!hoa#gais
rotates her dassie ears -
autumn love songs
Southern hemisphere Afri-ku - mmcg: 1 march 2012
* !hoa#gais is the name given to the March moon by the original people's of Southern Africa (ref, Koi-San) in the now extinct Xam language. Translated it means "rotated or turned ears, and refers to the month (March) in which dassies (rock rabbits) become sexually active. This is a time where the weather cools, and the dassies spend less time basking in the sun (necessary for their complex system of thermoregulation in the hot summer months). The traditions and connectedness with the natural world of the Koi-San people permeates the mythology and cultural experience of Southern Africans still to this day. Dassies are a common sight here on the Cape peninsula; sharing their song with you.
rotates her dassie ears -
autumn love songs
Southern hemisphere Afri-ku - mmcg: 1 march 2012
* !hoa#gais is the name given to the March moon by the original people's of Southern Africa (ref, Koi-San) in the now extinct Xam language. Translated it means "rotated or turned ears, and refers to the month (March) in which dassies (rock rabbits) become sexually active. This is a time where the weather cools, and the dassies spend less time basking in the sun (necessary for their complex system of thermoregulation in the hot summer months). The traditions and connectedness with the natural world of the Koi-San people permeates the mythology and cultural experience of Southern Africans still to this day. Dassies are a common sight here on the Cape peninsula; sharing their song with you.
- You, Maxene A. Alexander and 4 others like this.
Veronika Zora Novak ...Hi Zen! Such an enigmatic blending of cultural awareness!!! Here in "igloo-land" we pay homage to a distant cousin of the dassie, the ground hog, in the spring time! Polar opposites geographically, and whilst the dassie lives in tree tops, the ground hog (naturally) lives underground! I was a bit perplexed at first, rabbits singing? The circle of life...so blessed to simply enjoy, reflect and appreciate.
Zen Anecdotes Thank you all for reading my offering I was hoping it would raise the question of whether notes are appropriate when posting poetry, especially when using a word such as "dassie". Yes, it is an English word with it's origins in Dutch: das, meaning badger. Ironically, dassies are unique in that they are descended from elephants, not badgers or rabbits! So, how do we write "proper haiku" that is true to the moment, from one's own cultural perspective, using words that may be meaningless to other readers? Perhaps, I'm beginning to think, we can only really write haiku in Japanese and call everything else "haiku-esque"?
/
the Koi-San moon
rotates her dassie ears -
autumn love song
John Potts "I'm beginning to think, we can only really write haiku in Japanese and call everything else "haiku-esque"?" - ZA
Nonsense. I hope this is a joke!- Zen Anecdotes @John: Hopefully not nonsense in the context of what I have said above? I also said "perhaps", borne out of the current challenge of trying to make my offerings from a specific cultural context and South African English, meaningful to global readership. It is interesting to me that people seem to know so much about Japanese culture, through personal experience or through much reading/study, because that is where the roots of haiku are (yes, and China), and yet find it difficult to connect with colloquial poetry from other cultures ...sometimes even their own If you disagree, tell me why you think what I have said is "nonsense"?
- John Potts "I'm beginning to think, we can only really write haiku in Japanese and call everything else "haiku-esque"?" - ZA
The technique and application of that technique which we loosely reference as 'haiku' can be done anywhere in the world. However, if we wish to address a global audience we clearly need to do universals. Kuing for South Africa is a regional understanding. Without long-winded commentary, more often than not the reader rushes on. Also, with long-winded commentary, the reader will tend to rush on. We need to understand this basic commonsense. I do sympathise, though. perhaps haibun is the way to go. Only, rather than this being simply a regional travelogue with ku, it is a particularised tourist guide to the region as well.
