Notes from when I was in the whimsy club,to help you understand the poem

Haibun is a combination of prose and haiku poetry. Modern English Haibun is evolving just as is modern English haiku. So, the following characteristics portray general patterns rather than hard and fast rules. It's focus is often on everyday experiences, but sometimes focuses on a journey, and in the the style of the originator of haibun, a Japanese monk named Basho who wrote intricate and beautiful prose in his travel journals.

 Prose usually concludes with a haiku, but it may also include several haiku between short prose passages. There is a trend to maintain minimal expression, using two or three sentances to describe a scenario and ending with one haiku.

Haiku

reed warblers
sing the great river
still

by Issa (a fellow monk of Basho)

~^*^~

 

I wandered through the watery world of storm
strewn roads-seeing nature unfold as I stroll
birds twitter, the rain has stopped,but the air is
full of moisture trees still dripping,but the sun is
peeking partially behind a white cloud in the grey sky

sky in transition
soon there will be shades of blue
birds fluffing feathers

I observe the fallen tree limbs and other debris
realizing that nature always repairs itself,and we
can rest assured that our feathered friends, those
who go through the storm without the protection
we have, will come through chirping amd singing

the passion of birds
as they care for each other
is a joy to watch


ET-2008