Morris 1

Darriel Morris

ENG 223 Haiku

Dr. Laing

Reading Journal 4

July 20, 2020

Final Reading Journal

First Thoughts/Reaction

The last 40 pages of haiku have been bittersweet to come to an end but has provided an

insight into the world of Bashô and the art itself. There is a feeling of irony that this is the end of

the poetry, because many of the last poems also regarded themes of endings or closing a chapter.

Some of the poems have tones of despair and depression while others are hopeful and light. It

gives me more respect and appreciation for haiku to read so many different feelings that the poet

experienced. The way Bashô is able to convey his emotions and feelings into very few words is

timeless and insightful.

Vocabulary Words

 Kotatsu: A Japanese designed low, wooden table covered with a blanket upon which a

tabletop sits. Underneath is a heat source that can be built into the table or a charcoal

brazier.

o Many people sleep directly under the kotatsu as it provides a warm and

comfortable environment.
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 Karumi: Japanese term that translates to “lightness” and represents an aesthetic principle

used in haiku poetry.

o The childhood kids had a wonderful spirit of karumi and innocence.

Comparison of Two Translations

The final reading of the translated Bashô haiku contained many more intriguing poems

and one that resonated with me was, “sumi tsukanu / tabi no kokoro ya / okigotatsu”. This

translation is interesting because it appears that the translators are giving us as the reader an

opportunity to determine a meaning as well. By breaking down the full poem and advising what

each word translates to in English, we are able to also determine what Bashô intended. Takafumi

Saito and William R. Nelson’s interpretation of this poem is that there is a wandering heart of a

traveler and ends stating “a portable kotatsu”. Whereas Jane Reichhold wrote that never settling

down is the essence of travel, ending with “a makeshift heater”. The first mentioned poem led

me into researching into kotatsu and allowed a deeper understanding. Both translations speak

about the wonder of travel and the message of “home is where the heart is”. The poem is quite

beautiful and speaks to the adventurous nature one has while reassuring in having safety and

comfort wherever they go.

My Own Haiku

“Clear water droplets,

sinking deep into the roots -

that sprouts its enemy.”

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Comment About My Haiku (from checklist)

On the checklist it mentions that your poem should be about common, everyday events in

life and my haiku is meant to reflect on many different things. It could be interpreted to nature

and that once alive, it is the same thing that kills its own roots by dying. However, it could also

be related to comments received throughout one’s life that can create a self-hate or lack of self-

confidence. The wonderful thing about haiku and poetry in itself is that the beauty truly is in the

eye of the beholder and it is up to the reader to determine their own meaning.

Comment About Bashô Haiku (from checklist)

The haiku checklist states that a poem written from your own experience is always the

better way to go and to avoid making things up. While I do not know much about Bashô and his

personal history, I would only assume that the above poem about traveling came from his

personal memories. One could not truly capture the feeling of peace while exploring unless they

have experienced it themselves. The way that he conveys this message is done effortlessly and

with ease, further suggesting he has done this firsthand.

Reading Related to a Course Outcome

With the last week of readings, I have successfully begun to master the course outcome

of analyzing haiku. While there are common themes and suggested guidelines to follow, haiku

can be anything you want it to be and it not extremely restrictive. The different poems can

demonstrate that haiku is not always subject to a 5-7-5 rule and that haiku can be long, short,

about nature or about anything else. Analyzing haiku is a process that is starting to come to me

naturally when reading the poetry.

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Idea/Approach for Future Assignments

While the semester slowly comes towards an end, there are still more assignments to

complete in this class and others. The approach I plan to take is to be proactive and finish

everything early so that I have time to edit and revise as well. I want to avoid any feelings of

unnecessary stress and can do so by giving myself plenty of time. The more organized and

responsible I am, the more likelihood of overall success.