• Susan's haiku

Lorraine Ellis Harr is a remarkable and influential haiku author. Many people believe Harr was influential in their writing of haiku. Moreover, half of American woman responding to a survey stated Harr was the first influence in their own writing of haiku. She started as an assistant editor in haiku Highlights. Shortly after that her then editor, Jean Calkins turned haiku Highlights over to Harr. Under her energetic direction and focus, the magazine’s name was changed to Dragonfly: A Quarterly of haiku. She also changed her own name to Tombo, meaning dragonfly in Japanese (retrieved from http://www.ahapoetry.com on July 2, 2004). Lorraine Ellis Harr or Tombo was making significant changes. Another example of this was her organization of the Western World haiku Society in 1972. Subscribers to Dragonfly became automatic members of the organization. This is one of the most remarkable things about her. She has brought hundreds to haiku. She encouraged readers of her magazine by acting like a teacher. Readers would summit their haiku and Harr would respond with suggestions and corrections. She even published a list of the do’s and don’ts of haiku, in English. Harr had incredible understanding of Japanese haiku and was an amazing teacher. She was in a sense a bridge; bringing Americans to better understand Japanese haiku. In addition to writing, editing, and teaching haiku, Harr also enjoys teaching Ikebana (Ryusie-Ha) [flower arranging] (retrieved from www.ahapoetry.com on July 2, 2004). Lorraine Ellis Harr can evoke so much emotion with every haiku that she writes. She is a remarkable writer. I chose to write about her because of her content and uniqueness. She is able to capture one single moment with every ounce of emotion. Yet, she does this in a way that relates to everyone. Her haiku are about nature and real life, yet it is not all happiness and flowers. I enjoy writers that write about real life and real things. I had no problem reading each haiku and imagining where it took me. Her content is amazing because it is so colorful and vivid. I was truly fascinated by her, as an English woman, to be able to have an understanding of Japanese haiku and be able to become a tremendous author of Japanese haiku. I chose to compare Lorraine Ellis Harr to another author that writes about real life, George Swede. Both writers evoke emotion and imagination and touch you. However, George Swede does write haiku that is a pit different that Lorraine Ellis Harr. Swede tries to capture more of the edgy and raw emotions that you cannot hide from but do not like talking about. Harr captures real life too, but in a softer since. stormy autumn night; branches of wind-torn vine scrape at the window The Red Barn - Lorraine Ellis Harr, 49 in the windswept window among the wild trees my face Almost Unseen – George Swede, 48 The haiku by Lorraine Ellis Harr seems uncomfortable. The first line illustrates the mood of an unsettling feeling. The second line illustrates a mood of disturbance. The third line illustrates trouble and worry. I like this haiku especially because it is not just about restful sleeping. I envision a woman who cannot sleep while her family snores. She lives in a farmhouse. The wind is howling and a loud hard rain. Something is bothering her and she is troubled and very worried. She tosses, turns, and hears the scrape of branches on the window. She gets up to make sure everyone is okay, including the dog. Everyone is okay but she still cannot figure out why she has an unsettling feeling. It is like a nightmare for her. The haiku by George Swede also seems terribly uncomfortable. I imagine that Harr’s haiku happens before Swedes. There is a woman living with her family in an old farmhouse. The wind is howling and the rain is getting louder and louder. The woman cannot sleep and is restless in her bed. She is tossing and turning listening to the branches scrape the window – calling her. She is feeling uncomfortable, scared, and nervous. She gets out of bed and goes to the window. At the window, she is confronted with her own reflection and she cannot hide. That she is the reason and cause of this feeling. These haiku have a similar feeling and mood. I envision they are about a woman who is unsettled and deeply bothered by something. Harr sets the stage of a real life rainstorm and dark. While Swede finishes the story taking it one more step her looking at her reflection in the window. Harr talks about real life and the emotions within it. Swede also talks of real life and the emotions within, however he takes it further in his haiku. His haiku is darker and shows another side. Haiku Samples & Responses Snug in a warm bead Waiting for the cock’s next crow Winter sunrise Snowflakes in the Wind, 16 This haiku stood out as I was going through Snowflakes in the Wind. I absolute love how the haiku makes me feel as I read it. The first word snug pulls you in and is comforting. It immediately makes you feel like you are