University students were among those exploring and engaging in the traditional Japanese poetic form, haiku, at a recent workshop hosted by the UWI Centre for Language Learning. The workshop was the result of a collaboration between the Centre and the regional Japan Foundation.
Local and international haiku poets showcased their work during a workshop at the Centre for Language Learning at The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, on Saturday.
Those in attendance were immersed in the traditional Japanese poetic form, known for its simplicity, precision and connection to nature and everyday life.
Ambassador of Japan to Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Akima Umezawa commended the UWI Centre for Language Learning and the Japan Foundation Mexico on the workshop, noting its profound depth.
“Composing three lines of five syllables, seven syllables, sounds simple, but in practice it’s so challenging, especially for me whose native language is not English, but in the meantime it’s definitely a demanding intellectual exercise.”
Renowned poet Emiko Miyashita facilitated the workshop and its interactive practical component, which saw attendees create their own pieces. She also shared some of her poems.
“The return postcard from Glen Cove, New York, an autumn butterfly, the return postcard from Glen Cove, New York an autumn butterfly, meron peravit, the day’s perfect bloom in the French window, meron prevait the day’s perfect bloom in the French window.”
Published author, retired library assistant, and local poet Gillena Cox also recited one of her publications.
“Bird songs including the rooster’s crow, again dawn. Rainy day the shift of a bookmark between pages, rainy day the shift of a bookmark between pages… audience claps.”
After absorbing the fundamentals, participants took centre stage and strung together their first haiku.
“Land of seas and sun, doubles, callalloo, pelau, people, live as one”