The Art of High Coo (An Emerging Form of Short Poetry Similar to Haiku)

"Higher Coo" is a not the right spelling of the regular type. The standard type is spelled "haiku". It's a Japanese poetry type with a certain arrangement of syllables. "Higher Coo" is a play on this word, and in the opinion of this writer, an emerging style in and of itself.

I began writing "Higher Coo" in the late 80's and upon publishing them identified that I was not alone in this invention. I had been seeking for an sufficient "genre" label for what had turn into my blatant disregard for syllable count while writing brief type poetry. No matter whether it be a fascination with fitting as considerably as attainable into a modest space (like packing the trunk of a automobile just before a road trip), or the sheer joy of capturing one thing profound and essential in a quite handful of words, this form of poem continues to be my favored.

Extremely honestly, it really is one thing that takes place all by itself. What does not, correct? I will normally crawl out of bed in the middle of the evening just to scribble down a handful of words on the closest piece of paper. Get in touch with them mantras or a koan or what ever you will, they carry a certain energy.

I can love the discipline that comes with the syllable structure of regular haiku, but for me a clear understanding of one thing captured in a handful of words is what it's quite about. I say "syllable schmyllable" and practice the art of simplicity-in-language and honesty-of-practical experience without the need of any strict type.

Regardless of whether it be by reflecting on some thing in nature, or by reflecting on some thing in my own knowledge, poems with just a couple of words in them can extremely hit the spot. As a reader, I am normally thankful for a poem that is digestible in length, and gets to the point. Extended pretentious poems put on me out immediately.

The path to "enlightenment" or just feeling the most effective we can about life, will have to necessarily be by means of own development-traversing lots of moments exactly where misunderstanding transforms into understanding. Haiku, "Higher coo" or any other kind of concise testament is generally a chronicle of these transitions. There is a particular beauty in recorded revelation, and it's normally expressed concisely. Truth has a strange simplicity to it No matter whether it really is mine, yours or universal.

"Higher" (uplifting, aspiring) "Coo" (innocent, spontaneous muttering) is the best name for this form of poem. Soon after thirty years of writing and scribbling, it's undeniably the art type that comes most all-natural to me. My guess is that it comes as organic to quite a few other individuals. Practically all of my poetry is this brief and would consequently fall into this category of poetry.

Here are a handful of examples:

Ouroboros
by the time you finish
producing your point
it will be the identical
as every person else's

Shetland
her dog smiled
even if she
could not bring herself

Higher Coo Kerpoo
Higher coo kerpoo
massive bang two
and the
nuclear arms race
is more than

Contemplation Requires the Gold
do you feel it is achievable
that staring at the ceiling
will ever grow to be
an Olympic occasion?

I have identified that reworking these all-natural pieces to fit a syllable-per-line strict type frequently robs them of their inherent worth and all-natural unity. Just after all, this haiku-ization can only be achieved by way of a deliberate-de-liberate (not liberated) work. Let's face it; part of the joy of writing "Higher coo" is in the expression of irreverence for the classic type. Most of what the Muses drop into my head has an angle that is really Zen-like in its joy and playfulness- laughter at the absurdity of the concepts that we fall prey to so conveniently.

The joy in this witnessing of inspired arrangements (by way of Muses) is doubled by the prevailing amusement for more than the course of action of own development (as in "How I might have previously believed otherwise?). Struck by the clarifying insight, and nevertheless giggling with delight more than the freedom from one a lot more mental shackle, the words nonetheless buzzing their narration drive me towards the nearest pen and paper.

On whose authority will this kind of poetry be officially recognized? Let's hope it is not quickly, for the reason that with it will come a homogenized version. It may perhaps then seem on cereal boxes, and marketing campaigns. Let's love its obscurity whilst we nonetheless can.

Benjamin is an author of each material on holistic healing, and poetry. Though he isn't writing or meditating, he is cooking, operating, relaxing at a regional cafe, or spending time with his household. His research involve holistic medicine, psychology, sacred geometry, taoism, and zen. He has been writing for more than thirty years, and it remains his passion. Verify out his Higher Coo poetry at http://www.highcoo.com or his brief Zen Poems at [http://www.brief-zen-poems.com/]. With each other these web sites function more than 700 brief type poems, all free to read and take pleasure in.