  |  Title: Haiku: Learn to Express Yourself by Writing Poetry in the Japanese Tradition Poet: Patricia Donegan Publisher: Tuttle Publishing Genre: Poetry/Verse Age Range: 8+ Grade Level: 3 and up |
What is the book about?
A "how-to" guide to get you to try your hand at the world's shortest poetic form- the haiku. You'll also get to read tons of haiku written by master poets like Matsuo Basho, Yosa Buson and Kobayashi Issa, and by children closer to you in age. For example, here is a haiku by a twelve-year old poet from France:
above the stream
chasing her reflection
the dragonfly
Is it really possible to teach someone how to write poetry?
If the poetic form is properly demystified, then, yes. The section titled Entering the Haiku World shows how haiku moments- small, simple things that one can observe and write haiku about- are happening all around us, all the time. Before you can practice writing, you have to practice seeing, is the message. Patricia Donegan, a poet herself, is a wonderful and patient guide.
Then?
The next section The Seven Keys to Writing Haiku details how to get it right. The idea is to take one piece of the puzzle at a time to gently lead you in. There are lots of illustrative examples too.
And?
This guide dispenses with the seventeen syllable count, and instead teaches how to make your haiku "one breath long."
More?
Once you are firing on all cylinders, the remainder of the book has other haiku projects and exercises.
Any haiku volumes I can enjoy after this one?
Yes. This one is particularly fun. And it's not just for boys.
Guyku: A Year of Haiku for Boys by Bob Raczka
A "how-to" guide to get you to try your hand at the world's shortest poetic form- the haiku. You'll also get to read tons of haiku written by master poets like Matsuo Basho, Yosa Buson and Kobayashi Issa, and by children closer to you in age. For example, here is a haiku by a twelve-year old poet from France:
above the stream
chasing her reflection
the dragonfly
Is it really possible to teach someone how to write poetry?
If the poetic form is properly demystified, then, yes. The section titled Entering the Haiku World shows how haiku moments- small, simple things that one can observe and write haiku about- are happening all around us, all the time. Before you can practice writing, you have to practice seeing, is the message. Patricia Donegan, a poet herself, is a wonderful and patient guide.
Then?
The next section The Seven Keys to Writing Haiku details how to get it right. The idea is to take one piece of the puzzle at a time to gently lead you in. There are lots of illustrative examples too.
And?
This guide dispenses with the seventeen syllable count, and instead teaches how to make your haiku "one breath long."
More?
Once you are firing on all cylinders, the remainder of the book has other haiku projects and exercises.
Any haiku volumes I can enjoy after this one?
Yes. This one is particularly fun. And it's not just for boys.
Guyku: A Year of Haiku for Boys by Bob Raczka
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