Tarot Haiku

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 20 Dec 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Rhiannon	20 Dec 2002
Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry that cosists of 3 lines. The first line has 5 syllables, the second has 7 syllables and the third has 5 syllables again. My Haiku is about the Magician card, which is my assignment in the upcoming tarot project! Magician's power To order his heart's desire He is the juggler. C'mon, try one! R :) edited to fix the egregious error in the first line! Thanks, monk! :D

cricket	20 Dec 2002
Can't see her way out though there is an open path. Turn around, moron!

RedWood	20 Dec 2002
About my favorite card: The Tower Tower Striking Down change is coming to you now Do not be afraid

cricket	20 Dec 2002
or or or... Come, tarotholics! Go on a buying frenzy. Support the forums! or... Newbies need to read many times a week, I think. They will get better.

RedWood	20 Dec 2002
Tarot Chat Come to tarot chat Clink on link to come see us Do not be afraid Come to tarot chat clink the link, come talk to us! come at your own risk

RedWood	20 Dec 2002
To Tarotbear HEHE Tarotbear is old Made it to 500th post Only back a week

Rhiannon	20 Dec 2002
Another one: Seventy-eight cards World of possibilities. Upright or reversed? R :)

RedWood	20 Dec 2002
Reversal Oh my upside down picture I see Upright is for me

truthsayer	20 Dec 2002
the world all the world dances on the razor fine edge of eternity now. the high priestess mona lisa of the tarot. smiles her secret smile on the inside. the hierophant we love him. we hate him. he teaches. he guides us with authority. three of cups three maidens dancing toasting to love, life, laughter golden cups salute. nine of cups some say i am a glutton but i have all i wish for and much more.

SlyR	21 Dec 2002
Hmm, Tarot Haiku... Which deck shall I focus on? Thoth, or Rider-Waite? Oh well, no matter... The Haiku is over now. These lines are extra. There's a moral here: Indecision serves no aim In Haiku attempts. :p

Trish	21 Dec 2002
Trish, poet at heart and avid Tarotholic, loves to write haiku! :D Queen of Wands Chaste and gracious queen Known for hospitality Extends forth her hand. YAY! hehe ... Haiku is fun!

kayne	21 Dec 2002
You guys are so clever!!! Ok... I will give it a go... But let's add some more fun... you have to guess the tarot card this haiku is about... :D standing on the edge towards freedom, heart joyous jumps forth without care

wavebreaker	21 Dec 2002
Quote: Originally posted by kayne standing on the edge towards freedom, heart joyous jumps forth without care The Fool?

fairyhedgehog	21 Dec 2002
Quote: Originally posted by truthsayer the world all the world dances on the razor fine edge of eternity now. Wow, these are all so cool! Each card summed up in a nutshell. I had to pick just one haiku by one person to quote but there are lots of real treasures here. Do you think we could collect together everyone's haikus about different cards, as part of our tarot text area on this site?

fairyhedgehog	21 Dec 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Rhiannon Magician has power To order his heart's desire He is the juggler. This is a great haiku and such a cool idea. I love this Rhiannon :)

Joywalker	21 Dec 2002
Hierophant sits there, Teaching us to be as wise, And as learned as him.

Pollux	21 Dec 2002
(I will be as predictable as kayne, but a bit trickier :P *LOL*) Pillars of Eden Long For Thee, You For Grace An Angel Blesses

lunalafey	21 Dec 2002
I had a dream about this EXACT thing two nights ago!!!!unfortunately I have no idea of the haiku I came up within my dream...You guys are good! so off the top of my head As the Moon does glow one side is not ever seen oh her hidden face

jlbvt	21 Dec 2002
This is awesome guys, I will come up with one soon. Would make a great deck! ;)

Khatruman	21 Dec 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Rhiannon Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry that cosists of 3 lines. The first line has 5 syllables, the second has 7 syllables and the third has 5 syllables again. :) I say this not with the intention of being picky, but haiku is about more than the 3 line, 5-7-5 syllables. Haiku deal with the season and in capturing the magic of a moment. As such, they contain imagery and not commentary. Japanese "syllables" do not translate into English syllables, so to keep to, and stress only, the syllables doesn't capture the attention haiku takes. I teach haiku in order to focus my students on imagery to evoke feeling rather than commentary.. for instance. NOT haiku I was so sad After I saw the dead cat Lying in the road YES haiku Yellow tabby cat Lying along the gutter Mouth open to rain In addition, haiku usually signified seasons and contained season words. I am thinking that haiku might work wonderfully for the minor arcana, with each of the suits signifying a season. We could have a sort of haiku renga, with chains of haiku for the different suit cards. Peace!

