Ten Hay(na)kus

The Glo/NaPoWriMo i.e. Global/National Poetry Writing Month is always an adventurous time. It offers poets the world over, inspiration to take on a challenge, explore their own style, and indulge themselves in a poetry writing spree for the entire month of April. I absolutely revel in the image of so many creative minds perceiving and painting the world, through and with their poet senses. For a poet is always diving deeper into an ever expanding universe. As Sigmund Freud once said, 'Everywhere I go, I find that a poet has been there before me.'

It Started With an Idea

 Any discussion about the NaPoWriMo cannot be complete without a special mention of Maureen Thorson who first started writing a poem a day back in April 2003, inspired by the NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) that takes place in November. And even though she does not claim herself as an owner of the idea, she does maintain an official website dedicate solely to NaPoWriMo. Not only is it an incredible website for poets to find new poetry prompts everyday through the month of April, it also offers poets the world over, excellent poetry ideas and resources to work with. Suffice it to say, that it is nothing short of a treasure trove for poets.

The Hay(na)ku

Today is day 10 of NaPoWriMo. The day ten prompt introduced me to a whole new poetry form known as the hay(na)ku, a spin off of the well-known, traditional Japanese poetry form, the haiku.  The hay(na)ku is a modern poetry form invented and made popular in the very century we currently exist in. This 21st Century poetic form consists of six words in all - the first line has one word, the second line has two words, and the third line has three words. The poetry form was created by Eileen Tabios an award-winning Filipino-American poet, fiction writer, conceptual/visual artist, editor, anthologist, critic, and publisher. The term hay(na)ku was coined by Vince Gotera, an American poet and writer, best known as Editor of the North American Review.

As someone who already enjoys writing Haiku's and someone who loves a good poetry challenge, I promptly put pen to paper. And as I proceeded, I found myself in love with this poetry form. Much like the haiku, it has a fairly simple structure, yet it offers you the chance to throw in power-packed  poetry punches, unique only to your mind. Only it takes the challenge up a notch, because it allows for even lesser words.

Ten Hay(na)kus

I am presenting here, ten Hay(na)kus for Day ten of Glo/NaPoWriMo:

1

Because

Poetry is

An essential commodity

2

Your

Eyes are

Wine coloured paradise

3

Quarantine

Is time

Melting into itself

4

Beyond

Cloudy screens

Are stormy lies

5

Forever

Is conceptually

A flawed misnomer

6
Accuracy

In language

Began with emotion

7

Take

A shower

Under the sun

8

Why

Is not

A valid question

 

9

Come

With me

Freedom is real

10

There

A home

Without walls survived