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Tag Archives: harmony of similarity
THE WIND OF AUTUMN
Sometimes I like to take an old hokku and modify it to make it fit an American environment: An abandoned house; The wind of autumn Over the bare floor. This is a “harmony of similarity” hokku, in which we feel … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged autumn, autumn wind, harmony of similarity, hokku, nature, poetry, seasons, writing
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THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTEXT
Good hokku generally have strong sensation. By sensation we mean an experience of the senses — seeing, tasting, touching, smelling, and hearing. Those of you with an inquisitive bent of mind may think, “Well, if hokku is all about sensation, … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged ants, context, haikai, harmony of similarity, hokku, horses, poetry, sensation, summer, writing, zen
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A HOKKU IN FIVE WORDS
There is a summer hokku by Kikaku that requires very few words in English translation: Inazuma ya kinō wa higashi kyō wa nishi Lightning ya yesterday wa east today wa west. Lightning; Yesterday east, Today west. Even though … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged haikai, harmony of contrast, harmony of similarity, hokku, Kikaku, lightning, summer
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THERE’S A BELL AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA
Old hokku sometimes included historical, literary, or cultural allusions that make them very difficult for modern English-language readers to understand. As I have already explained, we say that such verses “Do not travel well.” That means they require so much … Continue reading
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Tagged allusion, Bashô, bell, haiku, harmony of similarity, hokku, sea
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HORSES AND HEAT WAVES
Those who read a posting here only now and then will learn little or nothing. Those who read here regularly, with attention, will gain over time a good understanding of the basic principles of hokku. For example, I recently discussed … Continue reading
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Tagged clouds, cotton cloth, haikai, harmony of similarity, heat waves, hokku, Kyoroku, summer, summer colts, Tohō, white, Yang
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