RedWood	21 Dec 2002
Considering Khatrumans post... Trying to ruin our fun! :D I still think we can do haiku (OUR WAY) and (THE ACTUAL WAY) hehe So keep on posting!

Khatruman	21 Dec 2002
Quote: Originally posted by RedWood Considering Khatrumans post... Trying to ruin our fun! :D I still think we can do haiku (OUR WAY) and (THE ACTUAL WAY) hehe So keep on posting! Sorry Reds :( Wasn't trying to ruin your fun, but take it to a deeper level.. Haiku is seen too much as simply a little puzzle poem to give to 3rd graders. Tarot is so deep that it deserves a deeper consideration. Haiku writers don't just "dash off" these little poems (and there are modern haiku composers)... Awww, but have some fun.. sometimes, though, think that some of the most wonderfully esoteric ideas begin as fun.. the philosopher just took it to a new level. But what do I know? to quote Bill S Preston and Ted Theodore Logan (Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure), who in turn quoted Socrates (that's pronounced SOH-Crayts): "'The only true wisdom comes from the knowledge that we know nothing...' Whoa!!!!! Dude! That's US!!! (air guitar lick)" Peace!

Trish	21 Dec 2002
LOL! Yeah, I'm sure it can be done for Tarot either way. ;) And I agree that the Minors would fit into this quite well ... but perhaps the Majors can too ... *shrugs* And Khatruman is right, a traditional haiku is much more difficult to write. Suppose that's why those who are talented at writing haiku in Japan are considered Living National Treasures. :D

Moongold	21 Dec 2002
With deep apologies to Rachel Pollack (who probably wouldn't mind at all), these are inspired by images from the Shining Tribe deck Summer stillness The play of red heat The yellow moon Moon Dark frost Her womanly mask Yellow serpents cry High Priestess Wild light bending In the warping dance The World shimmers Shining Woman - World Persephone Awakes the parched soul Cool joy Star Green sucklings In the burnt wood Trees smile Ten Trees (Wands) PS Rachel Pollack did her own exquisite poetry. The above attempts are mine. inspired by the example of you guys before me... Moongold

Khatruman	21 Dec 2002
Wonderful of you to find Pollack having done haiku for tarot. That is my point right there. She didn't constrict herself falsely to the 5-7-5 rule and those haiku just glisten with imagery...and also the other thing that makes great haiku...that "Ahhhhhh," feeling.. there is also a turn in haiku..an image that connects the first image..the yellow moon, the cool joy... Hey guys,, WE can do that! Just think it will be even more awesome if we try for powerful images than syllables... I mean, isn't that what tarot is about? Powerful imagery? Peace!

Ophiel	21 Dec 2002
There was a man from Bombay, Who fashioned the cards out of clay The heat of the sun, took away all his fun As the cards to dust and blew away.

Pollux	22 Dec 2002
Kathruman, do you think mine can still be considered an Haiku in the "more purist" sense? I would be delighted to know what you think. Anyway I'll be back soon with another for my card in SACT, and for some Minor... I luv this! ;)

Diana	22 Dec 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Pollux Kathruman, do you think mine can still be considered an Haiku in the "more purist" sense? Pollux, please go and count your syllables.

Khatruman	22 Dec 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Pollux (I will be as predictable as kayne, but a bit trickier :P *LOL*) Pillars of Eden Long For Thee, You For Grace An Angel Blesses Hmmm, I am assuming you are asking for advice, and I think Diana is joking about the syllable count.. (hmmm, second line, six syllables?? LOL) that's bein the rebel. I would say that a Haiku writer would chastise you on the second line not for its syllabic content but for its vague content. I cannot see the longing. This is what makes haiku so difficult, to evoke the feeling through image not through commentary. It also makes it stronger. It is one of the basic lessons of being a writer to be able to show rather than tell. If you tell the reader how you feel, you leave the reader on the outside. They just see you telling how you feel. If you give the image that gave you the longing, then the reader feels it too and is inside that emotion with you. What is the longing where does it come from, what do you see that gives you longing? Answer that, and do it in three lines of less than 15 words. If you can do that successfully, now THAT's the brilliance of haiku! Peace!

