PACE Global Haiku • PACE February 2010
Dr. Randy Brooks

Selected Haiku

by
Penny McCullough

Writing Haiku is a simple, enjoyable art. American haiku occurs in the everyday, simple moments of life. Haiku has become something I do from observing ordinary events. It only takes a few minutes to do. With only 3 lines a moment in time is captured. What I like best about haiku is sharing it with others. Listening to, and exchanging interpretations of, haiku is the most enjoyable part.

Language arts has never been something I really appreciated, but I love haiku because it is both expressive and interpretive. I think it is a direct reflection of a love for the visual arts, especially photography. With photography, a person sees things that a casual observer might miss. The same is true of haiku. It is seeing life from a different perspective .

Writing a haiku poem is very simple. It does not require the traditional 5-7-5 format. The goal is to keep the words simple or to re-arrange if necessary. Editing works well in haiku.

sun shining through
iced tea glasses
a couple hold hands

warm waterbed
pitter patter of dog feet
good morning, beagles

black Bible
with falling pages
my father’s signature inside
 

5 stones
in a mother’s ring…
awaiting one more

fall leaves
my dog
with a new frisbee