It's ok, I've just had some breakfast and my nerves have calmed down from the shock of your startling statement. ◠‿◠ - Maxene A. Alexander Seriously, well referenced annotation exists for a purpose and sometimes, and sometimes often, it fits well w/poetry. Personally, I greatly appreciate well written annotation that raises my awareness and teaches me something,
Through annotation or even haibun, either way such narrative serves to expand upon source meaning and (for me) never takes away from my exploring even further the meaning of any verse on a more personal level. There is always a story behind the story so to speak, and I love learning about it. - Zen Anecdotes @John: My original question, not statement, fully and correctly quoted:
"Perhaps, I'm beginning to think, we can only really write haiku in Japanese and call everything else "haiku-esque"?
Just questioning and mulling over things that arise out of discussion ... thanks for the response. Yes, I recognise that notes get long winded and detract. I'd prefer not to have to resort to that. On the other hand, ku-ing for Japan was once a regional understanding ... it is only through the notes, haibun, and other poetry of the Japanese masters and then, later, other commentators and translators, that we in the west were introduced to haiku in the first place! Be glad! - Zen Anecdotes @Maxene: Thank you for your thoughts too All grist for the mill, and yes, perhaps, as John suggests, haibun is the way for me to go. The specific cultural and contextual meanings of the images in my poems from Africa might then become more fixed, globally, and eventually there might be no need for notes!
- John Potts Precisely my point. A targeted haibun (as outlined in my prior comment) could service this international problem. Otherwise, we needs must speak in universals. Here's an example:
old pond
a frog jumps in
the sound of water
- Matsuo Basho
(common translation)
Yes, there's a backstory to this masterpiece of brevity by that wandering genius (talk about going ginko!). But, in the absence of being Nipponese in Japan's Medieval period, even us modern foreigners, plagued by a scientific mind set, can dig it. In fact, we can mine it for depth for years (as I have) and still find more in its apparently boundless archetypal waters. - Maxene A. Alexander You're welcome Megan. It would be difficult to reference well through haibun without losing the story line - hence sometimes, annotation is well placed. I've never seen you waste a word or write one that should be omitted. Really.
Your annotations are near signature and absence of them would be a great loss. Your work serves well - in many ways; both beautiful and educational ... and I think it just doesn't get any better than that. The Annotated Zen is something I look forward to, please don't take it away :-)) 
Dalvir Gill I ditto Maxene A. Alexander's above comment. I' m trying to get where John Potts is coming from. You affirm my belief that any reading of haiku outside Zen mentality ( of no-mind ) doesn't make sense. I want to thank Zen Anecdotes for her contribution to Haiku, on all fronts, I genuinely appreciate it/them :)))- Maxene A. Alexander Regarding Old Pond:
Personally, I would thoroughly enjoy an annotated "old pond" which would clearly define the language as it was written, when it was written.
In discussions with Professor McAuly from Sheffield University - doing such proves most interesting. For example "ancient" is the pond, more than old - when the original wording (in the context of the definition when it was written) is examined. I'll not comment further than this as it tends to cause argument - point being, annotation for the sake of education ... is a good thing :-)) - Dalvir Gill Maxene, When he is/was meditating on basho's haiku, ( wink) , Zen/meditation/all the 9-10 miles/.. is not something one can practice or write down on paper...... but that's what I felt that fella is on the right path just not aware about the fact that it's the path. seriously, that is true meditaton, maybe........but this thread was something like such afresh air........after the rain. Live Forever!!
- John Potts @Maxene A. Alexander: Haibun can be flexible enough as a series of montages. There is no fixed 'rule' on this whatsoever. If there were, I'd ignore that rule as silly. Besides, when did "difficult" become a problem in the human pageant? lol. Haibun, although rooted in travelogue, is not at all needful of being bound to a storyline. A haibun may be a brief prescript (almost as short as a title, even). Or, an essay in length. Or, a series of essays. All we expect of a haibun is that the language is acute and there are tercets (ideally haiku) sprinkled in the text as illustrations and counterpoint.
