Diction & HaikuWriting Workshop #3

The Sun by Mary OliverO Have you ever seen

anything in your life more wonderful

than the way the sun, every evening, relaxed and easy, floats toward the horizon

and into the clouds or the hills, or the rumpled sea, and is gone-- and how it slides again

out of the blackness, every morning, on the other side of the world, like a red flower

streaming upward on its heavenly oils, say, on a morning in early summer,

at its perfect imperial distance-- and have you ever felt for anything such wild love-- do you think there is anywhere, in any language, a word billowing enough for the pleasure

that fills you, as the sun reaches out, as it warms you

as you stand there, empty-handed-- or have you too turned from this world--

or have you too gone crazy for power, for things?

Poetry ReponseO Did you like or dislike the poem?

Why?

O What part(s) stood out to you?

O What does this poem mean to you?

Word PoolO Diction: Word ChoiceO Haiku: an unrhymed poem of

Japanese originO Syllable: a unit of spoken language

O (The word syll-a-ble has 3. How many does your name have?)

O Insight: the power or act of seeing into a situation

Writing Warm UpO Zen Meditation O Image CardsO Stream of Consciousness free write

Contemporary HaikuO Use of three (or fewer) lines of 17 or

fewer syllables. Maybe 5-7-5, maybe not.O Use of imagery (like a season word)O Contrast and compare two events, images

or situationsO Traditional Japanese haiku focuses on

nature and the place of humans in it. Modern haiku poets, both in Japan and the West, consider a broader range of subject matter suitable, including urban contexts.

Seasonal ImageryO Winter = burden, cold, sadness, hunger,

tranquility or peace. Use words like "snow," "ice," "dead tree," "leafless," etc.

O Summer = feelings of warmth, vibrancy, love, anger, temptation, etc. Use imagery of the sky, beaches, heat, or romance.

O Autumn = decay, belief in the supernatural, jealousy, saying goodbye, loss, regret. Use images like falling leaves, shadows and autumn colors.

O Spring =innocence, youth, passion and fickleness. Anything with blossoms, new plants and warm rains can imply spring.

ExamplesO spring fever

the blue sky tugsat my kite

by Beverly A. Tift

O snorkelinga chasm as deepas fear

by George Swede

ExamplesO It’s cold—and I waitO For someone to shelter meO And take me from here.-Anonymous

Nature WalkO Guidelines for Walking Meditation

O Walk alone and in silence.O We will wander and wonder for 15

minutes.O Bring your notebook and pen with

you!O Write down words or phrases that

could be used in your haiku.O When you hear the chime, walk to Ms.

Fajkus so we can go back inside.

HomeworkO Write and illustrate one (1) haiku. O Take your time; choose your words

carefully. O Write or type it neatly on a half-sheet

of blank white paper. O Turn it in at the beginning of the next

workshop.O The best ones will go up on the wall

for all to see.