{"product_id":"more-little-poems-keith-mccaughin-9798829188436","title":"More Little Poems: A Lifetime in Haiku-Like Milestones","description":"\u003cp\u003eFrom childhood through an over eighty-year lifetime these poems range from child-like to mature, stark to beautiful, grief to joy, and light to profound. The 42 new poems begin on page 48 and end on Page 59. There are a total of 275 haiku-like milestones each in as few as eleven and rarely as many as seventeen syllables. Each poem stands on its own. They are not intended to be read as connected to one another except that they are presented in approximate chronological order. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eI call these milestones because I stray from the traditional Japanese haiku rules in the following ways: \u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eForm is shortened to 11 syllables on 3 lines of 3-5-3 syllables each in order to approximate the traditional Japanese haiku 17 sounds on one line of 5-7-5 sounds with cutting letters, Kireji.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSeason words are optional not mandatory.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCapital letters and punctuation marks are eliminated to focus on sound and sense.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eForm follows function so alterations in form, capitalization and punctuation at times are made to emphasize sense over form.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eApostrophes of possessive and contraction are used when their absence might alter sense.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI do try to follow in Basho's spirit writing these milestones. Practically all translators, linguists, scholars, and leading haiku poets say and show that about 10 to 14 syllables in English is approximately equal to the 17 sounds in Japanese haiku. I chose a 3-5-3 syllable form of 11 syllables to maintain a balance with haiku in Japanese. Here is an example that illustrates my intention: Basho's famous \"Frog Pond\" haiku in Japanese 5-7-5 syllable form. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eFuru ike ya\u003cbr\u003ekawazu tobikomu\u003cbr\u003emizu no oto \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eA famous literal American English translation in 3-4-5 syllable lines by R.H. Blyth destroys the 5-7-5 balance of the original: \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe old pond;\u003cbr\u003eA frog jumps in -\u003cbr\u003eThe sound of the water. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eHere's my rather cheeky translation, or more correctly interpretation if you like, in 3-5-3 syllables that preserves the balance and more: \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003educkweed pond\u003cbr\u003efearless frog jumps in\u003cbr\u003eker-PLUNK-plunk \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eI think this is closer to Basho's intention for these reasons: \u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt emphasizes Basho's allusion to Wang Wei's classical Chinese poem \u003ci\u003eDuckweed Pond \u003c\/i\u003ewhich we westerner's might otherwise miss.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt describes the frog in terms we Westerners understand as the hero and his spiritual journey with the word \"fearless\" that recalls Don Quixote and Parsifal.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt uses the \"right\" words, which Basho recommends, using onomatopoeia in American English slang \"ker-PLUNK-plunk\" rather than Blyth's more literal \"best\" words translation \"the sound of water.\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt capitalizes the first \"PLUNK\" to visually simulate the louder sound of the first plunk.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnd it maintains an American English balance of 3-5-3 syllables to Japanese 5-7-5 sounds, \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e\"Genuine poetry can communicate before it is understood\" T.S.Eliot\u003c\/i\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eRemember the four levels of understanding: \u003cbr\u003e1. Literal: In a literal manner or sense; exactly what is said, written, or read.\u003cbr\u003e2. Similarity: Similar to, Symbolic of, metaphorical, figurative, representative, or emblematic of our condition.\u003cbr\u003e3. Tradition or Morality: Concerned with our societal or spiritual background.\u003cbr\u003e4. Universality: Oneness pertains to our universal condition. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eI hope you have fun reading these little poems slowly, aloud or in meditative silence. Please take some time before reading the next poem and allow it to sink in.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Keith McCaughin\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9798829188436\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Independently Published\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 05\/20\/2022\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 70\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.25lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.17d","brand":"Keith McCaughin","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48852065321215,"sku":"9798829188436","price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/more-little-poems-keith-mccaughin-9798829188436","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}