What is a haiku?
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A haiku is a short form poem. Originating in Japan, the style, format and formality of haiku have been developed, some might say corrupted, by poets and writers across the world. On this website I have written haiku – 100 in all – using what is arguably the most common format: a short poem consisting of three lines, the first line containing five syllables, the second containing seven syllables and the last containing five. An example might be:
I walked up Skiddaw
and gazed at Derwentwater–
a wondrous moment
Why the Lake District?
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Despite its distance from my home, the English Lake District has been a part of my life for over thirty years. In that time I have visited on forty occasions, walked up and down many fells, taken many photographs and read many books about the area. My knowledge of Lakeland is modest compared with many others’, but I have come to know and love the fells, towns, villages, dales, water and people of the Lake District to an extent where they have become an important part of my life. Perhaps they have for you, too.
why so this beauty?
the farming community!
–awe cultivators
This website
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As a person generally of few words, I chose haiku as a means of saying something about this wonderful place. Adopting a fairly ‘loose’ style – I’m more of a walker than a writer – I was inspired by pleasant memories, my photographs, and the advice of others from my bookcase. (And yes, occasionally Google.)
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Speaking of the words of others . . .
this is overdue . . .
Wainwright, Birkett and Rebanks–
thanks for your wise words
Enjoy the website – thanks for visiting. The photos are there simply to break up the text a little, not to illustrate its content.
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If you want to contact me for any reason – I’m quite friendly – you can do so by emailing lance@lakedistricthaiku.com or by using the form on the Contact page.
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Lance Strawson
Devon, UK
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P.S. Those who have ever visited the Lake District and spent a day walking on the fells may recognise themselves in a sonnet called The Fellwalker's Day.