Dear Haiku Andy,
Why is that haiku poems never seem to have titles? Does this reflect an aesthetic of zen-like austerity? I mean, WTF.
BTW - Love the haiku postcards and the Substack! I subscribe to all your outlets, including haikuandy.com and Instagram. I haven't yet requested a haiku postcard because I'm imaginary, but who knows? Maybe someday I'll be a real reader like Pinocchio.
Thanks!
Imaginary Reader
Dear I.R.,
First, thanks for the kind words. You are very well-spoken for an imaginary reader. ChatGPT has nothing on you.
You might have noticed (or so I imagine) that haiku are sometimes referenced by their first lines, as if the first line were the title. It's not but this illustrates the problem. With only three (sometimes fewer) lines, adding a title is like sneaking in another line.
More to the point, a title is always integral to what follows. It sets the reader up, either thematically or to frame their experience. A title such as Who Framed Roger Rabbit? does a lot of the expository work for that story before a single frame flickers onto the screen.
So if you feel compelled to title your haiku, I suggest you a) fight that compulsion with all your might, or b) use the first line, if you absolutely have to. For example, your blogging format has a Title field that you must complete.
Personally, because my thing is daily, I just use the date (yyyymmdd). If I posted more than one a day, I'm not sure what I'd do. Maybe I'd be like Calvin Olsen, who is on a personal mission to write ten thousand haiku, and number them (3976, 3977...) as I go.
And now… Here are the week’s haiku, and where I sent them.
haiku 20230130 >> El Prado, NM USA
winter stars above the night trees thump! of roof snow
haiku 20230131 >> Ashland, OR USA
back in the city I forget where I put what in my suitcase
haiku 20230201 >> Wokurna, SA Australia
waterfront park -- deep beneath my feet the ancient shore
haiku 20230202 >> Sergeantsville, NJ USA
cold morning sun all of nob hill blushes even my dark coat
haiku 20230203 >> Ashland, OR USA
return at night two cats and the moon waiting at the gate
haiku 20230204 >> Petaluma, CA USA
rain in my headlights I wonder how that comet is getting along
haiku 20230205 >> El Cerrito, CA USA
afternoon tea rain puddles reflecting blue and white skies
See you all next week.
And don’t forget, if you want me to mail you one of my haiku postcards, all you gotta do is ask.
Ooh I like that Haiku that’s coming my way :)