Haiku Drash: Shemot from 2017

Tuesday, December 25, 2018

Shemot from 2017

Shemot occurred twice in 2017, once in January and once in December. For the record, this haiku was written and published prior to the inauguration of President Donald Trump. I was thinking about how despairing I was about his election and how so many of us pay much more attention to the world around us when there is distress and trouble, forgetting to mark the abundance and graciousness of the universe when times are less chaotic. Little did I know how we would be longing for a "time of grace" so profoundly just two years later.

In times of distress
We cling to omens and signs...
And in times of grace?

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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.