Haiku on Twitter

English translation of a Japanese HaikuWith poetry becoming slightly more trendy (long may it continue),  I have been reconnecting with what was once a real love of mine.  I have always had deep connection to poetry,  on a level no different from reading a great novel or watching a well written play or movie.  I lapped up Christina Rossetti and Tennyson and bought tomes of anthologies to discover a wide range of poets.  Siegfried Sassoon made me cry, and Pam Ayers made me laugh.  I could practically feel the dirt on my hands when I got lost in Seamus Heaney.

Perhaps most telling is the fact that for my 18th birthday I received several copies of The Nation's Favourite Poems from friends and family.  I still have the duplicate copies, as I couldn't bear the thought of exchanging a gift that was so thoughtful, and so right.

Yet my life has moved on, and my work demands that I now spend more time bouncing between the meaty journalism of the New York Times and the Guardian and the glossy pages of Vogue, Marie Claire and InStyle Bride than I do leisurely exploring new poetry.

The other day though, as I was updating my Twitter feed, it dawned on me that this was one medium which could go hand in hand with poetry.  Specifically the Haiku.

Haiku is a beautiful, but sadly largely misunderstood form of poetry. 

The format of the original Japanese Haiku is somewhat more complicated than the English version, due to the complexities of the Japanese language and writing system and the implications that the Japanese culture can find in a type of profound simplicity that seems bleak, or pointless, to most of us Westerners.  (We like our writing to be round; plump with detail and with a well defined beginning, middle and end.) 

However, it is just this kind of sense of uncomplicated space and simplicity that links Haiku to Zen philosophy.

In English, Haiku is commonly three short lines, including a reference to the seasons or nature.  Its brief format makes it ideal for the latest communication craze.

Of course,  I'm not the first to have this thought. 

A second exampleThere are many Tweeps who are using the character limit of Twitter as a natural form for Haiku.  Some good, and some not so good.   But poetry, like writing, is not something that you have to have talent at to enjoy.  While I may be harsh on professional writers,  I would encourage anyone who wants to write to do so.  Writing is expressive and cathartic, possibly more so for a hobbyist who has the luxury of self indulgence without the restraints of deadlines, stylesheets and target markets.

The trend has gained so much popularity, that a cultural centre in London recently organized a Twitter Haiku competition, judged by none other than Yoko Ono.

While it may not come naturally,  Haiku is a a great exercise in creativity and expression,  and is open to all kind of experimentation.  If you are interested in learning more about the history and format of this poetry form, Wikipedia has an extensive article with links to some of the mediums most notable artists.