My Muse Is Haiku

My Muse Is Haiku

There is a delicate nature
in writing haiku,
one in which quill
dipped in ink
is brushed on rice paper
and bamboo shoots;
a form that takes years
to learn, yet
few have mastered.

Most see 17 syllable,
3 lines
with nature’s seasonal themes
or nature appearing in human forms.
          a frog leaping is
     often heard in lily pad
          fantasies and dreams
My muse is haiku.
I love her always,
try to sign my name
upon her heart;
and while she warmly smiles
with these attempts,
none of my words
are worthy of rice paper
or bamboo shoot honors.

Still, I risee to the challenge
wanting her smile, yes,
but desiring her touch
and the music I hear
flowing through her fingers
and into the soul of my pen.
Her voice is nature
wrapped around lotus blossoms
and my pen moves
          like the sound cherry
     blossoms make floating on air,
          her whisper inspires
me to write you,
to listen to your
rice paper and bamboo melodies
and I write these words to you
     carved in bamboo, words
          on rice paper, symbols come
               alive in your light.

Aztec Warrior/redzone  11.9.16

Author's Note

...thanks for reading...

Reviews

[Einstein Noodle]

you fooled me! ;) my expectations when "clicking" were the three lines you speak of ... i read your poem as a love story .. no doubt .. i believe the Japanese still hold small enclaves of dedicated cultural heritage pursuits .. the respect i hear in your poem is worthy :) my mother-in-law died at the age of 96 ..she was a dedicated poetess and on several occasions committed to a haiku a day for a year .. she passed that on to my youngest son .. what better memory of her can i ask for .. i was blessed reading this one sir!
E.

[redzone]

E., she must have been an amazing poet... a haiku a day for a year is a wonderful accomplishment and she did it more than once... pretty damn cool if you ask me, and a wonderful memory for you and all who loved her...

and coming from you, E, a poet/writer I respect, your comment is very much appreciated, it thrills me that you enjoyed and yes, it is a "love story" of sorts, one that all poets share I think whether haiku or any form of poetry... there is a line in that movie August Rush (music embedded above) that says: you have to love music more than food, more than anything... I think this is the love affair poets have with writing...

thanks again E.

[Einstein Noodle]

:) ....love you man! and yes she was .. and remains in her written pages :)

[Kelly Scheppers]

It is a most delicate form, and one I greatly admire. Your write beautifully, Curt. So good to see your romantic side!

[redzone]

I do love haiku Kelly, so she is my muse, my romance, my love.... one day I will be able to brush words onto rice paper in her honor... I am glad you saw the beauty in this poem Kelly... from what I have read of you, I think haiku would flow nicely from your pen....
thank you

[Robert Haigh]

Not that many people write a really good haiku, in my opinion. Most English language haiku are mediocre, at best - including my own! Still, we can but try! Interesting write.

[redzone]

yea, we try and I agree Robert, not many write good haiku, and me too... maybe one day I will get it.. thanks for your comment and visit, most appreciaated

[D Connolly]

this is very delicate. I imagine reading it while sitting by my lake. Stars are coming out. bullfrogs will croak and paddle. night softly falling. :) This is a gentle poem and I really like it.

[redzone]

aw shucks Dani.... lol... such a sweet comment... I like the way you imagine this poem, so gather up that love of yours and hand in hand get to your lake and watch the stars come out the bull frogs do their thing...

thank you I am really happy you liked this poem and the haiku within...

[Lydia Shutter]

Curt, I could read your "rice paper and bamboo melodies" for hours on end....if I had the time of course. I have never mastered the form...Haiku. You are so clever....interjecting two Haiku in this free verse write. Your words are so gentle....so kind. Makes a person wish she could be your muse. The honest love of nature and, indeed, life is strong.....and this was delightful to read. Lydi**

[redzone]

thank you so much Lydi... I love this form of poetry, often struggle to write it to break out of a block... I wish I did have it mastered... there is a feel and aesthetics that are even more important than the syllables and length and this is where many, including me, fall down on... but I will always try... you are very kind in your words Lyd, thank you for this... I kinda like the way this poem came out... ;0)

[barleygirl]

This is very imaginative & gracefully described. Given your penchant for longer poems, I find the contrast with "haiku muse" to be rather entertaining *wink! wink!* I love the way you've woven this reminiscing message about haiku, interspersed with the real deal, as well as other musical & natural & writing observations which harken to the traditions of old. I can feel the influence of your new journal, with it's varied textures. This is one of your best, that I've read!

