about the haiku novel
Bashô, Issa, and the other Japanese masters of haiku liked to mix prose and verse together in a part true-to-life, part fictionalized genre known as haibun. The haiku novel is a further mixture: stirring together Eastern haibun and Western novel: Bashô meets Vonnegut.
Like the haibun of Old Japan, the haiku novel is artlessly artful: not polished or contrived, not taking itself too seriously. It's natural, spontaneous, and fun—a mélange of humor, philosophy, action, reflection, and, of course, haiku.
The haiku novel requires of its readers two ways of reading, two minds. The Western mind flows forward, following the linear progression of prose, of story. But every now and then a haiku appears on the page like a boulder in a stream, and the Eastern mind kicks in, slows down, meditates ... appreciates.
chewing their gum
in rhythm
old couple
See what I mean? Did you slow down, switch minds?
In my own haiku novels, Haiku Guy, Laughing Buddha, and works in progress; I include the historical Issa ("Cup-of-Tea") as a character, along with a fictitious crew of disciples: Mido, the Poet in Green; Kuro, the Poet in Black; Shiro, the Poet in White; and Buck-Teeth, who wears no particular color. I let each story tell itself, sprinkling in haiku here and there, and hope for the best.
Since writers write the kind of books they would like to read, I'd love to see more haiku novels published. So if you're a story-teller with one foot in the world of haiku, why not give it a try? Let's start a literary movement!
Also by David G. Lanoue...Kobayashi Issa Archive