Help me finish my #August #Haiku! #Summer

Capturing the instant

I love writing haiku. The only thing that I find remotely similar, but far quicker, is snapping photos. Both actions try to defy time. They capture an instant and freeze time. This creates the illusion that I’m stopping the clock. However, I’m not, because we can’t. We can’t even remember most moments in a single day.

Think of how immense the task would be if we tried to remember every moment. There are 86,400 seconds in a day. There are 604,800 seconds in a week. My calculator tells me there are 31,536,000 seconds in a year. Just wow!

A haiku is magical. It makes the instant eternal. The moment we capture lasts forever. That’s the power of a haiku.

 How Haiku help me be a saner, more reflective and observant person, and a better writer

Apart from capturing the moment I love haiku because that help me in three ways:

• Calm down when I’m stressed out: I look at photos on my phone. I also look at photos around me wherever I am. Believe me, it’s possible. I hate the travelling by Tube, but even so, I’ve written loads of haiku inspired by the surroundings, as I waited to get out to fresh air.
• I ‘see’ and ‘hear’ and ‘feel more’. When I go for a walk with the goal of taking a photo, or getting inspiration for writing, I actually ‘look’ at the world, nature or otherwise with the intention of being present. I notice more, and I feel more attuned to my surroundings.
• Improve my writing skills. I constantly fight against my verbosity. My aim is to be concise and precise in my fiction. Writing flash fiction and haiku has been a tremendous help. It still is. I’ve learned that every word counts. Every single syllable counts too. I make an effort to translate the strategies of brevity and variety into my fiction.

Now for the nitty gritty, which you already know, but just in case…

Structure, Rules and Recommendations

That said, before we start, haiku also have a structure and rules. You probably know these rules. Just in case, here are six basic rules and the same number of recommendations.

RULES & STRUCTURE (these are all flexible, but let’s try and stick to the first one, at least!)

• 17 Syllables
• Line 1: 5 syllables 
• Line 2: 7 syllables 
• Line 3: 5 syllables 
• Rhyme: No rhyme. 
• Based on observation: usually, not exclusively, of nature.

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Theme: Often, but not exclusively, nature-based, like focusing on a season, the sky, etc. 
• Present tense: Usually written in the present tense, capturing a brief moment. 
• Juxtaposition: Haiku often juxtaposes two images or ideas. This creates a deeper meaning. It evokes a feeling or provokes reflection in the reader.
• A moment of insight: The haiku conveys a single moment. It is when the poet suddenly sees something significant. The moment can also be when the poet realizes, remembers, feels, or thinks about something important.
• Vivid images: The idea is brought vividly to life.
• The haiku usually has two parts: The first two lines create a scene or an image. The final line suggests the poet’s interpretation of the first image. This is often a break or contrast with the first part.

Now I need your help!

I love writing haiku. However, I often encounter trouble with the final turning point. I also have doubts with the realisation or punch line, as I like to think of it.

So, here’s my version, but I’ve listed 10 alternate last lines. Would you help me by choosing the one you prefer or even suggesting another final line!

If you have an August haiku you’d like to share, I’d love to read it in the comments. Please post a link in the comments, too, if you’ve published it on your blog.

August

Scorching sun, full beach

August is a wicked month

I long for Autumn

Options for line 3:

1. I hide in the shade
2. Let’s hide in the shade
3. Sweating in the shade
4. No shade, drenched in sweat.
5. Sweating, no way out
6. Good girls hide in shade
7. Blonde girls hide in shade
8. I long for winter
9. Longing for winter