Haiku Drash: December 2012

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Shemot 5773

With great urgency
The tumble of a man's life
Unfolds in wonders.

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Vayehi 5773

Life draws to a close
With promises and blessings.
Now the journey home.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Free-Form Chanukkah Haiku by a Reader

This is just such a great story from an old family friend I had to include it! Be sure to read the small print after the free-form haiku.

A late Chanukah miracle.

The burned-out bathroom bulb

Lights again on the seventh day.

This is true, after 5 days of my not changing the bulb.

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Vayiggash 5773

A heart burst open
Reaches out with compassion.
Weeping tears of pain.

Eighth Night Chanukkah -- A Dedication

Against the darkness
Our holiday of light--
Illumination.

Friday, December 14, 2012

Seventh Night Chanukkah--Tragedy

Tragedy unfolds--
Where can I turn for comfort?
These lights--so feeble.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Sixth Night Chanukkah -- In Our Times

With one single prayer
We link our lives and times
To the ancient past.

Chanukkah Haiku from Readers

We are the chosen

With a task simple and clear:

Bring light to the world.

Submitted by Flora Kupferman

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Fifth Night Chanukkah - The Story

Gathered 'round the lights
History or miracle
Which tale do you tell?

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Fourth Night Chanukkah -- Family

Even as years pass
Traces of cooking oil
Shape my memories.

Monday, December 10, 2012

Third Night Chanukkah - Future

Light a flame tonight
Then sleep with dreams of freedom
Peace comes tomorrow.

Chanukkah Haiku from Readers

Candles glow with warmth

Remembering past heroes

Strength grows from challenge.

Submitted by Irma Greenspan

Without memories

Tradition cannot exist.

Kindle ancient flames.

Submitted by Gilbert Greenspan

Your dad. Religious.
This holiday. Hanukkah.
Gifts for you. And me.
Submitted by Anonymous

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Second Night Chanukkah - Illumination

Even just two flames
Reflected in a window
Displace some darkness.

Saturday, December 8, 2012

First Night Chanukkah- Miracles

That we light these flames
Is no less a miracle.
Faith and Tradition.

Mikketz 5773

In robes of power
A man weaves his brothers' fate.
See! With threads of love.

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Vayeshev 5773

From within the pit
Joseph could not even dream
How life might unfold

How to Create a Haiku Drash

A traditional haiku has three lines with a specific number of syllables in each line: 5-7-5

A traditional haiku includes a "seasonal word", something that indicates the season. Standard words like snow, beach, scarf, groundhog would be examples. In a Haiku Drash, the "seasonal word" is the name of the Torah portion. So, all Haiku Drash have the same basic title.

Haiku Drash must include a "teaching", some kind of insight or suggestion on how to be mindful, responsible, spiritual, ethical, conscientious, kind, compassionate, peaceful, gentle, aware participants in the extraordinary opportunity to be present in this universe.

We'll follow the annual Torah reading cycle, but if you get inspired and want to write on something else, send it to haikudrash@gmail.com. We'll post it when we get to that Torah portion. Be sure to put the name of the Parasha!

Haiku and Me

Why Haiku?

My relationship with haiku began with my 5th grade teacher. While I remember the names of most of my elementary school teachers, I remember very little about what they taught me. Cecil Munsey is different. It was in his class that I first learned of the exquisite, miniature poetry of Japan known as haiku.

As a child, I had a fascination with certain "things Japanese." My parents had the great opportunity to design their own gardens around the house they purchased when I was in 3rd grade. The family often made adventures to the local plant nursery to see what kinds of plants were available, what might fit with their vision and so on. I loved these trips because the nursery always had a crimson Japanese bridge somewhere in the demonstration gardens. I loved walking back and forth across this bridge.

Fast forward many, many years and I am an undergraduate student at Stanford University. I'm a Religious Studies major and I decide to take a class exploring religious poetry. I have always loved poetry, so this seems like a perfect class for me. Among other poetic expressions I encounter in this class taught by Edwin Good and (at that time his TA, David Barnhill), was the work of the great Japanese haiku composer- Basho.

In 1981, I moved to Japan to explore my fascination with its language, culture and poetry. Settling in to a life in Kyoto, I was teaching English, learning to play the koto (Japanese zither/harp) and building my Japanese language skills. I met an older woman who was interested in expanding her English skills. She was also an avid haiku fan. She introduced me to the Kyoto Haiku Club, a gathering of (very) senior people who wrote, critiqued, and published contemporary haiku.

I joined the group (I'm sure I was a novelty) and we met monthly. After a few sessions, we began a discussion of the upcoming annual haiku publication. Each of us was encouraged to contribute a haiku that might be evaluated by the judges as meriting inclusion in the magazine.

Novice that I was, I submitted a haiku. Written in Japanese! It was accepted and was published in the annual club journal. It is somewhere in my house, but I have moved so many times, I am not sure where I can find that magazine any more. I know that the haiku had to do with Kamikochi -- a primary summer camping destination in the Japan Alps -- and colorful tents, seasonal words that indicated it was summer.

It has long been my dream to write a poem for each Torah portion. I began with compositions to honor the B'nei Mitzvah of my nephews. Perhaps some day I will complete that dream. For the time being, these Haiku Drash are a spiritual and intellectual challenge for me that gives me great fulfillment. I encourage you to read each Torah portion, write a Haiku Drash and share it with us all.