◠‿◠ - Zen Anecdotes "I don't do 'Zen'" jp. *she just smiles* Thanks John, Maxene and Dalvir for engaging in this discussion; your views are all much appreciated. I have to leave because there is a mighty storm approaching on this Cape, and I have to batten down the hatches! Perhaps the storm devas have a message for me ...
- John Potts @ZA: If I were to accept a label for 'applied cosmic consciousness', it would probably be Taoist, rather than this Zen error that has crept into western haiku literature as a result of lack of information and the beatniks fascination with that subject. However, labels are like hats and hats are like flags and flags are for well-behaved citizens. So, yes, the 'wayless way' variety of Dow might be ok. My own invention of the 'wayward way' even, at a pinch. Why not?
MORE WAYLESS WAY HERE
http://tinyurl.com/ZhuangziBasho
sites.google.comThe thought of Tchouang-tseu [Chuang-Tzu], philosopher in the 4th century B.C., influenced greatly Matsuo Bashō, and he often quoted the texts of "The Book of master Tchouang" [Zhuangzi] in his hokkus. - Dalvir Gill Zen Anecdotes! You reminded me of my old. :
.
oh that gaze 'n that eye
piercing through the veil
sun rises, again... - Dalvir Gill If I call this staff - a staff, I'm ignoring its subjectivity; if I don't call this staff - a staff, then I'm ignoring it's objectivity: so, what shall I call this staff............abuddha smiles/loud/a haiku..........haiku on :)))
- Maxene A. Alexander There is no precedence that supports haibun and annotation are one and the same, that I have ever seen. If someone has a reference that does support this, please post. As for the concept that intellectuals cannot write poetry, as was suggested upthread, again - history much disputes such a concept. And while the rules regarding haibun are quite flexible, that is not to say that there none based upon history past. Love this thread ... Yes Dalvir, like fresh air after the rain.
- John Potts I declare a haibun to be ANY ACUTE PROSE coupled with haiku/senryu. Sorted. ◠‿◠
RELATED POST
http://www.facebook.com/groups/155337797923222/permalink/156114691178866/ - Zen Anecdotes @John: Where did I get the notion that a haibun is written in the present tense?! Or is that capitalist, ELH propaganda too?
- John Potts The text in a haibun is nothing if it ordinary chatter bound by present time. The idea would be that the technique which a haiku requires to be real is the same technique which sublimates the prose element of a haibun; with the exception of the time factor not necessarily pinned to the present sense.
By the way, speaking of political affiliations. I am a Universal Dematerialising Frugalist (U.D.F.) sympathiser.
NEAT HAIBUN EXAMPLE
http://tinyurl.com/phantomhut
sites.google.comGenjuan no ki (The Hut of the Phantom Dwelling) by the father of haiku, Matsuo Bashō (1644 – 1694), was written as a letter to a friend. It is regarded as a (long) haibun - Maxene A. Alexander I've observed that Japanese poetry (all forms) may be written in any tense, concerning any topic, and may even include fantasy ... Or so say the early to ancient masters. Why would anyone dispute such notions? Oh, thinks that guy Shiki may have something to do with that, and a few other early English language writers/translators who shall remain unnamed in an effort to promote peaceful coexistence :-)))
- Zen Anecdotes Nice example in this link of Basho's style. He starts with the context, which is important, but then moves into the "now" (for him). I like this mix, the change from formal to informal ...the past and the present ...
"I too gave up city life some ten years ago, and now I'm approaching fifty. I'm like a bagworm that's lost its bag, a snail without its shell. I've tanned my face in the hot sun of Kisakata in Ou, and bruised my heels on the rough beaches of the northern sea, where tall dunes make walking so hard. And now this year here I am drifting by the waves of Lake Biwa. The grebe attaches its floating nest to a single strand of reed ....."
The haiku, though, is in the present tense :
among these summer trees
a pasania -
something to count on - John Potts The present moment seems to be the springboard norm in classical haiku. Have you any examples of this not being the case, Maxene?
