Haiku and sustainability

What is haiku?

Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry that traditionally consists of three lines. The first and third lines contain five syllables, while the second line contains seven syllables.

The subject matter of haiku poetry often focuses on nature, seasons, and the passing of time. In addition to these traditional themes, contemporary haiku may address a wide range of subjects, including human emotions and experiences, current events, and everyday life. Haiku typically seeks to convey a sense of immediacy and a momentary impression or observation.

Haiku usually contains a seasonal word, conveys a vivid image, and cutting words that give strategic pauses in the poem.

Zenbird Media may not be a media about poetry, but we do see the mindsets of sustainability in many haikus. Remember that the circular economy of ancient Japan, Circular Edonomy (https://zenbird.media/circular-edonomy-japans-successful-circular-economy-400-years-ago/), was successful because of sustainable mindsets. So much so, they permeated throughout Japan’s arts and culture.

Perhaps the most outstanding would be the interconnectedness between human beings and nature. In this Anthropocene, when human beings think themselves above nature, may these haiku remind us how we are a part of a natural system and how we should treasure and love it.

“A world of dew” by Matsuo Basho

A world of dew,
And within every dewdrop
A world of struggle.
– Matsuo Basho

This haiku speaks to the relationship between humans and nature by highlighting the interconnectedness and fragility of both. The image of a world of dew is fleeting and ephemeral draws parallel to how much it is like human life and existence. Meanwhile, the world within every dewdrop represents the struggle for survival and the constant battle for existence that occurs in nature.

Basho’s haiku suggests that the struggles and conflicts that exist within nature are not separate from those experienced by humans. By drawing attention to the world within each dewdrop, Basho suggests that even the smallest and seemingly insignificant parts of nature are teeming with life and struggle. This implies that humans should not take nature for granted and should work to maintain a symbiotic relationship with it.

The interconnectedness of all things in nature and the importance of respecting and caring for the environment matters today. We think about the resources on the planet that we are so deeply dependent on, but at the same time we don’t take care of them. Like deforestation in Amazon, where trees are the best carbon sequestration systems in the world, are being removed for short-term profit. In turn, it hurts ecosystems and human beings. We need to bring the appreciation for nature back by realizing our link with it.

”The sea darkens” by Yosa Buson

The sea darkens;
the voices of the wild ducks
are faintly white.
– Yosa Buson

This haiku describes a scene of the sea darkening, likely as the sun sets or a storm approaches. In the midst of this changing environment, the voices of wild ducks can be heard, albeit faintly. The contrast between the dark sea and the faint white voices of the ducks creates a sense of peacefulness and harmony in nature.

The haiku suggests that despite the changes and challenges that occur in the natural world, such as the sea darkening or storms approaching, there is still beauty and harmony to be found. The faint white voices of the wild ducks serve as a reminder that nature is ever-present and resilient, even in the face of change and uncertainty.

Like the previous haiku, Buson’s poem reminds us of our connection with nature. But you also realize the delicate balance between us and it, highlighting the importance of appreciating and respecting the natural world around us. The reminder of how we are a part of nature can be thought of in a number of ways, like how often we expect nature to be tamed, how nature should be held in reverence, and how we can co-exist with different aspects of nature.

”From the withered tree” by Moritake Arakida

From the withered tree,
A flower blooms, and returns
Back to the branch.
– Moritake Arakida

This haiku by Moritake Arakida describes the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. The image of a flower blooming from a withered tree represents the idea of new life emerging from something that has died or is dying. The flower then returns back to the branch, which represents the cycle of nature and the concept of reusing or recycling. The haiku suggests that life is an ongoing process of transformation and renewal, and that death is not the end but a part of a larger cycle of rebirth. Overall, the haiku celebrates the beauty and resilience of nature and the idea of new beginnings.

Nature is circular, and thus sustainable. If you really think about it, nature has evolved over billions of years to the point where there is no such thing as waste. They are rebirthed into something new, creating a new cycle. That is the vision that a circular economy wants to achieve, to take our wasteful and unsustainable linear consumption, close the loop, and circulate resources back into use.