GRANT CARRINGTON'S HAIKU POEMS
I was introduced to the haiku form of poetry by
Jean Shepherd on his late night show on WOR radio in New York City in 1959. Later I bought Harold G. Henderson's book on haiku, which included my favorite poem of all time, Issa's "Contentment in Poverty":
A one-foot waterfall
It too makes noises
and at night is cool.
The translation of both poem and title is, of course, by Henderson, who did not stick to the traditional haiku form of 5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables. Which was probably a good thing, for translations that stick to the traditional form are usually rather forced and unnatural. Many people write haikus in English with the same idea. However, I always write my haiku in the traditional form, and I don't think they're forced and unnatural. (You're allowed to think otherwise.)
Issa
Poor haiku poet
living on scattered tea leaves
and soaring rainbows
Early Fall
Somewhere in the dark
there is the touch of the mist
and the smell of grapes
"Early Fall" was the 2nd haiku that I ever wrote and I still think it is one of my best. It was inspired by the old cement bridge over the brook near my high school, where large purple grapes sent their scent into the autumn night.
New York at Three AM
Since Babel's Tower
this is Man's greatest doing
but crickets still chirp
Double rainbow arc
encircling my mountain perch
rivalling the leaves
November 1, 1959: Alone I hiked the Blue Trail near Black Pond in Meriden. Up there the wind whipped and roared sometimes like the Voice of God. I watched as the rain advanced from Meriden Mountain across the valley to where I sat. dBelow me I watched it pour but I was relatively dry on my perch, watching separate raindrops, like stars, whip past me, blown up(!) at me from below.
Then I came upon the most wonderful rainbow I ever saw, bridging the range on which I trekked. I could see every band of color--the broad orange, red, and yellow, and the extremely narrow purple, blue, and indigo. Over it was mirrored its image, fainter but still almost as bright as an ordinary rainbow, completely banding the ridge also down to the forest below where it faded from view.
Add to this a spritely little chickadee for sauce and it added up to a wasted, useless, wonderful afternoon.
This was also one of my very first haikus and, although I've seen a number of double rainbows since, none has been as bright and beautiful as this one.
Midnight Snack
It's dark in my room
I see a gleaming eyeball
hungrily watching
If I'm a conservative in haiku form, I go over the edge in my choice of
subject. Some people think that haiku should only have nature and seasons as their theme. Obviously I don't agree.
Contentment
A thrush at twilight,
liquid warbling in the woods,
and campfire smoke.
Copyright 1999. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Duplication of this poetry without permission of the author is
forbidden under copyright law. Please ask permission if you wish to use it for non-commercial purposes. PROSECUTORS WILL BE VIOLATED.
"Issa" was originally published in Bardic Echoes (Vol IV Number 1, March 1965), edited by Clarence Weaver, 1036 Emerald Avenue N.E., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503.
"Early Fall" was originally published in American Weave (Autumn 1959), edited by Loring and Alice Crane Williams, 4109 Bushnell Road, University Heights 18, Ohio.
"New York at Three A.M." was originally published in The Archer (Autumn 1964), edited by Elinor Henry Brown, Box 9646 VCA, North Hollywood, California 91609.
"Contentment" was originally published in Bardic Echoes (December 1965/January 1966).
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