Haiku: Guided Practice

Guided Practice

The Sea Shell Game

Which is more beautiful?

For centuries the Japanese have taught aesthetic awareness by playing a game where two objects are compared to each other to see which is more beautiful or pleasing. This game of comparison was also used to teach poetry, and in 1672, Basho published a book called the Sea Shell Game that featured works from the Hokku contests that he supervised.

In the game, two students submit their work to a master poet. The master poet then picks the stronger work and explains the merits of the better one. This game is still popular in some haiku circles today, and playing it is a good way to hone your aesthetic judgment about haiku.

Read the following two haiku, then indicate which you think is the better poem.

Hint: If you need help, go back and review the key points page.

Poem 1	Poem 2
Nights are getting cold... not a single insect now attacks the candle	Piled for burning, dead brushwood, looking skyward winter beckons us

Which poem is stronger?

Here are two more haiku for you to look at. Neither of these poems adhere to the Japanese format of 17 syllables, so don't judge by that. Look for other things that would indicate whether or not they are a true haiku.

Poem 3	Poem 4
A dog barking at a peddler's cart It's almost supper	In the summer rain the path has disappeared

Which poem is stronger?

If you would like to play the sea shell game by submitting your own poems, visit the the aha poetry site: http://www.ahapoetry.com/shelgame.htm