• 25 May 2013
    /Michal
    The dream like puzzle
    or other way around all
    pieces scattered
  • 25 May 2013
    /elisa
    You don`t have to die
    to get to the paradise
    if you`ve a garden.
  • 24 May 2013
    /Gavin
    A day of meetings,
    crispy crunch at Oban's house,
    then it's campaign time!
  • 24 May 2013
    /TiffanyC
    at a good distance
    perpectives become clearer;
    spectacular space.
  • 23 May 2013
    /JamieWimberly
    Like a child afraid
    Before crest of wave unbroken
    Crosswalk on yellow.
  • 24 May 2013
    /Michal
    Friend hurt on life line
    with misunderstood concept
    life out of balance
  • 24 May 2013
    /elisa
    Your fear scares me
    it irritates the harmony
    I want us to feel free
  • 23 May 2013
    /Gavin
    Long drive to Yorkshire
    broken by a long coffee
    and chat with my Dad :)
  • 23 May 2013
    /ReadingPleasure
    His dagger-like words
    Pierce through my weak arteries
    And oh! How I bleed
  • 23 May 2013
    /TiffanyC
    late Easter cactus
    blooming alone on the shelf;
    none too Orthodox.
  • 23 May 2013
    /Moana
    I'll get to come home to you
    and everyday things
    uncommonly new
  • 23 May 2013
    /Michal
    Bridge over crossways
    changes that are to happen
    born under same stars
  • 23 May 2013
    /annymary
    cold rains down outside,
    brushing the port hills wool buds
    they untangle me

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What is haikuary?

The term 'haikuary' is a blend of the words 'haiku' and 'diary'. Haiku is a short form of poetry, originating in Japan a few centuries ago.

Haiku normally contain 3 lines totalling 17 syllables, in the order of 5 / 7 / 5

Matsuo Basho, Japan's most famous writer of haiku, will illustrate the form:

Wrapping dumplings in
bamboo leaves, with one finger
she tidies her hair

A simple and beautiful glimpse into a flake of his life.

Here it is again, broken down:

Wrapp-ing dump-lings in (5 syllables)
bam-boo leaves, with one fin-ger (7 syllables)
she tid-ies her hair (5 syllables)

Why did I do it?

I was sitting with a friend in a Japanese restaurant in Auckland, New Zealand. Whilst waiting for our food I wrote a haiku on a paper placemat. It was something about noodles jumping into my belly and that we shall be good friends.

My friend suggested that this kind of simple poetry would benefit the children in her class and help them reflect on their day-to-day lives. I agreed and decided to create something online that would enable that, for everyone.

Taking time to reflect on the tiny and often forgotten moments in our daily lives can be cathartic and it's amazing what you can capture when limited to just 17 syllables; it focuses the mind.

But haikuary is not about Poking and 'I Like This!' so feel free to switch on 'private mode' (in your settings area) and keep your writings personal, or share them with the community and inspire others.

Why the invitations?

This was never going to be a giant project, and I wanted to ensure that the humans creating their daily haiku were here for the right reason; to take time out, to reflect. I believe that word of mouth, friends inviting friends, tends to be the best way of achieving this.

It also makes it a little special.

And it's yours

Whilst this is a great place to write and centralise your haikuary from anywhere you have an internet connection, you should ideally download your writings as often as possible.

I will do my best to ensure your haikuary entries are safe, but we all know how technology can let us down. Personally, I download my haikuary at least once a week. Go to the menu inside your account (top right hand corner) and select Download as PDF - I have designed it to look like an old book, so it's a really nice thing to keep and read over in the future.

Thanks for sharing

I hope you enjoy adding to your haikuary every day. If you think you know someone who may also enjoy taking a small amount of time every day to create their own, then please send them an invite (it's in the menu at the top right corner, when you're logged in)

If you have any suggestions of how I can improve things, please get in touch.

All mi fondest,
Gavin Blowman

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Contact

If you have any questions or suggestions, please email me,





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