to your notebook and start drafting some verse of your own!

Genres: Poetry, Nonfiction, Japan, Reference, Writing

191 pages, Paperback

Published March 15, 2022

Reviews

[Bernie Gourley · Rating 5 out of 5]

With this guide, Ross offers a compact guide to navigating Japanese poetic forms and the offshoots and variations that have evolved in America. The book does have a particular focus on the American and international style of haiku, and related forms, though the author always lays the groundwork by first exploring the “rules” of the traditional Japanese form. He also discusses concepts, such as wabi and sabi, that heavily inform Japanese poetry. However, most of the examples come from English language writers, and there’s extensive discussion of how American haiku differs in form and substance. This makes the book particularly useful for English-as-native-language writers who wish to capture the flavor of this spare and elegant poetic form, but who have limited acquaintance with the Japanese language and culture.

I didn’t think I’d need another guide for writing haiku after reading and re-reading William Higginson’s The Haiku Handbook, but Ross does cover a few topics in greater depth and detail, particular haiga (combining graphic arts with haiku,) renga (a partnered / team style) and several American variations, and ginko (a nature walk-based practice.)

The book has graphics as needed (i.e. in the haiga section,) and offers and extensive set of recommendations for further reading as well as resources.

While I’ve been writing haiku, tanka, and senryū for some time, I learned a lot from this book, and it got me excited to try some of the forms with which I’m inexperienced. I’d highly recommend this book for beginner, intermediate, and advanced haiku poets.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bruce Ross guides us newbie haiku writers on the path to writing this classic Japanese poetry form. He includes many great examples, and offers suggestions for getting started. He also includes information and examples of haiku variations including tanka, renga, haiga, senryu, and haibun.

haiku---"The essence of traditional haiku consists of two things. First there is an association with nature through one of the seasons either by naming the season...or by suggesting the season through specific elements of that season...The second essential part of traditional haiku is setting up a relationship between two images and separating those images with a punctuation mark..."

senryu---"...there is a kind of poetry that is similar in form to haiku but deals exclusively with human nature and most often is expressed as a joke. This form is called senryu."

haibun---"A haibun is a prose narrative that is autobiographical...that is expressed poetically...What is unusual about haibun is that it includes a haiku."

tanka---"...tanka is...poetry filled with highly personal and emotional expression...But usually tanka, which was most often written in five lines or phrases in a 5-7-5-7-7 syllable pattern, connect these thoughts and emotions to nature."

haiga---"A haiga is not so much an illustration of a haiku as an artistic expression of the spirit of the haiku's feeling."

renga---"Renga (is) an overall term for a poem that is written with other people...Its three main characteristics are spontaneity, improvisation, and fun."

[Arnel Šarić · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent introduction to haiku.

[Nancy Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never knew there were so many ways to write short poetry!

[Sascha · Rating 5 out of 5]

first appeared: https://saschadarlington.me/2022/03/1...

I love the word “serendipity” and have been using it a lot lately because it seems like it’s been happening a lot. A while ago, I decided that I would like to write more haiku and haibuns, and, as fortune would have it, I stumbled upon the ARC of Bruce Ross’ Writing Haiku: A Beginner’s Guide to Composing Japanese Poetry and requested it to review.

Writing Haiku: A Beginner’s Guide to Composing Japanese Poetry not only covers haiku but several other forms as well a few I knew nothing about including: senyru, haiga, tanka, haibun, renga, and ginko, which is a walk in which participants write down their observations of nature.

All of the different types are explained in great deal with their historical components as well as their modern components; their place in Japanese writing as well as American. All had multiple examples and interpretations of those examples. And, if there were traditions, those were explained as well.

I found this to be an exciting guide that had me attempting to write my own senyru after reading about it and then longing to do a haiga, which is a simple drawing accompanied by a haiku. When I say simple, I mean simple for the practitioner, not necessarily (or at all, really) for me. There were a few graphics included to show the artform.

I think Writing Haiku: A Beginner’s Guide to Composing Japanese Poetry would be an excellent resource for anyone just starting out in writing the different forms of Japanese poetry as well as those who have advanced knowledge.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Eric Riddle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been writing haiku for over 5 years. To help me gain new insights, I will read “how to” books on occasion. This is the best that I have read. Bruce Ross dives into haiku with many examples and then offers brief and instructive comments. He goes well beyond haiku into senryu, haibun, tanka, Haifa, and renga.

I appreciated him switching between traditional and more modern forms of these types of writing. He also gave me a new understanding of “wabi” and “sabi” that has influenced my recent writing.

Bruce Ross clearly loves what he is writing about and is encouraging readers to share in his joy by developing their own poetic haiku expression.

Near the end, he introduces the term “ginko” - an intentional walking exercise with intent to stop, notice, and create haiku along the way. After reading his book, I would love to experience a ginko with Mr. Ross. Thank you!

[William · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can respect the knowledge and passion Bruce has for Haika and Japanese poetry, but I personally think his take is too reductive. I feel that avoiding all poetic devices produces nothing more than broken prose with enjambment.

Not did the modern American poems resonate with me. I felt that there were pictures of a moment in time, but the authors largely lacked wordplay to distill a refined image.

I think you're better off learning by reading Japanese authors and including some poetic devices - but with restraint.


dwindling twilight -
cracks between pages and yet
no glinting gold leaf

[Dashiva Francois · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the best haiku book for beginners.

[Jenny Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pleasant little summary of forms, including: tanka, haiga, renga, haibun, and senryu. The author includes lots of historic and modern examples, which were enjoyable.

[Lilac A. Penda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teaches you a lot about haiku, and other various forms of Japanese poetry.

[Dorothy Mahoney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not just a beginner's guide, Ross's book gives excellent examples and includes Tanka, Renga, Senryu and Haibun. A great refresher for any writer.

[Brandon Amico · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even for experienced poets, Ross’s succinct and clear descriptions of the workings of short poems and some excellent examples do a lot to illuminate the form. Recommend.

[Jeff · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay as an introduction to the American haiku scene, but I wouldn't use it to learn how to write haiku.