For Real Toads: Grace's haiku challenge

Grace has told me more than I ever wanted to know about haiku, but I'm glad she did. Today's challenge for the members and for those who care to make a submission to Imaginary Garden with Real Toads, is to write haiku using the key ingredients: a seasonal reference (kigo) and a cutting word or turning point (kireji).

Wikipedia photo

© Photo by Kay Davies, our yard, 2011

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haru meku is

the lilting japanese phrase

for the signs of spring—

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the word sakura

meaning blossoms of cherry

is a sign of spring—

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song of kawazu

is the chirping of the frogs—

a sure sign of spring

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Then Grace blew me out of the water by saying haiku doesn't always mean 17 syllables (5, 7, 5) in each 3-line verse. It doesn't?

No, apparently the number 17 came from the 17 on or sound units in the original Japanese haiku,

but these 17 on ふるいけやかわずとびこむみずのおと 

or sound units, equal only 12 English syllables. However, here is the translation:

"old pond...

a frog leaps in

water's sound"

So, the resulting haiku in English is 2, 4, 3, which doesn't add up to either 17 or 12, but only 9, so I am confused. Not for long, though. I did three 17-syllable haiku with a common thread, and now I'll try some 9- and 12-syllable verses.

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Wikipedia photo

hana,

japanese blossoms,

are sweet

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haru,

the japanese spring,

is warm

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therefore,

the japanese heart

is pleased

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melting snow

might mean spring is coming—

Canada

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growing shoots

are frozen in the night—

not spring yet

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sunshine days

all over Canada—

spring at last

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© Photo by Richard Schear, our yard, 2010