David Lloyd: The Joys of Haiku
by Paige Dorsel
After careful reflection on David Lloyd’s haiku, I have come to appreciate the beauty of the simplicity of his haiku. I enjoy the way that David writes out of joy. Even in his prologue, he mentions the joys that motivated him and made his piece, The Circle, possible. He doesn’t speak of the aspects of life and the book as just things, but rather as joys. I really appreciate his outlook on life that’s evident, as I read more and more of his work. I like to see the light and joy in all things and to see the whole picture of how something may have come to be. I think I share this personality attribute with Lloyd. His positivity is something I look for in everything I read, but especially haiku.
Monarch butterfly
Softly flutters by
Queen Anne’s lace.
Lloyd, TC, 49
I think this haiku beautifully illustrates the way that Lloyd writes and portrays the simple joys of life. I think there are a lot of feelings associated with that of a butterfly. Normally, one would see a butterfly in a natural calming scape. I feel that the butterfly represents serenity. He adds just enough detail to be able to picture it by mentioning that it is a monarch butterfly, springing orange and black colors into the reader’s mind. Lloyd carefully executes his haiku to show a distinct movement. For example, in this haiku he makes the distinction that the butterfly, “softly flutters” by rather than just flying by. The last line brings a sense of elegance. He speaks of a queen and how the butterfly happens upon her lacey outfit. This haiku truly represents the simple pleasures of life. It makes me imagine that Queen Anne is having a relaxing afternoon in her serene garden when a butterfly brushes by the lace of her dress. I just love how well he sets the scene and paints the picture.
Over dried grass,
Two butterflies—
And a chill wind . . .
Lloyd, TC, 73
This is also a superb example of the way Lloyd writes with joy. This haiku has a slightly different approach to it. Rather than only focusing on all the joyous parts, this haiku hones in on the good among the bad. It starts out speaking of dried grass. This makes me picture a place without much life, color, or joy. The second line is delivered abruptly but in a good way. The butterflies mentioned in the line seem to come out of nowhere, but they are most certainly a pleasant sight in the midst of an apparent drought. The third line speaks of a chilly wind. This wind adds to the overall cold, dried out setting the haiku takes place in. I believe that this particular haiku accurately depicts Lloyd’s general outlook, joy can be found in all things.
On the oak tree—
This July the Fourth—
Two red leaves.
Lloyd, TC, 47
This example illustrates Lloyd’s imagery skills quite nicely. You can really imagine the scene just as it’s written. An oak tree is a very common sight, but when I read about an oak tree it brings me back to memories of my childhood, under my grandparents’ oak tree. They have a huge oak tree and I can’t help but imagine the oak tree described in this haiku to be just as massive. Once again, Lloyd is very detailed when illustrating the setting. He doesn’t just say that it’s a day in the summer or even July; he gives the exact date of the Fourth of July. This day also brings up many memories of my childhood, many including hot dogs and fireworks. This day brings a sense of joy and pride to many, and this line helps that same feeling to be both portrayed and felt. I love the vivid color added by the third line. I imagine bright red leaves falling from the oak tree on that beautiful summer day.
Perfectly still
On the marigold
A bumblebee
Lloyd, TC, 61
This haiku is a little less joyous than most, but still has an overall feeling of happiness represented by flowers and a bumblebee. This is a sort of “joy” as described by Lloyd. He finds the simple joys of life, such as a mere moment of silence or stillness. This is a brilliantly happy little moment of perfection. Everything seems to be just right where it should be. There isn’t a buzzing or much movement at all coming from the bee. It’s just resting. I like how he selects his words so carefully. I believe a change such as saying “completely still” rather than “perfectly still” would change the ambience of the haiku and it’s setting. Again, I love the distinction between saying marigold, rather than just a flower. I think the entire haiku is leading up to the last line. You wonder what is perfectly still, then what insect might reside on the marigold. The last line makes the haiku feel very complete. It leaves me with a happy feeling, almost a feeling of accomplishment.
Stepping on
The beginning
Of autumn
Lloyd, TC, 63
This haiku is actually written in an unusual way for Lloyd’s style. He is very detailed author, who can surprisingly pack a lot of detail into just a few lines. However in this haiku, he goes for the sense of mystery. He makes you wonder with each line. First, the reader wonders that the author is stepping on. Next, the reader wonders what is beginning. The last line implies the answer, but doesn’t come straight out and state it. We, as readers may assume the signifier of the start of autumn to be a leaf, but the haiku is still open to many interpretations.
I think that Lloyd’s book, The Circle, really captures the essence of his writing. All of his haiku seem to capture moments as we may experience them, often demonstrated by nature. Though The Circle is a good showcase of his work, Lloyd also ventured out into other ways to write haiku. In his book, Snowman, he tells a story with his haiku. I also think it’s a neat concept that he used the word “snow” in each haiku, but they all tell completely different stories.