RELATED ITEM
http://tinyurl.com/cwjpbaj
sites.google.com - John Potts Mingling time in haibun is fine. Do it with allusion if it is worrisome. But, that is not required of the prose.
For example: One could position extracts from past events and comment on them as they seem now. One could insert muses about things to come. Haiku need certain elements to work. Haibun can be much more flexible.
Now, if anyone wants to coin another name for prose mixed with haiku, fine. (Submissions accepted on this thread.) Because, frankly, present sense is not at all important to the haibun prose component. It is a choice.
However, it is clearly crucial that a real haiku springboard from the present instance of its experience (albeit recalled in memory for composing; for the event, in and of itself, precludes intellectual thought to no small degree.)
Much could be said about all this... - Maxene A. Alexander Yes I do John - many ... Will send a link later today, am at work right now - on break of course and on the iPad.
- Maxene A. Alexander And there are many fine examples here (Please review this guy's credentials ... http://www.temcauley.staff.shef.ac.uk/introduction.shtml
www.temcauley.staff.shef.ac.ukIntroduction to the various types of Japanese poetry (waka). - John Potts Haiku is the subject, though, Maxene. Waka is another thing completely.
The two have very different goals and methodologies. I would never regard haiku as a form of waka. That is a confusing classification, bordering on silly.
There is an evolution of Japanese poetry (plenty info on the internet about all that). But, waka/tanka, renga and so on, with hokku (which morphed into 'haiku') budding off from linked social versification and being distilled and refined by Basho (primarily); well, that's certainly distinct from waka.
By the way, I really don't use the word 'haibun' so much these days. Preferring 'haiku diary' notion instead. This allows for images and whatever, alongside haibun-style acute prose and haiku. (I mention this as a recommendation to readers of this thread.) It's a much easier concept to engage with. Everyone knows what a diary (journal) is. Done in the haikai spirit, of course.
-
Looking forward to your classical haiku examples of non-present moment starting points.
MORE HAIKU DIARY HERE
http://bit.ly/HaikuOW2
sites.google.com 
Elaine Duffy Ashley Ramsey Well, Max.. *I* dont care if its Haiku or Waka topic.. fact is, this is good stuff.. thanks for posting!- Elaine Duffy Ashley Ramsey If Im not mistaken.. Waka was the foundation for Haiku... Haiku being born from Waka...yes, Max? It has been many years since we discussed these two..
- Maxene A. Alexander Dear John, in the intro of the above link, you will see that the word walka literally translates to Japanese poem. If you take the time to review the haiku offered there, I'll be more than happy to discuss them with you. there are few more, if any, definitive sources available .. I hope you enjoy this one. Admittedly the information is extensive and not a quick study, however the study is more than worthwhile. The credentials: http://www.shef.ac.uk/seas/staff/japanese/mcauley
www.shef.ac.ukSince 1998 I have been involved with the School’s Distance Learning MA in Advanc... See More - Maxene A. Alexander You are welcome Elaine - we studied this so long ago that it almost seems new :-)))
- Elaine Duffy Ashley Ramsey I do so miss the many chats we had concerning the forms.... You make me think I should perhaps work on a Choka or Sedoka.. been quite some time...
- John Potts Yes, will check those links out, Maxine. Meanwhile, simply choose an example of a non-present moment haiku for us all to consider (or more if you like). No rush.
- Maxene A. Alexander And without intent to start a firestorm, examining many tanka, the modern word for waka - it is easy to see extended haiku. Many examples in the above link also. This moves far and away from elementary teachings and gifts us with more versatility. Mcauly provides the resource for the concepts outlined by Shirane, Kenneth Yasuda, Dorothy Britten, and as sometinrs discussed by Jane Reochhold.
- Maxene A. Alexander Jane is always inspirational, and she continues to research and grow ... She seems without stopping place and as fellow students, she has been one of my many inspirations.
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