Today I am revisiting haiku poetry, one of my favorite poetic forms. In my first haiku post (which you can find here), I discussed the structure of haiku, which is most commonly comprised of three lines of 5-7-5 syllables and often focuses on some element of nature.
The double haiku is simply a pair of haikus focusing on the
same subject or connected by a common element. These are fun to play with,
especially if you love “short and sweet” poetry, like I do! ☺
Here is a double haiku I wrote a few years ago following a
trip to the zoo with my boys. I always love watching the emus—they are so
haughty and funny!
Dame Emu
By Becky Shillington
Dame Emu struts by
High stepping, feathers ruffling
Glancing left, then right
Head cocked, her eyes say
“Look at me, lowly subject
I’m Queen for the day!”
photo courtesy of http://www.creamygoodness.co.uk/
Emus, if this is the correct plural, deserve a poem. Such funny creatures.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mirka! "Emus" sounds right to me! = )
ReplyDeleteBecky - Very nice! It's a great form too - the doubleness I mean. I'll have to try one, er, two. I really like the picture as well! thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThank you, BJ!
DeleteWhat a beautiful emu -- she deserves the title "Dame."
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by! = )
DeleteA little less colorful(ok a lot) but the pic reminds me of that crazy bird in Up. Kevin, I think it was...
ReplyDeleteYes! Kevin! He was so funny!
DeleteI love haiku...will take a turn at double haiku. Lovely feathers on the emu!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Helen! = )
DeleteEmus are characters, aren't they? We went to a "safari" last year where you feed the animals as you drive through, and the emus were by far the scariest. :-)
ReplyDeleteWe've never done a drive through safari, Tabatha, but I have friends who have. They sound fun!
DeleteI took a challenge Tabatha offered last spring/summer and wrote this "extended haiku." Each haiku after the first has to start with the next word of the first haiku. How about THAT for a haiku challenge?!?!
ReplyDeletehttp://readingyear.blogspot.com/2012/07/poetry-friday-hawku.html
This is a wonderful poem, Mary Lee! Thanks so much for sharing! I will have to try an extended haiku sometime soon! = )
DeleteYou perfectly capture the emu's hauteur. One thing I like about zoos is that everyone seems to have a different favorite animal!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Keri! I am way overdue for another trip to the zoo with my boys--we will have to go again soon! = )
DeleteBecky! You haiku goddess, you! I LOVE these haiku, and not just because I miss Australia either. Your "Weeping Willow Tree" from last March is awesome as well. Can I please feature one of your haiku on Today's Little Ditty in the Haiku Garden? Maybe in early October?
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Michelle--I would be honored to have one of my haiku in your Haiku Garden! October sounds great! = )
DeleteCool Becky! I'll contact you about a more specific date in a few weeks.
DeleteLove the double haiku and the photo. She does look like a dame, doesn't she?!
ReplyDelete