Moongold	22 Dec 2002
This is difficult because the syllables and the rhythm don't come naturally. Writing something after meditation might be easier She surfs the soft dawn In quiet, uncertain faith. Darkness hungers. Trust Osho Zen Oceanic eyes glow The Last Supper now served Sorrow, sorrow, sorrow Gloominous Doom Faeries Oracle Moongold

jlbvt	22 Dec 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Khatruman Yellow tabby cat Lying along the gutter Mouth open to rain I am thinking that haiku might work wonderfully for the minor arcana, with each of the suits signifying a season. We could have a sort of haiku renga, with chains of haiku for the different suit cards. Peace! Beautiful Haiku, and great idea, but what is a renga? I am thinking that a deck should be created with a haiku or two on each card. Wouldn't that be cool? I love the idea of the Aeclectic Tarot project, but since each card is created by a different artist, they don't seem cohesive as a deck. Haiku would be a great common bond for something like that. I love all kinds of literature, and your dead cat haikus are a great example of the difference between something functional and something beautiful and philosophical. You must be a great teacher. ;)

Khatruman	22 Dec 2002
Quote: Originally posted by jlbvt Beautiful Haiku, and great idea, but what is a renga? I am thinking that a deck should be created with a haiku or two on each card. Wouldn't that be cool? Well, actually, that would fit in with the origin of haiku, which began as a game. A renga is a round of haiku, with a different poet writing the next in the series. The challenge was to begin a season, write a haiku, then the next person in the group would write a haiku which would follow from that one. It's like a round robin writing, and maybe instead of a deck, we could begin in the major arcana and work our way around through the group. Maybe someone could begin, then designate who follows. I don't know.. it would be a cool challenge, and I think it would also be a fun deepening of our understanding of the tarot.. Waddya think? Peace! PS. thank you for the teacher compliment, but that is not for me to judge my effectiveness, but my students. Just know that my goal is always that their minds become open to more ideas than they were. Always to challenge them. They grumble at me, because I won't let them simply memorize, answer questions, pass tests.. I make them think and create...grrr, they hate that..LOL

jlbvt	22 Dec 2002
yes, capitol idea. Lets have a renga, shall we? ;)

kayne	23 Dec 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Pollux Pillars of Eden Long For Thee, You For Grace An Angel Blesses Did anyone guess this yet??? Is it The Lovers Pollux? Lovely anyway... :P *I'm in for that renga idea... excellent!* :D

ihcoyc	24 Dec 2002
On a square pillar, holding a torch upside down; is it hot in here?

Demonesse	26 Dec 2002
Hey, this is a great thread! Why didn't I notice it before? Mmm, let me give it a go: Clouded moonless night secrets hidden in her cards destiny beckons. Sharpened steel pierces A thousand anguished sorrows Fate has conquered me. Wisdom of ages Unfolded ancient mystery, Spirit's melody. --- How did I do? A C minus, perhaps? ;)

Khatruman	26 Dec 2002
Ok, rather than playing the critic, and having shoved in my two cents worth, it is time to put my money where my mouth is. Here is my first rough attempt at tarot haiku. Note, if you use the haiku season symbolism, the first would be a winter poem, the second would be a summer poem: Face the Golden Sky White mountain cliff's sheer drop Just take one more step! Infinity's rays Hover atop mystic face. Thorns on red roses Did these in the space of a couple minutes, so I am sure they need a lot of work. Peace!

Khatruman	26 Dec 2002
Quote: Originally posted by ihcoyc On a square pillar, holding a torch upside down; is it hot in here? wonderful... great work!

Violet Gargoyle	27 Dec 2002
I can't make words fit in seventeen syllables for no good reason. Alright then: Everything ruined Feeling a bit of a draft from all of these holes.

Moongold	27 Dec 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Violet Gargoyle : Everything ruined Feeling a bit of a draft from all of these holes. 10 Swords? Moongold

Moongold	27 Dec 2002
Dreaming The tower falls I look up Gently drifting Through me Three swords In the dark night An old man's lantern Where are you? Moongold

Melvis	27 Dec 2002
Swords cut sleep to nines Nightmares steal hope, loose despair Lost in psyche's grasp One offers friendship Two share cups of warm spirits Three celebrate life Peace, Melvis :TSTRE

Moongold	27 Dec 2002
Beautiful, Melvis. Moongold

fairyhedgehog	28 Dec 2002
Bright angel pours forth Purest light from cup to cup One foot wet one dry

ihcoyc	28 Dec 2002
Sharp, fast, and cutting like a cold wind from the north; the mind awakens.

Moongold	28 Dec 2002
Hollow spirits stir White gums, dried grass, bush roses. Summer rain dancing. Women of the Cards I put out sacred gifts for thee - Fate picking flowers. Moongold

ihcoyc	28 Dec 2002
Drawn by two horses, hero, crowned with golden leaves: Caesar's back in town!

jmd	28 Dec 2002
.. I also just read through this great thread! Here's my attempt on the Tower: Square or circle Tower Its height asunder shattered: God's blesséd Will be! The shepherd, seeing awe Screams fear at their fated fall 'Under Tree save I!' By bolt lightning strikes The Crown by lust not Divine: Wrath, from sky by stones! 'God's House? I think not! False idols their worship call' A Parfait 's voice spoke. O Dear my life's changed: No more security felt, But freedom obtained!

