Zen Author Jon J. Muth on Haiku

Since I have chosen Haiku as my unfamiliar genre for the Unfamiliar Genre Project, the first Haiku author that came to my mind is Jon J. Muth.  He is a children's literature author and illustrator.  You may recognize the big cuddly and serene protagonist, Stillwater, who can be found in almost all his books.

When reading his book, Hi Koo!, I notice that his haiku poems usually speak of nature.  There is much imagery, albeit simple, short and sweet as haiku prescribes, they are potent and very stimulating for my imagination. They induce a feeling- peace, tranquility, being.  All very Zen, which makes perfect sense since Muth's stories are generally Zen inspired and infused.  I wonder if he ever wobbles, but then again, he must.  All writers have their wobble, no?  His finished work is definitely a product of flow.  As in Hi Koo!,  he is following Stillwater's little nephew who speaks in only haiku through the seasons.  What better cycle to flow through than the four familiar seasons.  So, do all haiku speak of nature? No, they mustn't. Do haiku come from a Zen perspective or philosophy.  This I have yet to find out.  

So, what is Haiku?

After looking on wikipedia, I read that Haiku is made up of three phrases.  There is a cutting between two subjects, or kiru, which creates a juxtaposition between the two ideas.  Traditionally haiku was Japanese, and written about nature or the seasons, but more modern Japanese haiku doesn't follow that tradition.  According to wikipedia, it is not meant to rhyme or to be using metaphor or similies.  I look forward to visiting the library and getting some other more credible sources on what haiku is.  But I think this is a good start. 

I think haiku would be a great genre for children to be playful with writing poetry.  It is brief, and it is mathematical, when it comes to how many syllables each phrase should have. This project will definitely benefit teaching haiku in the future.  This is going to be fun.