For Prescott poet Mark Dailey, haiku have the ability to elevate everyday experiences into art. “Haiku are short, concise poems that capture a moment of immediate perception. They are a way to notice what you might not have otherwise noticed, reminding ourselves that life is full of wonderful little moments.”
Haiku is a type of Japanese poetry that has three lines, traditionally divided into five, seven and five syllables. But most English-language haiku poets no longer employ strict syllable counts, instead concentrating on the form’s conciseness to capture the essence of an idea or image.
late summer
the egg-gathering basket
filled with tomatoes
Haiku are usually composed of two parts; the first line is a fragment and the following lines are one phrase. Many poets will describe the setting in the first line, then the subject and action in the following lines.
winter ridgeline
a long drawn-out conversation
with wind
Some poets move the fragment to the third line, finishing the poem.
what birds
sang in its branches
stacked firewood
The relationship between the two parts is open-ended, permitting the reader to perceive meanings on an intuitive level. “The most compelling poetry tells us only a part of the story, while our mind leaps to the possibilities of filling in the canvas, thus prompting a vivid imagination in the reader. The best haiku, for instance, tell us half a story. The door is left open.”
Although Mark has written poetry all his life, his introduction to haiku came in middle age. “My son gave me The Essential Haiku: Versions of Basho, Buson, and Issa as a Christmas present just as I was departing on a college-class trip to Nepal. I stuck it in my backpack and hiked around Nepal reading it, and started writing haiku. I’ve been smitten by the immediacy of the form ever since.” Over the years his work has been published in many journals and anthologies, including Frogpond, Modern Haiku, Acorn, The Heron's Nest, tinywords, and A Hundred Gourds.
winter thaw
a prayer flag
of laundry
For Mark, poetry has an idiosyncratic way of affecting readers. “The power and joy of poetry lies in its capacity for surprise. Most things in life demand a plan and a destination; poetry does not. In the midst of life’s predictable rhythms and duties, poetry is like a little opportunity to run off and join the circus! Using the imagination and language as its only tools, it allows adventure and surprise to pop into everyday life.”
the galaxy turns
every quarter-billion years
letting the cat in
In terms of finding sources for his poems, Mark shares, “The inspiration for haiku typically comes quickly, but that doesn’t guarantee a good poem. Many aren’t very compelling. Some benefit from ongoing revision. A few are born just right.” He views poems as distinct creations, but recognizes that they are also connected and influenced by our physical and emotional environments. “Like everything else in life, poetry is relational. We swim in a sea of language, and share our everyday lives with other humans, as well as deer, ravens, javelinas, mountains and stars. A poem doesn’t come from ourselves so much as ourselves-in-relation-to-the-world-around-us.” At times his humorous social commentary sneaks in.
border wall
a saguaro raises
the middle finger
Mark appreciates that poetry’s underlying music contributes to its enjoyment and meaning. “Poetry also interests me for its musicality, its syntactical-spinal rhythm as it slithers through our imagination, utilizing the evolutionary roots of language. Sound and rhythm matter, but by themselves they can’t drive the poem. It must also resonate with meaning or emotion.”
dinner simmers
we pass around
new pronouns
Mark currently works as an anthropologist, teaching in the Environmental Studies Program at Prescott College. His continued interest in Chinese culture and language allows him to read poetry in both Chinese and in translation. He enjoys reading many forms of poetry. “Some of my favorite English-language poets are Gary Snyder, Emily Dickinson and William Blake. My favorite classical Chinese poets are Du Fu (712-770), Tao Yuanming (365-427), and Han Shan, aka Cold Mountain (700s).”
Ultimately Mark finds that haiku fulfills his need to create and connect with others. “In poetry, I hope to channel a voice, in crafted language, that has the capacity to surprise me and to have at least some others share the experience. Poetry lives at the confluence of imagination, voice, craft, and communication.”
reaching for the sun
I pull down
a pear
All haiku by Mark Dailey. Contact him at mark.dailey@prescott.edu.
Dee Cohen is a Prescott poet and photographer. deecohen@cox.net.
