One of
the most famous haiku poets of all time is Matsuo Basho. This Japanese author inspires me in his
ability to communicate incredible depth and meaning in just 17 syllables. The following pair of
haikus demonstrates his commitment to the integrity of haiku poetry, not as a
trick of arranging syllables, but rather as a life giving artistic form.
Take a pair of wings
From
a dragonfly, you would
Make
a pepper pod
Add
a pair of wings
To
a pepper pod, you would
Make
a dragonfly
--Basho
When Basho
was presented with the first haiku, he said that this could not be a haiku as
is deconstructs life and beauty. He then
offered the second as a proper haiku, one that creates life and beauty.
Source of poem:
Lederach, John Paul. 2004. The Moral Imagination: The Art and Soul of
Building Peace. New York: Oxford University Press.
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