Merissa Marx

Global Haiku • Spring 2012
Dr. Randy Brooks

Merissa Marx

kasen:
Flash of Light

haiku project:
A Woman's Wordless Song

Chromatic Element

by
Merissa Marx

Authors Introduction

Over the course of the year, the haikus I have written seem to have one importantthing in common: they are all very personally related to my life. Some authors can write abstractly or from an outside view, but all my favorite haiku have a very personal connection from this past year. The reason I chose my title, was to reflect just this. The term chromatic means to include all the keys one can play on the piano. Transferring this idea to haiku, "chromatic" captures all the little pieces that have happened in my life. The set of haiku I decided toinclude in this book have special meaning to me. I think they capture theessence of my "Chromatic Element" perfectly.

sick of my feet
I begin
to use my wings

a week early
because he couldn't wait
a bouquet of red roses

temperature falls
crunchy leaves
pumpkin spice coffee

closed blinds
enclose the house
an empty chair sways

haiku project:

A Woman's Wordless Song
by Merissa Marx

I was inspired to use the haiku with musical references in them to create anoverall song. It just so happened that Peggy Lyles had many wonderful haiku containing musical elements. I arranged the haiku to take you on a journey throughout a day, starting with the morning, and ending at night. I also included some text painting within the song. For instance using the word "breeze," I wrote the inner two parts to imitate the feel and sound of an actual breeze. I did the same with the terms: jazz, wind chimes, and cricket. I wanted the music to reflect each haiku individually, yet maintain an overall cohesive sound. I hope I achieved that goal.

A Woman's Wordless Song

Play the original recording (mp3) by Merissa Marx and Millikin friends:

This original composition contains the following haiku:

an open window
somewhere
a woman's wordless song

Peggy Lyles, page 20, To Hear the Rain, Brooks Books, 2002.

the third-note rise
of a towhee's song
fragrant breeze

Peggy Lyles, page 18, To Hear the Rain, Brooks Books, 2002.

summer stillness
the play of light and shadow
on the wind chimes

Peggy Lyles, page 22, To Hear the Rain, Brooks Books, 2002.

distant jazz
a calla lily
catches rain

Peggy Lyles, page 78, To Hear the Rain, Brooks Books, 2002.

summer dusk:
my neighbour sings
to his roses

Stephen Toft, The Kissing Bridge, Red Moon Press, 2008.

midnight
the cat walks
up piano keys

Peggy Lyles, page 66, To Hear the Rain, Brooks Books, 2002.

cricket sounds
rise into the night
the names of the dead

Peggy Lyles, page 114, To Hear the Rain, Brooks Books, 2002.