Pure Haiku

Recently I had a number of my haiku rejected from a specialist magazine that only publishes haiku. The reason given was that my haiku were too traditional! 

When I stopped laughing in disbelief I examined the samples of what is now accepted as haiku written in the English language. To me, they had ceased to be haiku. The reason given as to why the traditional syllabic structure of 5-7-5 is no longer necessary, is that writers of English find it hard to achieve. 


Um, if you're wordsmith, then surely you're always aiming to aspire and conquer new forms of writing? At least, that's what I do! If it doesn't succeed the first time, throw it away and try again!

Now, I know that many other magazines still accept haiku written in the traditional form and I actually have no problem with this new form of haiku. My point is that if it is not traditional haiku, then surely it should be given another name? Also, why reject the traditional form completely? Surely that is throwing the baby out with the bath water!

The result of all this is that I have taken the plunge and started up a second blog called Pure Haiku. In it I will endeavour to write traditional haiku (5-7-5 syllabic structure) and I would like to build up a network with other people who think the same way as I do. 

So, if you enjoy writing traditional haiku, please pop in and say hello and let me know what your website / blogsite link is. Even if you don't write haiku but are interested in something different, I look forward to meeting you. 

There isn't much on the blogsite yet as I've only just created it. But I look forward to preserving a beautiful poetic form by demonstration and invite you join me.