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Thursday, July 19, 2012

Jazz Haiku

This is the third week of the Our Lost Jungle Poetry Form Challenge. This week, Khara House challenged us to write haiku. If you review the guidelines Khara laid out, you will see that she didn't restrict us to the 5-7-5 format. However, she did have us stick to the traditional subject of nature. (By the way, I have mended my ways. I turned my haiku in early.)

About two years ago, I took a jazz poetry workshop from Glenn North, the poet-in-residence at the American Jazz Museum. In a post I wrote shortly after the workshop, I noted that haiku is a large segment of jazz poetry. Since then, I have noticed that jazz haiku is rarely mentioned in general discussions of haiku. I think it should be because, as Etheridge Knight said:

Making jazz swing in
seventeen syllables AIN'T
no square poets job.

So, here is one original piece:

Sarah started at
the Apollo, but finished
Sassy and too soon.

12 comments:

  1. I love Jazz and I love haiku. This is a brilliant combination Michelle!

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    1. You definitely need to give jazz haiku a try, Veronica. I've enjoyed getting reacquainted with the form through this subject. I've even written a few longer jazz poems using haiku as the form for each stanza.

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  2. Hi! I agree with the previous poster: Jazz and haiku ARE a great combo! Very cool! I am visiting from Wrinkled Mommy's TALU. Have a great Tuesday!

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    1. They really are a great combination and I am finding different ways to use them together. Thaks for stopping by from TALU.

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    1. Thanks, Debbie. I like writing these mini bios of some jazz greats. Thanks for stopping by. (TALU)

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  4. How very cool! Jazz and Haiku seem to be a natural fit.
    (TALU - but also from WSS)
    :-)

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  5. Visiting form TALU. I have to agree with everyone else, I think Jazz & Haiku fit together very well. Enjoyed the poem. Thank you for sharing! Have a great week :)

    -Jessica
    www.sugarinmygrits.com

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    1. Thanks, Jessica. Haiku hadn't been a favorite when I first learned about it, but I love it as a form of jazz poetry. Thanks for stopping by from TALU.





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  6. Michelle, haiku may be the only form of poetry I can do. I'm not poetic, but I CAN count.
    Thanks for linking up with the TALU!!!

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  7. Thank you, Anne, for introducing me and other Wordsmith Studio friends to TALU and for hosting! It's great fun and I'm finding some great blogs.

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