Submit your Haiku to:<poetsinternational@gmail.com>
HAIKU
SELF-EXPLORATION
By MOHAMMED FAKHRUDDIN
FOREWORD TO THE FIRST EDITION
Haiku self-Exploration, in all 160, ever written by any of the modern living poets in the punned rhymed haiku form having 5,7,5 syllables, creates reading pleasure and enlightens the readers. Mohammed Fakhruddin, who teaches the art of writing poetry in English in various structural forms including Japanese poetic forms in Poets International’s Poetry Workshops, is a very popular Indian creative writer and poet.
This elegant book is a collection of haiku by the world-famous poet Dr. Mohammed Fakhruddin. He has so far written and published more than five hundred excellent haiku. Of them he himself has selected one hundred and sixty to compose this collection. All his haiku are full of exquisite feeling and heavenly aroma. Particularly the selected haiku contained in this book are, like invaluable gems, glittering magnificently; the reader will be dazzled with their enthralling beauty, marvellous sublimity and profound significance. In the works in this book we can find the brilliant, aesthetical manifestation of Dr. Fakhruddin's eminent poetical sensibility, highly graceful wording and remarkably keen insight.
It is my great honour and pleasure to contribute the preface to this book of haiku, because this verse form was originally invented in my country, Japan, and became widespread all over the world till it bore such a great English haiku poet as Dr. Fakhruddin. Haiku is a shortest verse form in the world, but is evocative of very delicate sense and very deep thought. This form, composed of 5-7-5 syllables, occurred in the 14th century in Japan as a result of separation of the first three sections 5-7-5 from Tanka which consists of 5-7-5-7-7 syllables and whose origin dates away back to the 7th century or former times (the oldest anthology of tanka is Man'yoosyuu). The poet Matuo Basyoo maturated haiku, in the 17th century to become refined literature surpassing the former haiku as pastime or hobby. Basyoo's haiku had aesthetical qualities such as rustic simplicity, light beauty with subtlety, etc. The following is one of his well-known haiku:
\Huruike ya,
into the old pond
\Kawazsu tobikomu
Leaps a frog; the water's sound!
\Mizu no Oto.
Stillness round the pond.
The English translation is by me (Ikeda). The word 'ya' in the original is more meaningful than 'ni' (=into), and is touching, making the reader think of the situation (including stillness) around the pond. In my translation the third line is my addition, because 'ya' cannot be directly translated into English. Thus the translation also consists of 5-7-5 syllables. It may be noted that a double vowel, such as 'ui', in Japanese constitutes two syllables. From the original haiku one perceives stillness such that the sound of a frog's leaping is heard. Thus in a Japanese haiku more is meant than said.
Haiku, established as a branch of literature by Basyoo, requires the use of Kigo (=a season word) as well as the form of 5-7-5 syllables. A frog is a spring word. Kigo is, however, characteristic of the change of the season in Japan. Hence it is natural that English haiku and other European haiku should ignore Kigo. But the form of 5-7-5 syllables is an absolute necessity to haiku, whether in Japanese or in English. In the history of Japanese haiku a few poets wrote free haiku (short poetry not in the form of 5-7-5 syllables). But such free haiku (not to be called haiku) soon disappeared. On the other hand, it may be remarked that some English poets make free haiku (short poems of three lines not in the form of 5-7-5 syllables), which are also called haiku.
Incidentally, in the Japanese verse forms the rhyme is not a necessity to poetry according to the Japanese tradition (this may be due to the structure of the Japanese language). Therefore, in principle, English haiku and other European haiku are not rhymed, through rhymed poetry is more beautiful than non-rhymed poetry in English and other European languages.
Let us now return to Dr. Fakhruddin's English haiku. He rigorously follows the 5-7-5 syllable-form; in addition, his haiku are rhymed (the first and third lines have the same end rhyme). In this meaning his haiku are highly surpassing and absolutely peerless in both the beauty of spirit and the beauty of form. From the bottom of my heart I express enormous admiration for his haiku. I have long asserted that to poetry, essentially different from prose, the beauty of both sentiment (spirit) and form (meter) should be absolutely necessary; and I have made numerous rhymed English poems in the form of 7-5, 7-5, 7-5, 7-5 syllables (this form was originated in the end of the 12th century in Japan). So I am deeply impressed and intensely moved by Dr. Fakhruddin's haiku. Also I very highly evaluate the extensiveness of the themes of his haiku. In these splendid, gemlike haiku he sings of human quality, human mind, social nature, beauty of nature, philosophy of life, and many other manifestations in the universe.
