High Coup?

[Here's a short message I posted on the ClevelandPoetics Yahoo listserve today in response to another "haiku" discussion:]

Once certain folks said Beethoven's greatest symphonies weren't even symphonies because they didn't follow the traditional form. Once folks said the Gershwins' Three Penny Opera wasn't really an opera and John Cage's music wasn't really music. To me, what I call a piece of music or writing is a lot less important than whether it speaks to me or is silent, whether it does either (or both) effectively, and (perhaps most importantly) whether I see it or hear it at all.

In 1993 I wrote a short poem entitled "Li/able" which reads:

You
label
me?
You
libel
me.

Unfortunately, Yahoo eliminates my line indentations. But the form is not as important as what it says (and doesn't say). Perhaps the same could be said of any work of art.

Peace and poetry,
John

 
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  • 4/14/2009 10:33 AM smith wrote:
    the acadfemic definition of "authentic" Japanese haiku is all bullshit because the japanese haiku consists of ONE line written straight down and the 17 syllable count is bogus because japanese haiku gives hard sounds a two count and some silences between the words a count so the typical japanese haiku consists of one line with 10 to 12 syllables. the academics are a sick crowd.
    Reply to this
    1. 4/14/2009 11:28 AM Jesus Crisis wrote:
      You've taught me some things I didn't know about Japanese haiku.  Thank you.  I was reluctant to respond to the discussion because I know I am relatively ignorant when it comes to the haiku "form."  But some of the remarks made me uneasy.  It's like someone wrote "That man is starving" and called it a Cleveland poem - then some folks were more concerned about whether the person actually lived in Cleveland or was actually across the border in Lakewood, and whether that qualified the poem as a Cleveland poem.  Where's the compassion for the starving man?
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      1. 4/15/2009 7:51 AM smith wrote:
        i even got the syllable count wrong - it's 14 not 17.

        plus the academics are being assholes because even the academics call jack kerouac's short poems haiku andf NONE of them even come close to fullfilling their academic requirements.

        i've always thought if a person has trouble sleeping, they should read some poems by an academic because they're usually the most boring shit around.
        Reply to this
  • 4/14/2009 10:38 AM chris wrote:
    the Japanese also don't count articles.. so we develop a false sense of what haiku is.
    Reply to this
    1. 4/14/2009 11:03 AM Jesus Crisis wrote:
      According to Wikipedia, "Previously called hokku, haiku was given its current name by the Japanese writer Masaoka Shiki at the end of the 19th century."  So whatever folks say "haiku" is now, could it be true that "haiku" wasn't anything before the end of the 19th century?  Ha!  So if Basho and Issa didn't call what they wrote "haiku," why do we?

      Admittedly, I am not well versed in the history or the Japanese.  My primary experience with Japanese was memorizing the Lotus Sutra (without knowing what all the "words" meant) and reciting it during gongyo in my Nichiren Buddhist daze.  But that's okay.  I don't think good historians make good poets or good poets make good historians.  At least that's my experience, and I've tried to be both - though I imagine there are or have been folks more capable than I.
      Reply to this
      1. 4/14/2009 11:09 AM Jesus Crisis wrote:

        I'm not saying Wikipedia is the best source.  So if that's not true, I hope someone will let me know.  I'm also interested in knowing the etymological differences between hokku and haiku.


        Reply to this
  • 4/14/2009 11:17 AM charlaxhighcoo wrote:
    oh venerable Jesus Burroughs hosting this blog eye grant yew peace and safety training lOLZX hokku

    http://poetrypoem.com/cgi-bin/index.pl?poemnumber=822078&sitename=charlax&password=&poemoffset=0&displaypoem=t&item=poetry and also another link to HIGH COO TANKA
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  • 4/14/2009 11:23 AM chris wrote:
    I think if you ask Ray McNiece he might know...

    I didn't realize till I found a copy of his Haiku chapbook last week at Mac's that he was as knowledgeable about the form as he is. And from what he's written in his introduction he doesn't sound all so anal about is as some people seem to be.. Making such overly tight distinctions between haiku and senryu. I thought his take on it very sensible and astute.
    Reply to this
  • 4/14/2009 3:37 PM kathy wrote:
    meow meow! my too sense
    Reply to this
  • 4/15/2009 4:45 AM Pastor Jachin Charley wrote:
    PRAISE THE LORD : JESUS IS ABLE

    Date: April 15, 2009
    Beloved in Christ,

    Greetings to you in the mighty name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. My name is Jachin Charley, I am 33 years old; I am from Jesus Gospel Ministry, Andhra Pradesh, India. I am so glad to meet you through this email. Thank you very much for taking time and reading this email. The Bible says in Proverbs 14 : 21 “ Blessed is he who is kind to the needy ” also in Psalm 112 : 9 “ He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor, his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be lifted high in honor ” and we see in Luke 6 : 38 “ Give, and it will be given to you ” Beloved, in my Rustumbada village, so many poor people are staying in small huts. They don’t have proper food, cloths. Because of their poverty they are not having education. They are living in so much agony and pain. They don’t have medication. We have a burden about these poor people. We are giving them food, cloths and medicines. We are spending our own money to help them with love. Jesus Gospel Ministry started in the year 2006 on September 28. We are giving them Good News of Jesus. They are accepting Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. We have a nice Church here in Rustumbada. Our church name is Bethel Church. Almighty God changing their lives. Please pray for these people. Please tell about us to your friends, relatives, church members. For your reference we are sending some photos. Please click this link to view the Jesus Gospel Ministry photos.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/pastorcharley

    Thank you.

    Your servant in Jesus Christ,

    Pastor Jachin Charley

    Mail Address:

    Pastor S. J. Charley,
    JESUS GOSPEL MINISTRY,
    D. No. 14 – 11 – 28,
    ROYPETA,
    NARSAPUR,
    W. G. District., (A.P.)
    SOUTH INDIA, Pin - 534275
    Phone: +91 9491379834, +91 9440315214

    Email:
    pastorcharley@gmail.com,pastorcharleybc@gmail.com,pastorjachin@gmail.com,pastorcharleys@gmail.com,pastorcharley@ymail.com,jachincharley@yahoo.com,pastorjachincharley@gmail.com, pastorjachincharleys@gmail.com
    Reply to this
    1. 4/15/2009 7:35 AM Jesus Crisis wrote:

      Would I be correct in assuming you'd like some Miracle Whip with your Spam?


      Reply to this
      1. 4/15/2009 8:24 AM Dianne wrote:
        rotflol!
        Reply to this
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