Monday, September 18, 2017

Haibun - Patchwork Poetry




Quilted reflections patch their way onto the page as if outlined with silken threads, scrolled - more often typed.  Sometimes the fabric is fragile, like a baby bird in my hand, fallen from its nest.  It doesn't survive other than in desperate words, hand-made paper splashed with tears.  Other-times harmoniously sewn thoughts nestle between the covers of my soft leather journal, pentameter becomes sashing for metaphors, photographs pattern pieces that inspire it all.

Quilts comfort
butterflies & lavender nourish
poetic germinations

by Margaret Bednar


This is for "dVerse Poets Pub - Haibun Monday - Why?"  It was a HARD challenge and I'm not sure I did it correctly - I tried.  We were to write the WHY of our style.

I think I approach my style as I do making my quilts (the quilts above are NOT mine) very visually - usually with photographs I take and then pair them with my memories (complimenting fabric :)...




“English-language haiku tend to be written in three lines, corresponding to the metrical division of Japanese haiku, but Japanese haiku are actually usually printed in a single vertical column. By way of analogy with this form, poets such as Matsuo Allard and Marlene Mountain began writing English haiku in a single horizontal line—and thanks to their efforts that form has become established in English as the major alternative to the typical three-liner”.
   
If you are interested and want to read more, click HERE.  I found the comments interesting - I like to stick as close to 17 syllables as possible but will go over or under... I like to HINT at a season but NEVER name it.  

Also... this "HERE" was a nice season words (kigo) list for Japanese poetry - from the 1997-78 Haiku Journal... my question if anyone knows - are words like germinate and any plant (like clover) kilo words as well?  

9 comments:

Frank Hubeny said...

I like the idea of poetry germinating the heart in the haiku. I also liked the association of poetry with patches that are sewn together and the tears splashed on handmade paper.

Sarah Russell said...

I love your quilt metaphor, Margaret. It carries to metered, rhymed verse -- the ordered, geometrical quilts, and the crazy quilts of free verse and slam poetry. All the bits we salvage and sew together. What a wonderful, complete picture this makes!

brudberg said...

A metaphor is wonderful and quilt is an image that tells how (and also why I think).

Kathy Reed said...

Great introspection into what works for you! :-)

Kim M. Russell said...

That's a gorgeous quilt metaphor, Margaret, with a photo to match - are they all your quilts? I especially like the phrases: 'Quilted reflections patch their way onto the page' and 'hand-made paper splashed with tears'.

annell4 said...

Beautifully written!

Anonymous said...

Great introspection.

purplepeninportland.com said...

Your quilt metaphor is perfect, Margaret. This haibun is beautifully written.

Grace said...

Love the play of words with the quilted reflections Margaret ~ Specially admiring your haiku of:

butterflies & lavender nourish
poetic germinations