Readers! Appreciate and enjoy satisfactorily the noble beauty, aesthetical elegance and profound philosophy contained in Dr. Fakhruddin's outstanding haiku!
Dr. Kazuyosi Ikeda D.Sc.,
Nisi 7-7-11 Aomadani,
Minoo-Si,
Osaka-5620023, Japan
HAIKU SELF-EXPLORATION
BY MOHAMMED FAKHRUDDIN
Haiku Wa Ga Kokoro
Translated Into Japanese
By Kazuyosi Ikeda
HAIKU-1
Self-exploration
Leads one to the inner space;
-- Insight through vision.
Wa ga kokoro wo
wa ga Manako mote
saguri-mimu.
HAIKU-2
Children, next to God,
See no discrimination,
The Sun is for all.
Warabe no Me
Wakehedate nasi,
Kami no goto.
HAIKU-3
Eat to live keep smart;
Command – the mind, let heart obey;
Make life piece of art.
Kiyorakeku
sugu naru Hito no
naki Yo kana.
HAIKU-4
When heart and mind sync,
Your actions bear fruit to make
-- Earth with the sky sink.
Somei naru
Syokuzi, Inoti no
Geizyutu zo.
HAIKU-5
Divine life is rare
To be found in modern world;
The means is unfair!
Ti-zyo Dotyo,
Gyo Mi wo musubeba,
Ten tikasi.
HAIKU-6
I see crows in rows
To out beat the Nightingale
As lush green moss grows!
Narabi-tobi
Karasu utau ya,
Koke aosi.
HAIKU-7
Control soul’s passion,
Internal and external;
Attain salvation.
Uti – soto no
Zyo osaureba,
Sukui ari.
HAIKU-8
Creativity
One’s own mental equipoise:
None’s monopoly.
Tensai wa
Kokoro turiau
Hito no mono.
HAIKU-9
As summer steps in,
Leaves wither away to form
-- A mass of dustbin.
Natu kitari,
Kare-ha oturu ya,
Gomi no Yama.
HAIKU-10
Struggle is hot line;
You are forced to walk on it.
As sweet as old wine!
Uma-zake ya,
Nessen ayumi
tatakaeri.
HAIKU-11
Man makes pilgrimage
To wash his dirty linen;
Show of the Jet age.
Zyunrei ya,
Zyetto-zidai ni
Nuno arau.
HAIKU-12
The twinkling mirage
Vanishes in the deep blue
As I lose my age.
Tosi hureba
Sinkiro kiyu,
Koki Ao ni.
HAIKU-13
Variety display
In gaiety rich splendour,
Is nature’s play.
Kenranto
Asobi yutakesi,
Dai-sizen.
HAIKU-14
Moments of romance
Sweep your feet at times gently
-- Like Jasmine’s fragrance.
Hana no Ka ya,
Roman no Toki wa
zyozyoni sugu.
HAIKU-15
Painter of nature
Paints, repaints, landscapes
-- For His sheer rapture.
Kokotu to
Zekkei egaku
Dai-sizen.
HAIKU-16
A thing of beauty
Is the nature’s miracle --
Creativity.
Utukusi ya,
Kiseki Sozo
Dai-sizen.
HAIKU-17
Bright and graceful glance,
Bewitching smile on lips make
Stars twinkle in trance.
Me to Bisyo,
Miryoku wa Hosi wo
mayowasimu.
HAIKU-18
Solar or Lunar,
Eclipse is the right climax;
Time reaches on par.
Zitugetu no
Syoku wa kotyo,
Toki mituru.
HAIKU-19
Nothing is useless;
What’s good to you, bad to me;
The sky is boundless.
Muyo naru
mono wa Yo ni nasi,
Ten mukyu.
HAIKU-20
A spark of fire burns;
The tip of an iceberg melts
-- As volcano churns.
Hibana dete
Hyozan toketu,
Kazan no goto.
HAIKU-21
Love is a white dove
Which leads life to peace sublime;
Night is dark shadow.
Kuraki Yo ya,
Ai no Siro-hato
Heiwa yobu.
HAIKU-22
Faces are great books,
Landscapes of different nature;
Read them live by looks.
Dai-sizen,
Hon wo yomu goto
Kesiki miyo.
HAIKU-23
To forget someone,
Switch off your mind for a while;
Enter the time zone.
Wasuru beku,
Kokoro tozi nore,
Toki no Nami.
HAIKU-24
Birds back home to sleep;
Thoughts grazing in the valley;
Beauty is skin deep.
Tori wa Su ni,
Omoi wa Tani ni,
Yume asasi.
