Let’s look at a haiku today.
“What’s that and how does it fit into a website about gardening?”...... you might ask.
In simple terms, a haiku is a form of Japanese writing that has been around for centuries.
In traditional Japanese style, the haiku is printed in a single vertical line, while the form that I’m most familiar with is that of a poem divided into three lines. The first line has 5 syllables, the second line has 7 syllables, and the third line consists of 5 syllables.
The subject matter is often based on some observation of nature.
That being said, I recently came up with an amateur’s attempt at an American gardener’s haiku.
The thought presented itself to me one windy afternoon as I observed the bamboo at the edge of our little backyard Japanese garden.
The graceful swaying of the bamboo leaves and stems in the gentle breeze put the words into my mind that I felt described the emotion of the whole scene.
It felt like the bamboo was yielding to the wind rather than fighting against it, so here’s what I came up with:
The bending bamboo
Yields to the strength of the wind
And teaches us grace.
Depending on what device you are using to view this article, this little poem may or may not appear to you as the three distinct lines needed in order to assume the proper haiku form.
Anyhow, I hope you like the thought and that it presents a calming picture from nature that we all can enjoy!
