The Hunt for Inspiration - Essay for the Tadpole Society and all
11/17/2011 01:27 p.m.
THE HUNT FOR INSPIRATION

Some days writing is a dry business and I know some here are finding it so. In these circumstances for me one merit of haiku is that they are short! So there's a good chance I can write something even in the most unpromising mental state.

Some days inspiration comes from the world around me eg. glancing through the kitchen window to see a flock of small brown birds descend on our holly bush to eat every single berry before leaving. This is of course the perceived proper way to write haiku. We are supposed to have an 'Ah!' moment: a zen insight that demands capture. And of course, at its best our writing in this way makes us more observant and more appreciative of the small delights around us.

Sadly, it doesn't always work like that and at its worst, believing that this is the only way to write haiku (or indeed any other type of poem) makes us a slave to 'the muse'. It seems to me to be rather like a runner who insists they can't run except when they are 'in the zone', so they won't train today. But only with regular training can any runner expect to find the zone. So it is with writing. And so many days I

look for inspiration in other places.

1) Looking at an everyday object
(I have posted an exercise based on this in the forum in the thread 'Autumn Desert') We are surrounded by things which we use and or give our lives meaning. On my desk is the computer I am writing on right now, a torch, glasses, small notepad, pencil sharpener made to look like an old fashioned roundabout, my watch, a tape measure, two CDs, a theology text book, desk lamp, my empty coffee mug etc... Any one

could be the inspiration for a small poem.

Simply imagine the object in a variety of places. The torch could be used to look for something (where and what might be found?), to prop up something, played with by a child etc. The notepad could be used to write on (what might I write?), folded into origami (what might I make?), lost (where?) and so on. How do the different contexts change how you see the object itself?

2) Reading haiku
There's haiku to be found all over the place - books, online blogs, magazines, forums (and here on Pathetic of course). Reading haiku thoughtfully to get inside the poem can reveal new techniques, delight us with new gems, provide us with subjects etc etc which jumstart our own writing. Sometimes what is read can provoke another haiku in response. Sometimes (dare I confess?) I read a haiku which I itch to rewrite. And doing so gets me writing again.

3) Reading about haiku
Again, there's a plethora of material to read, from our own bookshelves and the library to online materials. Have a look at essays from the varius haiku societies, read about the form as it is used in teaching, search academic essays and look for online challenges or exercises too. Usually something will provide inspiration.

Some inspirations
Frogpond, the Journal of the Haiku Society of America has a wealth of resources whether you want to read haiku, or about them. The homepage is HERE

This is an odd document but it lists season and other words and phrases kigo/05-muki-saijiki-TOC which may just trigger your imagination.

Aha Poetry, Jane Reichold's website is a wonderful resource. She has been writing haiku for at least 30 years. As some of you know, I consider anything she writes to be worth reading: I have learned so much from her! GO HERE to explore her site

If you have other links to share, please add them below!