Archive for the 'Poetry' Category

Writing Occasional Verse

I think I should clarify my title: by Occasional Verse I mean poetry that has been written for a special occasion. I do NOT mean when one sometimes – or occasionally – writes some poetry.

Occasional Verse has a long tradition in places like the United Kingdom. There they appoint a significant poet with the esteemed title of Poet Laureate to produce poems for special occasions, such as a royal wedding, a sovereign’s birthday or coronation and so on. Sometimes they are great; often they are mediocre.

A popular form of occasional verse can be found in the ubiquitous greeting cards that abound these days. Most is sentimental; little is of lasting worth, though it must be said that such verse can be inspirational, comforting and touching. Other types of occasional verse are written for special openings, birthdays, weddings, funerals, Christmas, Easter and so on. I’ve even written one for a Sunday School Christmas breakup.

As a part of my studies for my Master of Arts in Creative Writing I had to write some occasional verse as an exercise. We were asked to write a set of two poems, one a haiku and the other a tanka on the occasion of the Beijing Olympic Games. There were widespread protests in Tibet before the games. Below is a copy of what I wrote.

Beijing Olympics

Handpicked athletes strive
For glory. Years of training
In their chosen sport –
Victory their golden goal.
Aches. Tears. Pain. Disappointment.

Olympic fireworks,
Cheering crowds, fluttering flags.
Blood-stained dove of peace.

All right reserved. Copyright 2008 Trevor W. Hampel

Tanka #1 Yellow-tailed Thornbills

Yellow-tailed Thornbills
Hopping and fluttering through
Lush grass seeking bugs,
Assorted beetles, insects

For a tasty lunch-time snack.

All rights reserved.

Copyright 2008 Trevor W. Hampel

To read more of my poetry click here.

Yellow Rumped Thornbill

Yellow Rumped Thornbill

Writing Tanka poetry

Tanka poems are an older form of Japanese poetry than haiku but are very similar to haiku poems, but a little longer. Like the haiku, they start with three lines of five, seven and five syllables.

The poet then adds a further two lines, each of seven syllables, making a total of 31 syllables whereas the haiku have only 17 syllables. So, in order, each line has 5 – 7 – 5 – 7 – 7 syllables.

Tanka poems are often about strong emotional subjects, like love or sadness, though this restriction is no longer the case with modern tanka written in English.

Nectarine tree blossoms

Nectarine tree blossoms

Here is a tanka poem I wrote this week.

Orchard adorned with
A pink and white petalled coat
In response to spring

Followed quickly by green leaves
And a promise of summer fruit.

Like haiku, tanka poems are usually untitled.

Related article:

If you would like to read some more of my poetry, click here.

Good writing.

Plum tree blossoms

Plum tree blossoms

Haiku #43 White-winged Choughs

Strutting White-winged Choughs
Pick dried grass – moustached mouthfuls
Of mud nest lining.

All rights reserved.

Copyright 2008 Trevor W. Hampel

To read more of my poetry click here.

White Winged Chough carrying nesting material

White Winged Chough carrying nesting material

Writing haiku poetry

Writing haiku poetry has become quite popular in recent decades. Many literary magazines now give significant space to the publication of haiku poetry. Some magazines are entirely devoted to publishing haiku. There is a growing number of websites devoted to this form of poetry.

Haiku poetry is a traditional Japanese form of poetry. It has been popular there for many centuries. In the Japanese form, haiku consist of only three lines.  The first line has five ‘sounds’, the second line seven ‘sounds’ and the last line again five ‘sounds.’ The whole poem often makes some reference to nature, and the last line is often reflective in tone.

Haiku written in English are slightly longer, because they are based on syllables rather than the Japanese ‘sounds’. The 5 – 7 – 5 pattern is retained, but this time in syllables. Therefore, the first line has five syllables, the second line seven syllables and the last line five syllables.  Again, many haiku are about nature and are reflective in some way.

Here is an example of one I wrote a few days ago:

Persistent begging
Of baby magpies. Gaping
Mouths worm-filled. Silence.

Notice that the poem is untitled. They are usually designated by the first line (or numbered). I usually give mine a title, but only for the purpose of filing on my computer. The first line could do this just as well.

In recent years, haiku writers have departed from the strict 5 – 7 – 5 syllable count. This has been an endeavour to get back to the conciseness of the original Japanese form. It is a very compact, precise and concise form of poetry. That is the beautiful essence of this form of poetry. I usually try to stick to the 5 – 7 – 5 syllable count as I believe it is a good discipline in compact writing. From time to time I do try to use less syllables too.

I understand that there is no plural form of the word haiku.

There is another similar form that has emerged in Australia. It is called Rooku. It looks like a haiku in that it has only three lines. It basically has no other rules except that it must have an Australian theme. Here is an example of one I wrote today:

Sleepy seagulls
Congregate near the boundary.
Cricket ball scatters their dreams.

If you’ve ever attended or watched a cricket match at the Adelaide Oval, you will understand the picture painted by those words.

Read my haiku poems

I invite you to read some of my haiku poems by clicking here. I’d love you to leave comments.