The prostitute
Stops to watch the children
Make a snowman
Lloyd, Snowman, 10
This haiku tells a very interesting story. It speaks of a prostitute. With this word, there is a lot of negative connotation. The second line presents the information that the prostitute was watching the children; this may seem a bit creepy. But the last line says that she is watching them make a snowman. A snowman carries a lot of positive connotation. This makes the haiku have a sort of parallel image. But, I feel as though Lloyd is trying to let the readers see that no matter what a woman's job may be, she is still a person. She still has memories from the past, probably of being a happy little child building a snowman. She is in admiring them in their life, and most likely feeling a bit sad about her own. This was a very different approach of Lloyd's, for he normally focuses on the happy. Though he presents a happy scenario of building a snowman, the overall feel of the haiku is very sad. This is a bit unusual for Lloyd, seeing as most of his haiku from the book, The Circle,were filled with only joy. But, you can still see the positive outlook that Lloyd has on life by him being able to view the prostitute in a different way than most readers might.
Grandly
Doing nothing;
The snowman
Lloyd, Snowman, 15
This haiku represents Lloyd’s positive outlook very well. It is about a snowman that stands alone. This could have been written in a very depressing manner, expressing loneliness. However, he takes a pleasant approach to the scenario. He, the snowman, may just be in the same spot “doing nothing”, but he’s doing it “grandly”. I also really like how this is written. He writes with some suspense. He starts with just an adjective, grandly, then progresses to the action, or rather lack there of, and ends with the subject. I really like haiku that surround one noun but don’t approach the subject matter till the end. This suspense makes the haiku more enjoyable to read. I also appreciate the use of the semicolon here, both building onto the suspense and giving a direct signal that he is defining the subject of the haiku.
Cold night—
My only company
An old snowman
Lloyd, Snowman, 16
This haiku was a bit out of character for Lloyd. It has a very lonely and cold feeling to it. It sets the scene with the first line, a cold night. Then it includes a sense of loneliness by saying my only company. The last line is the saddest of all. He or she isn’t even in the company of a man, but that of a snowman. Furthermore, its an old snowman, not even a freshly built young one. This is a sad lonely haiku that makes the moment reflected in the haiku seem long and drawn-out.
Snow-woman:
Once again she give me
The cold shoulder . . .
Lloyd, Snowman, 21
Lloyd utilizes the idea of a snowman in so many ways. In this haiku, he actually utilizes the word, snow-woman. Rather than the snow-woman one might imagine, he is actually referring to a human being as a snow-woman, as reflected in the second line. The last line is a bit comical, as he ties together his reasoning of why he called the woman a “snow woman” in the previous line, because she was ignoring him or “giving him the cold shoulder” as some may say. Though this is a gloomy haiku, it arguably has light with its sort of pun used.
Yes—
Even in the graveyard
A snowman!
Lloyd, Snowman, 26
This haiku perfectly demonstrates the way Lloyd always sees the light or joy in all things. I love how this haiku starts out with “yes”, as if he is answering your thought that you have yet to consider until you read the remainder of the haiku. He builds on the idea of the question until the end, similar to previous examples. I really appreciate his use of punctuation as well, the exclamation mark adding an element of surprise. The overall theme of this haiku is the same as many of Lloyd’s. Though a graveyard seems like a dreary place, there can be a fun and friendly snowman residing there.
Along with conceptual differences, Lloyd’s two books have many structural differences. All of the haiku in The Circle have an indent for each line while those in Snowman are lined up to the left. He uses both dashes and “…”s in his haiku for both books. He seems to use dashes a lot more often in Snowman. He ends a lot of haiku with periods in The Circle, and doesn’t have a period at the end of any haiku in Snowman. It’s intriguing to notice how different haiku can be with or without the punctuation. I did notice a similarity in all Lloyd’s work that is very different from authors. That would be his use of capitalization.
having come this far
alive at fifty-five:
the morning star
Virgilio, SH, 71
At sixty
He listens to roses
With obedient ears
Lloyd, TC, 44
When reading Lloyd’s haiku, I couldn’t help but think of Virgilio’s haiku. They both speak of a similar age, or point in one’s life. Virgilio talks of being at an accomplished point, being proud of where they are at in life. Stating that they are alive seems a bit morbid, as fifty-five is not a hard age to live to today. The last line is similar to Lloyd’s approach because he brings in a sense of hope with the morning star, or as I see it, the sun. Lloyd speaks of a sixty-year old. This is a bit more peaceful that the feel I get from Virgilio. Rather than speaking of “making it”, Lloyd speaks of admiring the world around him and being able to slow down. He seems to have learned more about the world in his time, as implied by the obedience. He knows that when you’ve reached a certain age, one should just take a moment to relax and enjoy nature. I think both of these authors portray this age as an accomplishment, somewhere we strive to get to, but Lloyd’s haiku shows more of serenity and joy that comes with the age than Virgilio does. Both haiku seem to accolade getting into the old ages.
Through all of Lloyd’s work, I can always see the joy, light and hopefulness either embodying the haiku or contrasting with the main idea of the haiku. Lloyd enjoys the simple pleasures of life and is grateful for all experiences of life. It seems that he is enjoying the ride of life, much like myself. He also doesn’t seem afraid to talk about anything, which is a very admirable trait for an author. He speaks his mind and brings up subjects that not every author is brave enough to. Lloyd is an amazing author of haiku who shows life in the way I see it, finding goodness and hope on all things.
Works Cited
Lloyd, David. The Circle: A Haiku Sequence with Illustrations. Rutland, VT: Charles E. Tuttle Company, Inc. Print.
Lloyd, David. Snowman. Ruffsdale, PA: The Rook Press, 1978. Print.
Virgilio, Nicholas A. Selected Haiku. Sherbrooke, Que.: Burnt Lake, 1988. Print.
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