Tropical Haiku Poems Describe Nature's Essence.

Would you like to learn how to write haiku poems? What are they? Haikus are a traditional form of Japanese poetry, which usually employs three lines, totalling seventeen syllables.

Ideally, they are a detailed observation about nature and the seasons, written in the present tense and involving the senses.

Subjects should have a lightness or springiness – like a blade of grass that bounces because an insect has just landed on it!

This type of poem also helps to focus an artist’s thoughts on a subject and to find its “essence”. It is in tune with the Buddhist idea of being “in the moment”.

Because our tropical climate has no real seasons (except Wet and less wet!) this makes the composition of this disciplined artform more challenging.

This form of poetry seem to come naturally to Frieda van Aller, as she meditates, walks on the beach or tends her responsive garden. Frieda, trained as a teacher in her native Holland, later travelled extensively in Asia, particularly in India, where she lived for some years in monasteries.

To her surprise, life then took a complete change of direction when she married an Australian fisherman, Colin, and fished the waters off North Queensland with him for twenty years. The couple now lives in Port Douglas, running their relaxed and successful B&B accommodation business.

Haikus from Far North Queensland describe fleeting moments.

It's as though a tiny moment in time is captured in these haiku poems from Far North Queensland.

These are Frieda's observations of nature, coming to mind as, in tune with her daily surroundings of beach, jungle and lush, walled garden, she delights as new rainforest flowers and sprays of orchids appear.

The four mile long stretch of beach across from her home is reached by a sandy path, winding through the jungle, where she often is surprised by glimpses of nature that others may not even notice.

The beach itself is an ever-changing panorama of sky, sand and sea creatures with fiery tropical sunsets, soft early morning light revealing faint footprints in the sand or a build-up of dark clouds about to burst with rain, all offering a kaleidoscope of moods.

These haiku poems are presented for your enjoyment and will be added to regularly - so please come back often!

Fleeting Moments in Far North Queensland by Frieda van Aller

the morning still dark we surprise each other - I green frog, wide awake

just after high tide no footprints, just mine behind one morning glory

silver fish in sea does not know of the kestrel hungry on its perch

such age-old image fisherman silhouetted early morning sea

neat, freshly raked path not long before new leaves fall and footprints appear

the scent of jasmine lingers in the morning breeze when light grows stronger

this early morning small lizards stretch, start moving a place in the sun

If you would like to see more of Frieda's haikus, please bookmark this page - or use the very convenient RSS feed, as explained on the navigation bar.

By arrangement, as part of Artquest Port Douglas, Frieda will usually be available to hold sessions on constructing haiku poems. Some artists consider that this activity helps them to focus on an aspect of their art practice, particularly if it involves the observation of nature - which it should.

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