I learnt that dragonflies are
Into history
A haiku of sorts, though not really. It has the required three lines and 17 syllables, but then an English syllable doesn’t actually equal a Japanese “on” (or so my thorough research on Wikipedia informs me), so my haiku probably wouldn’t be accepted into the haiku society – you know, if there was such a society). Oh, well. It’s my first attempt, so bear over with me.
My stay in Japan in 2006 left many impressions on me – some good, some not so good. One of the memories I always will remember fondly is the outdoors study sessions late in the fall – sitting outside wearing t-shirts was unheard of for a Norwegian!
Towards the end of the summer the dragonflies got lazy and careless – and invasive. They settled in our hair, on our coffee cans (the majority of the coffee I consumed that fall came on cans from vending machines), and in our textbooks. Thus the above shot was made. I can’t say if it was coincidental, or if the dragonfly really was interested in Korean history.
23 comments:
Excellent, I have never been able to write a good haiku... tried yes but no luck so far.
Another good post. good to read.
Yvonne.
I'm sure there is a haiku society just as I'm sure there is a dragonfly society. Aussie dragonflies are more skittish...or maybe they are only skittish around me? ;)
My kids had to write Haiku at school, as I did a squillion years ago. Perhaps it's an Australian school thing?
I should have written this as a haiku. sounds more interesting than cooking ;)
Hi for all the wonderful support you have given me there is a little something on my post Friday the 13th for you.
Yvonne
I love dragonfly's we get giant ones in NZ and they're pretty cool :) They sound like mini helicopters
Thank you for this haikulubrious artifact.
“A Norwegian sitting outside wearing t-shirts” – Now that’s historical! It had me in asterisks.
Please excuse any spelling and word usage mistakes. I don’t seem to be able to find my roding glorses rite now and my dictionary has fonted off anyway.
Thanks for another excellent post.
All the best, Boonsong
Ah, but the firefly
likes doing mathematics
and calls "Fall" AUTUMN.*
* (as it should be)
I actually really like the HAIKU and you cover the needed expectations for one too. Great one.
CD
Your picture of the dragonfly is so cool. I love its shadow cast on the pages of the book. That itself is a haiku to me.
Nice anecdote.
Cheers!
He looks huge, too.
Your haiku is great, and easily acceptable into the society. If not, I've got some mafiosi relatives who could convince them. Just kidding! :/
I love dragonflies. If I ever get another tattoo (which I don't think I will, but everyone insists I'll change my mind) it would be a dragonfly. Maybe it should be reading Korean history.
Dragonflies are good karma. B
Yvonne - with your poetry I find that hard to believe! And thank you so much for the lovely award! I'll display it proudly :)
Lynda - the Japanese ones were skittish too, but once winter arrived they forgot that they were skittish...
Sue - haha, I love that! All Aussies are educated haiku writers! Are there many haikus on wombats and kangaroos? ;)
Nicole - oh, wow. These weren't that big, and I can't remember if they made any particular sounds. Maybe they sung a dragonfly song?
Boonsong - no, no, thank YOU for entertaining comments, as always! Good luck in finding your roding glorses...
Mark - tee hee, I agree, autumn it is, but fall has fewer syllables...
Clarissa - yay! Thank you :)
Claudia - thank you. I was really pleased with it. I fouund Japanese insects were much more photogenic than Norwegian ones...
Alex - they were certainly bigger than Norwegian ones, that's for sure.
Rosie - yay! I'm in the society! If I ever have an urge to join the limerick society, I'll call your relatives ;)
And Korean history is actually pretty interesting. I seriously considered writing my thesis within that field, but then the Middle East snatched me away.
Barabara - they are? Nice!
Dragonfly Society. Sounds like a book title!
Nice haiku, and the picture to go along with it was cool; he must be a wise ol' dragon.
Amanda is right about that title!
I love the time of year when dragonflies 'get lazy' as you say. Our faves are the blue-green ones. :)
gorgeous picture! and not a bad haiku either. I tend to suck at those... :D
I LOVE dragonflies. I miss the bright blue ones we had in Idaho. I wonder if their external color is the same as the color of their blood, like with real dragons. *shifty*
And Americans have to write Haiku in school too. The same year of elementary school as we study Japan. I want to say 3rd grade, but that seems too young.
Amanda - or maybe he was a North Korean spy! I never thought of that before.... (Which could be the theme of said book...)
Michelle - those are my favourites as well, but I can't remember seeing (and certainly not photographing) any in Japan.
Leigh - thank you :)
Tami - and do you think there are 12 uses for dragonfly blood? One of which is to use as disguise for when you want to turn yourself into a chair to avoid a job offer?
Great post and picture. I love dragonflies, although I've only ever seen one or two at a time, never more.
Hey, Cruella, you've been tagged for something on my blog so, check that out! Please and thank you!
Oh, and write on!!
That's a beautiful photo. We used to have many dragonflies in our back yard because they loved living around our fish ponds. I don't like very many bugs, but dragonflies and butterflies are groovy with me. - G
Hi Cruella,
I like what you wrote, the mood it evoked. This has started to happen, here where I live. The summer heat has driven the dragonflies, into this haphazard manner. I love the photo; I took a pic of one on a rose the other day. I love how their wings glisten in the sun. I am reminded of the foolish dragonfly
theories. Swear and they will sew your mouth shut was in a Charlie Brown book of my youth. A friend told or showed us this; it altered our summer. We ran from them, scared and screaming~
Then one brave friend, started swearing, to see what would happen;
Nothing! Those dreaded dragonflies no longer discouraged our summer fun.
Debs - thank you. They came in hoards in Japan!
Vatche - ooo, exciting! I will post that once I get the chance :)
Georgina - those are my favourite bugs too. And ladybirds.
Ellie - no wonder you were scared. It is funny, because the Norwegian name for a dragonfly is "øyenstikker", which means "eye stinger". Many Norwegian kids have been scared of dragonflies because we thought they could poke our eyes out!
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