December Sun

Greetings fellow Toads! I am lolamouse, and I had the pleasure of writing with Peggy Goetz for our In Tandem post.  We decided to play a game of Haikai, which is a form of Japanese collaborative poetry.  Haikai is a creative group activity that can be played with any number of people, either live and in-person or, as in our case, via e- mails over a period of time.

A Haikai poem may contain any number of verses, but it is written in alternating three- and two-line verses.  The three-line verses may have up to 17 syllables, and the two-line verses up to 14. Additionally, there are some "rules" that should followed:

1. The first writer (three-line verse) should make a reference to the current season and surroundings. This may be direct (winter) or indirect (snow). Remember, no more than 17 syllables total.

2. The next person should write something to suggest the same season as the first verse. It should link to the first verse, but shift away from it a bit as well. After the first verse, everything is fictional. No more than 14 syllables in the two-line verses.

3. The third writer (or back to the first if there are only two) should write a three-line verse that links to the second verse but also shifts away from the first verse in meaning somewhat.

4. Continue alternating two- and three-line verses. Every few verses, a season should be mentioned. The idea is to link to the preceding verse while shifting away from the one before that. A feeling of change is conveyed by linking and shifting.

5. It is also suggested to include the following:

• all four seasons
• the moon
• a flower
• love (in two adjacent verses)

6. Haikai start with three-line stanzas and end with two-line stanzas. Participants may vary their writing order so that each may write long and short verses.

7. End on an upbeat note.

Easy enough, right? Actually, it's not that difficult once you get started. Below is my and Peggy's attempt at Haikai. You can read it and see if we followed all of the rules!

photo source

December sun

peeks through gray smiling

for late roses damp with dew

Petals of faded velvet

recall their glory days

She stands at the window

remembering, sighs

as soup pot boils over

Red cardinal alights

upon rusted sled

Scarlet melody wakes

summer memories

lovers walk entwined

Hearts naked dancing

with electric hunger

Fingertips buzzing

Each touch a playful sting,

kindling sleeping skin

August blaze lingers as owl

moon lights dark eastern sky

Silent, wolf moon stalks

owl among stars 

Plaintive howls in the snow

Soon pups will play in spring bright

dales as all begins again.