Haiku Hopscotch

Hello again world, So, obviously since my blog is called Haiku Hopscotch, I have to write a post about haiku! For those of you who don't already know what a haiku is, it's a Japanese poem of around seventeen syllables - arranged over three lines of five, seven, and five - traditionally evoking images of the natural world. We have been looking at Edna St Vincent Millay, an American poet who wrote during the first half of the twentieth century. Millay liked using traditional forms to both explore both new and old ideas: I will touch a hundred flowers and pick not one. In this haiku, which does not follow the 5-7-5 arrangement, Millay uses very concise and basic language to convey a natural but ambiguous message about our relationship with the world around us. We, in turn, attempted to do this in Poetry Society, as we write as well as read and reflect. My haiku doesn't exactly follow the five seven five pattern either, but that's ok, as ha...

Ok so hello again world. Today we were reflecting upon 'Hope' by Emily Dickinson. This poem forms part of a list we discovered on a blog listing 'must read' poetry: ( https://www.buzzfeed.com/krystieyandoli/life-changing-poems-everyone-should-read?utm_term=.uaNwkjM05#.nob4o8OgE ) This poem is really beautiful, and is written purely in a metaphorical vein. Using the extended metaphor of a bird - that 'thing with feathers' - the poet hones in on this creature's seeming weakness. It appears to lack any form of strength, yet: "... sore must be the storm - that could abash the little bird" In spite of a howling gale, the bird continues to sing. This is acutely accurate in the ways of hope, and is particularly motivational to me. Dickinson reminds us that no matter how small the chances, there is always hope in the world. No matter where you are, what you're doing, what's coming or what has happened, the bird still sings... 'And...

Hey world, 'A poet before anything else, a person who is passionately in love with language.' -W.H Auden I don't know about you, but I think that Auden's reflection on the essence of the poet encapsulates pretty much everything to which a writer should aspire. Not fame, not money; just an unfailing love of poetry, and the brilliance of the English language. For this reason, I'll be producing a weekly blog on the subject - a love letter, if you will, to the mother tongue. As a member of a club that assembles weekly to discover, read, and reflect upon poetry, I am one of a privileged few who know the unique consolations of the form. To most people, poetry is thought of as an incredibly boring topic. However, being a 'Poetry Nerd', as members of the poetry society are used to being referred, I believe that everyone can write their own poetry if they really try. To some, poetry flows easily; but for me it requires inspiration. It is this which we seek i...