Stone carving workshops
In the sanctuary at the Long Table
Tuesday mornings throughout July
[no charge, except a request for charity sponsorship]
https://ride.myeloma.org.uk/james-pentney
Carving stone has been fundamental to human communication throughout history. One becomes engrossed in the work as we express ourselves with mallet and chisel. Creative on many levels, yet the tools needed are simple and portable, every part of a hand carved stone is the result of a ‘direct human process rooted in language, design and making’. This workshop is to initiate, support people and develop the skills by carving a lost haiku.
The wildlife illustrator and haiku poet, Paul Russell Miller, once asked the leading stone carver Tom Perkins what he would do if he did not have to work on commissions.
“Haiku,” Tom replied.
… Twentieth century haiku comes in many shapes and sizes… Its traditional form consists of a single seventeen-syllable line when written in Japanese or three lines of five, seven and five syllables for its English equivalent. Most of these minuscule poems were once inspired by moments of insight into the natural world, but increased urbanisation, selfie culture and virtual reality of various kinds are causing this focus to shift.
Haiku originated in Japan, where its roots can be traced back over a thousand years through the structure and content of earlier verse types as well as in the world views of Shinto and Buddhism. It’s ‘modern’ era began with the work of Matsuo Basho (1644 – 1694), a revered figure whose literary status in his home country is comparable to that of Shakespeare over here.
Following the opening-up of Japan in the late nineteenth century, writers from several countries discovered then started to translate or experiment with haiku, but the very particular climate of post-war 1950s America eventually proved the most conducive for its growth and spread. Today, haiku is a truly international poetic genre.
Written in an ever increasing number of countries and different languages and represented online and off by a wide variety of groups, events and publications. (PRM)
Our first haiku on the canal appeared on an upright sleeper beside the towpath between Bow Bridge and Griffin Mill.
What joy to receive
from each towpath dragonfly
it’s dismissive glance
For Paul a haiku must contain a reference to nature.
“Haiku can change the world,” he once said. Steady-on Paul I thought. What he meant was if we all had haiku awareness and respect for nature it would totally change the way the world is treated.
‘The heron’s lung’ was left twice on the Daneway, and twice disappeared!
Among evening reeds
the young heron’s lunge again
brings gentle nodding