Demonesse	15 Apr 2003
I thought this thread was really entertaining while it lasted - let's see if any more new aspirants to tarot poetry will let creative juices flow...:D

azuremariposa	15 Apr 2003
thank you, Demonesse, for resurrecting such a cool thread... unfortunately, it's quite early for me here...but here i go: pls excuse any spelling errors...;) gentle woman sits swirling seas spew emotions heart overflowing still she rests quiet gazes far ahead, knowing love will conquer all ~my beloved queen of cups~ and now back to bed...hehe many blessings... ~azure

galadrial	15 Apr 2003
Longing for your voice Feeling so far from home here Listening with cards.

Le_Corsair	23 Jun 2003
How about a couple of Haiku dedicated to decks? Pedestrian art; Atrocious, cross-hatched backs: It's Rider-Waite-Smith! and Twin Infinities Seventy-eight Masterworks: The New Palladini! Bob :THERM :SL

Baneemy	23 Jun 2003
Pieces of carboard make my decisions for me. That makes so much sense. -Baneemy

Trogon	25 Jun 2003
Thanks for resurrecting this thread just as I was feeling a little creative... :D 5 of Pentacles; From me, the sun hides Glitter of winter turns gray Outside, looking in But on a happier note - 9 of Pentacles; Woman of liesure smiles Her flights of fancy in hand Her garden enjoying

jmd	26 Jun 2003
Meanings all obscure 'till the Sun of the Sun shines, illuminating! From woodcut imprints the Marseille contains the keys unlocking all decks (:):):)) Shuffling and mixing all seventy-eight reach out unveiling the tasks...

Baneemy	07 Jul 2003
VI. His body is turned to his young love, but he sees that she will grow old. XV. Antlered devil laughs at slaves wearing antler-hats, twisted Mouseketeers. XXI. Jesus on his throne became a dancing woman. A happy omen. -Baneemy

Rhiannon	08 Jul 2003
Please, can you help me? I have so many questions. It's all in the cards! R :)

Moongold	09 Jul 2003
Look up Under Moonlight The Sun sleeps So much to ask Queen of Swords My tongue severed Death Touched with a finger One more time

jmd	09 Jul 2003
A Haiku doth have, as a reminder to give, five then two then five. But Moongold's poems, though Haiku they may not be, charmed insights worth gold! :):):)

Moongold	09 Jul 2003
Lost my rhyme Then the rhythm Syllables next Haiku-ism.. Strictly elegant Haiku Real poets Do eschew Syllables lost No rhyme no rhythm Bloddy hell Who will miss 'em? And another: Poet Manque :laugh: aka

Moongold	09 Jul 2003
Hanged Man The path has ended Quietly but stern time gives Peace inverted. I wait

Moongold	10 Jul 2003
Strength Redmaned I hold him will unmade. Falteringly primaeval, he purrs

Moongold	10 Jul 2003
Temperance Trembling she holds fast To Angel wings and soars through Darkness laughing. Joy!.

Moongold	10 Jul 2003
Hermit Moonlit snow falling You reach out, wrapping us In flames of inner love.

MattDouglas	11 Jul 2003
Alright, this one's obscure. Let's see if you can guess the card and deck. Such willing beauty He's fortunate though beastly NO WAIT, he despairs. And less obscure- the 2 of pentacles Robin Wood: What a dope I am To walk on this not tight rope Holding two huge stones I'll post more if I think of any. Matt

Moongold	11 Jul 2003
Death White bones jangle thinly. Though my smile is quite deranged I am not dead! Only changed.

Moongold	11 Jul 2003
Quote: Originally posted by MattDouglas Alright, this one's obscure. Let's see if you can guess the card and deck. Such willing beauty He's fortunate though beastly NO WAIT, he despairs. Matt Matt :D :D :D :D Strength?

Bryher	16 Jul 2003
2 of cups: from my heart to yours we make a world together our cups overflow

Bryher	16 Jul 2003
Judgement listen out at dawn can you here the silent sounds of angels riding

Bryher	16 Jul 2003
can anyone guess this one? godspeed you now is the time for action strike while the iron's hot

Bryher	16 Jul 2003
or this one? glory of the night for hope and inspiration ancient tranquil true Bright blessings, Bryher

Ivy Rhiannon	05 Jan 2004
Awesome thread Rhiannon! Let me try the Goddess Deck... *The Two of Swords She bears a sword pair Blinded by indecision Could she just let go? *Wisdom Goddesses wisdom A lotus does bloom a thought Shall we start within? Constructive critisism please!

The Tarot Haiku thread was originally posted on 20 Dec 2002 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.