Haiku Revisited

Did you go for a walk and come back with a haiku? Here’s mine …

surprise in the sky
cold, dry February day
air balloon rises

… and the second checklist:
* Does your haiku contain the correct number of lines (3) and syllables (17)?
* Are the images concrete?
* Does it have a seasonal and/or natural reference?
* Is there a clear break to form a one-line and two-line unit?
* Is it written in the present tense?
* Can it be read in one breath?
* Is there a play on words?
* Do you have strong words at the end of each line?
* What can you take out?
* What can you add in?
* What else can you change?
* Is it open to interpretation?
Hopefully you have experienced a moment of insight in answering all of the above. A moment that the Japanese express with the word ‘Katsu!’ A moment such as that expressed in the image which I have used to both complement and contrast my haiku.
Once you are confident that you have produced a haiku which you would like to have considered for inclusion in the Japan Day display at The Forum, Northallerton, North Yorkshire on the 17th May, email it to julema@tiscali.co.uk.
Please add your name, town and country as you wish them to be printed beneath your verse. Entries must be in English and received by the 31st March.
Visitors can attend Japan Day free of charge although there may be a small fee to participate in calligraphy, origami and other Japanese craft workshops.
Further details of events and activities available from 11a.m. to 3p.m. can be found at http://kimonoworld.weebly.com