POETRY

Poetry and I
play idea tug-of-war
strong lines are shaping.

I lasso a word
then I set it free once more
I will try again.

The right word tickles
my hand tingles and itches
I must write words down.

I take up my pen 
dash words across my paper
to write this poem.

    Since this poem is about writing poetry, it can be called ars poetica--a Latin word meaning the art of poetry.  Each stanza is written in the linked haiku form using renga popularized by the Japanese master Matsua Basho.  Can you try writing your own haiku or ars poetica today?  Have fun.

double haiku

inside his burrow

          dug into the arroyo

                    sleeps a diamondback

                    a covey of quail

                              zip and dart, running quickly

                                        snake opens his jaw

        If you enjoy haiku, you might enjoy reading the blog of children's author, poet and quilter Maureen Wartski who makes a practice of writing a haiku a day.
        A haiku journal Simply Haiku has lots of good reading and you might enjoy my friend Lenard Moore's haiku.  He and the North Carolina Haiku Society have taught me a lot about haiku.
      A fun exercise to try is to get a few friends together and try writing linked haiku.  Each person can write one haiku that links to the one before.  Or you can write them yourself.  Take the haiku you wrote yesterday and write another haiku to link to it.  You are welcome to post your double haiku in the comments section.
     Lenard Moore has told me about haiku parties, called renga, in Japan where tables of poets sit to write haiku directed by a haiku master.