HAIKU CHAIN GANG CHALLENGE ALERT [link]

The Haiku Chain Gang Challenge has started!!! What is the Haiku Chain Gang Challenge? Haiku poetry began as 'renga' poetry, which simply means 'linked poem'. One poet would write a starting verse, called a 'hokku', and then another poet would add to it. Then another poet would add to that, and so on, and so on, until they had a chain of poems (sometimes reaching into the hundreds).

The Haiku Chain Gang Challenge (HCGC) is inspired by the renga form, with a difference. In a traditional renga each poem has one reply, meaning they form a linear chain. In the HCGC there can be multiple responses to each poem, and multiple responses to each of those, and so on, and so on. This means it spreads like a fungi in all directions, with no limits, or ends.

It all began with this poem:

raindrop
by raindrop
winter approaches

I asked people to reply to it and have so far had 8 replies. Then each of those 8 poems asked people to respond in turn, and each of those responses did the same thing. Now we have 100 poems in the chain!! I am hoping that we can keep this going even longer and shoot for 200. So please, come to the Haiku Chain Gang Challenge and bring you haiku mojo to help us create the longest damn poem in the world. To see the full list of poems so far and begin participating click here: [link]

EXTRA INFORMATION

Now, the tricky bit. I know a lot of people have the idea that haiku poetry has to be written in a 5-7-5 form and that this is the only rule a haiku has to follow. In actual fact the 5-7-5 rule is very seldom used by Western haiku poets (all you need to do is check out the leading Western language haiku journals to see this is true - the poems in Simply Haiku, Modern Haiku, Chrysanthemum, Riverbed, Frogpond, and so on, are all written free of syllable counts). For this reason I would suggest reading a few of the poems in the chain before responding to get an idea of what a haiku might look like (in terms of structure). But don't be afraid - no one will flame you for writing in 5-7-5 form. I just wanted to make it clear that it is not a concern for the Chain Gang Challenge. Here are some of my favorites in the chain so far:

florida rains
in two minutes
florida shines

(by Totipotent)

autumn rain...
my mother's hair
in the wind

(by Sano-Balron)

driving
the heat before it
— a summer storm

(by McDermid)

waning heat-
a few bare spots
in the melon patch

(by Laurence55)

dolphins
rise and fall -
eventide

(by Esin)

So, you can see that 5-7-5 is the least of your worries when composing haiku. What is far more important is a sense of juxtaposition, ambiguity, lightness and mystery (though the haiku poem should never be confusing - it should always have the potential to unfold in multiple directions, much like this renga).

There are a number of great resources for the beginning haiku poet here on DA which I have listed below, for anyone that wants to do some reading before they give it a go.

Solart's Essay on Haiku Structure
So how do we define a haiku once the 5-7-5 rule? This essay (which recently got a DD) looks at structural elements of haiku: [link]
Coming soon: An essay looking at 'content' in haiku and senryu!

MS James Essay on 5-7-5
Some good notes on why haiku doesn't need to be 5-7-5: [link]

Laurence55's Journal Series
Laurence has long been dedicated to discussing the art of haiku and related Japanese poetic forms in his regular journal series: [link]

Chris White's Pointers for New Haijin
Chris compiled this lovely journal giving some pointers for new haiku poets joining the HaikuThon and HaikuWrimo: [link]
He has also put together some resources for new haiku poets here: [link]

KorpiHunaja's Journal Series
A great little essay on senryu poetry: [link]
Some thoughts on haiku: [link]

FM Vorassi
Haiku - A Brief Introduction: [link]

Have fun and I hope to see you at the challenge!!!!