[redzone]

what a sweet review Margie, thank you dear one.. as I've said to others, with the horrors of the election and what it will mean for people everywhere, I wanted to create some softness and tenderness and aesthetics... especially since people are resisting and not accepting this fascism and are in the streets.. people need tenderness even as they confront the powers that be.. not just what we fight against but what we fight for...

thank you again Margie, I love when you are around and visiting my poems...

[barleygirl]

If only both sides could see that they're protesting about very similar things. I hate the idea of Trump as prez, but I totally understand why the "other side" wanted to throw that bomb into DC as a protest. Now we're protesting the protest candidate, but we're all really sick of the same ole s**t! Your gentleness is much needed now & I try to spread a healing message, too (((HUGS)))

[aLittlePain]

Gosh you're a total romantic aren't you? ;) really lovely words tender and sweet. R xo

[redzone]

me?? romantic?? are you sure you are talking to me??!!! ;0) Rach, such kind words and wow, thank you... glad you enjoyed this poem and the haiku within... now must go outside and do some stupid manly things can't be walking around all "romantic"... ;0)

[aLittlePain]

Lol...yes you ;)
How's the vibe there? I tried to get hold of my sister to make sure she's ok I saw the protests on
5th Ave on the news and got a bit worried for her

[redzone]

I am not able to be out in the streets due to bad knee... wish I could be though... it is righteous and correct to not allow this system to keep going in this direction.. America has never been great and it must be opposed everywhere...

it would be good if she were part of these protests... but one thing important is that a social base for fascism has been unleashed with this election and more so now that don the chump has been elected no one is safe anymore and even more so people around the world...

I cannot wait to have my knee fixed.. Rach, I feel young again.. lol... ;0)

[aLittlePain]

I can actually see her in the thick of things, she's a smart girl but we still worry.

I hope you get mobile soon Curt! Look after yourself friend. R xo

[redzone]

I do hear you about the worry... and also that she is one to be in the thick of things... cool.. I will do my best to get mobile thanks for the good wishes... take care yourself Rach... and say hi to your sister as well... ;0)

[aLittlePain]

I did eventually catch-up with her. Hope you're doing a bit better Curt and managing to get out for a bit. Take care. R xo

[jacob erin-cilberto]

and your words are always soft and pliable and filled with finesse and honesty...

love your poetry my friend.

j.

[redzone]

thanks Jacob... means a lot that you like this one... with all the horrors from that election and ahead, was looking for some "softness"... but if I didn't have this knee keeping me more stationery, I would be out there running with these young people in the streets... lol... soon though soon...

thanks again Jacob...

[Papaya]

Curt, this is such a gorgeous poem. So soft, romantic with a beautiful peaceful easy feeling about it.
The frogs and the lily pads, i just love that imagery and sound. Very nice. You're right though, most have not mastered the haiku. I once thought it was about 17 syllables / 3 lines too but I quickly learned here that I had it all wrong. :)

[redzone]

Ana, I would love to see, read haiku that you have written, I think it would be a real thrill... read moreAna, I would love to see, read haiku that you have written, I think it would be a real thrill...

there is a voice, music in haiku that goes beyond and deeper than themes and syllables as well as a feel, an aesthetics of a moment... it is this that I think is difficult to capture and why I still have not yet gotten there yet... part of the reason for the music I chose to embed is those words heard at the end: "music is all around us, all you have to do is listen" and yet most people do not hear this music same as most people do not feel the aesthetics and wonder all around us and can fashion into words... anyway..

I am really glad you like this poem Ana, I was going for tht romantic and beauty you mentioned .. as well as soft because there is soooo much ugliness in the world made worse by the fascist election, in an artistic was I wanted to bring forth some beauty... obviously heavy times are ahead, but even in times of great suffering, people need art and beauty.. so really thank you Ana for your kind words... ;0)

[Papaya]

You're welcome. The sounds of nature have always been the most beautiful sounds to me.
Keep smiling and looking for the beauty in things, otherwise life feels too blah... :)