HAIKU-25
Be one with the One
Through meditation and feel
-- Part of Creation.
Meiso to
Kankaku ni yori
Mono tukuru.
HAIKU-26
Keep mind in control
Or else get lost in the storm;
-- Devil on parole.
Kokoro woba
Mamore, Ame, Kaze,
Akuma yori.
HAIKU-27
Urbanization
Makes heart ruthless, mind stubborn,
Begets pollution.
Tosi to nari,
Kokoro mo mono mo
Kegaretari.
HAIKU-28
Nature protects all,
Victim of his own senses,
Man to pleasures fall.
Dai-sizen no
Mamori ni morete
Hito daraku.
HAIKU-29
True love is two-way
Deceived? No regrets; research.
Night must meet the day.
Azamukazu
Kuyamanu wa kore
sin no Ai.
HAIKU-30
Cries of burning bride
Echoes in grave for justice;
Men still walk with pride.
Hanayome wa
Botyu ni nakite
Otoko ayumu.
HAIKU-31
Long journey, calm night
Drowsy eyes and dizzy mind;
Life bids bye to light.
Nagaki Tabi
Seiya ni kokoro
Kuramite sisu.
HAIKU-32
Concentration through
Control of heart and mind, strikes
Targets -- black and blue.
Kuraki Mato mo
Kokoro komureba
Ataru nari.
HAIKU-33
Mind is a diamond
Cosmic rays when made to pass,
Creates a spectrum!
Utyu-sen
Kokoro turanuki,
Supekutoru.
HAIKU-34
Like the sun, soul is
Source of energy within;
Man cannot be wise.
Hi no gotoki
Rei no Tikara wo
Hito sirazu.
HAIKU-35
Let me close accounts
For the day and go to sleep;
Like clouds on high mounts.
Hi to wakare
Nemuri ni tukamu,
Kumo no goto.
HAIKU-36
Days seems to move fast,
As I grow day after day;
How long would it last?
Hibi sugite,
Ware wa nobi-yuku,
Itu made zo.
HAIKU-37
Starburst storm in sky,
Ah! A spectacular show --
-- All Nature's glory.
Hosi sakete
Sora no Sokan,
Sizen no Bi.
HAIKU-38
Earth attracts the sky,
Man, the woman; good, the bad;
Life, the death! -- But why?
Tenti, Nannyo,
Zen’aku, Syozi
naze ai-hiku.
HAIKU-39
I find lost in trance,
As I turn over past leaves;
Ice fumes in furnace.
Kosyo ni kori,
Rotyu no kori
Keburikeri.
HAIKU-40
For a smooth sailing,
Change the rules of game of life;
Seasons keep changing.
Hunatabi ya,
Yugi-soku kaeyo,
Siki kawaru.
HAIKU-41
Respect Human Rights,
Egoism kills humanism;
World State stops all fights.
Zinken wo
totobe, Ikusa
yaminu besi.
HAIKU-42
I see a sea change,
Breach of trust tortures my mind;
It's no mean revenge.
Umi kawari,
Sinzin kuzuru,
Kui zo naki.
HAIKU-43
Why ordinary?
Be extra-ordinary;
World will follow thee.
Heibon yori
Hibon naru koso
Yo no Kagami.
HAIKU-44
Drowsy eyes --- dull mind,
Are masses a flock of sheep?
Time, at times, unkind?
Konmei ya,
Hituzi muragari,
Muzyo no Toki.
HAIKU-45
I crawl like a crab,
As anger burns my patience;
Winter dry and drab.
Huyu-gare ya,
Kani no goto hai,
Ikari moyu.
HAIKU-46
Ere the last journey
Eyes turn at the dizzy mind
Just to say 'Good bye'.
Tuino Tabi,
antan to site
tada ‘saraba’.
HAIKU-47
Raindrops fall with force,
Rivers flow only downwards;
Up and up, life grows.
Ame wa huri,
Kawa wa kudaredo,
Inoti noboru.
HAIKU-48
I am like blue sky,
No one will cry if I die:
Alone like tree --- dry.
Aozora ya,
ware kare-sinamu,
tare mo nakazi.
HAIKU-49
Everything in place
Well set to show everything
Perfect in its place.
Mono mina wa
Mattaki Iti ni
okaretaru.
HAIKU-50
Time will never stay,
Waste no Time, time and again;
Blame none, come what may!
Toki totosi,
Hito wo semuru ni
Rohi su na.
HAIKU-51
Past moments of joy
Knock upon me, day and night;
Stray thoughts I enjoy.
Sugisi kanki
niti-ya Omoi wo
madowasinu.
|
