Evening's eyes

[jweeble]

Night slowly lowers
Violet-stained lids sealing off
Her secretive thoughts.

[westcoast]

a pretty visual. if i may...

secretive thoughts -
slowly night lowers
violet lids

[jweeble]

Very nice...I think that I like your's more than mine.

My problem is - being new to haiku - I tend to think 575 and am not sure on which other rules go together and can be used...

Jen

[westcoast]

There are no rules really, the strict 5-7-5 is one way to go but doesn't necessarily give you the freedom you need to say what you want to. Try playing around. And read lots of contemporary Haiku for examples and inspiration.

Best,
~westie

[jweeble]

LOL-that is the problem - I read and think ... OK that is cool. And then - read more and they say "yes, do this, but only if you...". Know what I mean?

[westcoast]

Hi JW,

Pick and choose to your heart's content and ear's fancy

A contemporary haiku master says the following, which I think totally sums it up:

"Write your heart. The rules will follow."
~Inyan

He also told me that it can be helpful to know the rules and then to break them.

Whatever path you take, I hope we get to enjoy it here along with the others you share with.

Cheers,
~westcoast

[sooZen]

Very good advice w.c.

Hi JW, welcome to the haiku board! The best way to learn to write haiku is writting haiku. (Hai means fun after all.) Like w.c. said, the best way to understand haiku is reading contemporary western haijinists.

Here are a few articles by a woman haijin whom I greatly admire (she loves to break the rules,) Jane Reichhold. Click on Jane: http://www.ahapoetry.com/HAIKU.HTM

Also, I have written a couple of articles here that may be helpful.

5-7-5 Tango http://studioeight.tv/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=12697

and

Haiku One Thousand and One http://studioeight.tv/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=4491

I am by no means an expert! But, I have been practicing haiku for longer than I care to mention. I can tell by your pictures that you paint...(for that is haiku...pictures in the mind's eye) that you have a knack towards the genre. Keep practicing, I do and it will become like breathing, second nature.

SooZ