Haiku is a Japanese prose art form with very strict rules: The Haiku is made up of three lines. The first line must have five syllables. The second line must have seven syllables. the last line must have five syllables. The three line Haiku is a complete thought and stands alone and is not a verse in a larger poem. It is meant to be thought provoking, calling up strong visual images or emotions.

Two or more can play. The game starts with one person composing a Haiku. The next person takes the last line of the first Haiku as the first line of their responding Haiku---and so on.
 
The Haiku Game was very popular in feudal Japan between members of the nobility who were trained in poetry, calligraphy, martial arts, politics and the Tea Ceremony. It is still popular today.

First verse below was written by Dragonfly
 and every other verse was written by LadyBleaux.  ENJOY!!

 

 


 ~ Haiku Game Part I ~

From a withered branch
Dead leaves slowly drift downward
Fall's sorrow-- crisp tears

Fall's sorrow-- crisp tears
Soft winds wipe fall's tears away
Fall's happy again

Fall's happy again
Dreaming of Spring's renewal
Buds in profusion

Buds in profusion
Spring bursts forth with renewed hope
Ah, the dreams of spring ...

Ah, the dreams of spring
Soft as a butterfly's kiss
Sharp as a razor

Sharp as a razor
So keen are our memories
Times of pain and bliss

Times of pain and bliss
Like shadows on the water
Life's moments passing

Life's moments passing
Some words and deeds left undone
Can we but wonder ...

Can we but wonder ...
If our knees all bent backwards
What would chairs look like

What would chairs look like
If chairs were always empty
Dusting more often

Dusting more often
Where does all this dust come from
Maybe thoughts that died

Maybe thoughts that died
Thoughts may die, but not our dreams
Dreams should last forever ...

Dreams should last forever ...
Each one lovingly polished
Gems beyond price

Gems beyond price
Stored in hearts forever
Such are memories

Such are memories
Vivid flashes of pure light
Filling the mind's eye

Filling the mind's eye
The times of youth's innocence
Longing for those days ...

Longing for those days
of acne, angst and turmoil?
Not on a sure bet

Not on a sure bet
Can anything be for sure
Ah, life's mysteries ...

Ah, life's mysteries
Peek from behind every rock
In life's gravel pit

In life's gravel pit
Rough graveled raw emotion
Running wild, untamed

Running wild, untamed
Why are you running so hard?
You can walk free too.

You can walk free too
Being free to choose in life
Hearts need to be free

(Haiku Part II continued
here!)

Barbara LaBarbera
(LadyBleaux)
 
© 2003 used with permission
ThunderWolfLA@aol.com
&

 Dragonfly


 

 



 



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