bundled up in blankets on a winter night and you do not want to move. Everything is cozy and comfortable. I felt so much comfort with the next line of waiting for the cock’s next crow. I felt like you were on a farm enjoying the peace, quite, and tranquility of the setting. This is the time when you are stretching and enjoying the only quietness, you will probably have all day long. Meanwhile awaiting the winter sunrise that confirms a new day has started. You are waiting for the Sunrise before you put your warm toes on that ice-cold floor and have to remove yourself from the snug warmth of your bed. What a wonderful feeling this haiku gives. the sparkler goes out and with it—the face of the child 70 Sevens, Pathways of the Dragonfly, 2 This haiku captures a moment like none other. This all happened in an instant and is captured perfectly. Children love the fourth of July. I can imagine a little boy watching the fireworks on the lake on the hot summer evening. Nothing can keep his attention until he does see the fireworks. He is awing at the fireworks in the sky with pure amazement. When they are finished his father hand him his very own firecracker – a sparkler! He gets so excited watching it. Then it goes out and so does the child. You laugh and are sad for the poor child. This brings out two emotions. I want someone to give that little boy another sparkler. After the snowfall . . . deep in the pine forest the sound of an axe. The Haiku Anthology, 65 I felt such excitement and anticipation after reading this haiku. The first line gives you such anticipation of what is next. All joyous things came to mind – playing in the snow, building a snowman, etc. The next line brings more excitement and anticipation. Then the last line is icing on the cake. I imagine children staring out the window excited for the season and for Christmas. They are waiting for their father to come back from the woods. They hear the sound of an axe and giggle with excitement waiting for their Christmas tree to come home. You feel such warmth and excitement for the Christmas tree to arrive. Mom is setting out the Christmas tree trimmings, but the children cannot pry themselves away from the window. They want to be the first to see the tree. falling asleep to the soft whispering of spring rain 70 Sevens, Pathways of the Dragonfly, 59 How relaxing this haiku is and peaceful. The first line gently says falling asleep. The second line is so airy and soft. The third line is peacefulness. This haiku is so light and instantly relaxes you as you read it. I read this haiku and wanted to be where I was imagining. I imagine a woman and man taking an afternoon nap together. Sometimes spring rain is cold and the couple snuggles together and enjoys this moment of peace. They are just taking a break to rest their eyes. They feel so at peace, comfortable, and relaxed. The rain is like a soft lullaby whispering them to sleep. This is the best time of year. The spring rain is bringing flowers and warm weather. I love this haiku because these are the moments in life that you can truly treasure the memories. These are the moments in life when you stop and enjoy what is around you. summer beach house hung on a rusted nail a fading bikini A Flight of Herons, 30 This haiku is warm but it is also a little lonely. But that is real life. The first line makes you think of summer fun and warmth. The second line makes you feel lonely and maybe neglected. Then the third line brings the realization not neglected just lonely when it is not in season. This haiku makes you feel like a house has feelings too. I imagine a family that has so much joy and laughter spent much of the summer in that house and had an amazing time. Then they had to go back to the real world and leave paradise. With the family gone so is the laughter and joy. All that is left is a swimsuit on a hook outside getting sun burnt. You feel like the house is waiting for the family to come back and warm it up. stormy autumn night; branches of wind-torn vine scrape at the window The Red Barn, 49 This haiku seems uncomfortable. The first line illustrates the mood of an unsettling feeling. The second line illustrates a mood of disturbance. The third line illustrates trouble and worry. I like this haiku especially because it is not about restful sleeping. I envision a woman who cannot sleep while her family snores. She lives in a farmhouse. The wind is howling and a loud hard rain. Something is bothering her and she is troubled and very worried. She tosses, turns, and hears the scrape of branches on the window. She gets up to make sure everyone is okay, including the dog. Everyone is okay but she still cannot figure out why she has an unsettling feeling. She feels even more nerved because she is the only one not sleeping, everyone else is enjoying their slumber and she cannot. It is like a nightmare for her. References Those women writing haiku. Chapter 3. Retrieved July 2, 2004, from http://www.ahapoetry.com/twchp3.htm.