The country of Croatia shown by Haiga from Croatian authors.

 

Every week we present one haiga by a Croatian author/authors. You are welcome to send three of your unpublished photo-haiga, size 2000 pixels on the longer side of your photograph to the Editor: dvrozic@gmail.com

On your haiga please note the name of the author/authors. Please write the Haiku in Croatian and in your e-mail message you may give the Editor its version in English. Also, in several sentences please let us know how this particular haiga was created.

the city center –
a friendly wakeup call
not giving up

In the coastal area, it is not unusual for a seagull to become a tame and friendly window visitor. But, when you witness it by yourself while passing by, then it’s an image you remember for a long time. In this case, a gull was tenderly but persistently knocking at the window for some time, inviting that way the tenant to finally wake up, and offer it its belated October brunch.

Mihovila Čeperić-Biljan

In my memories
house of my childhood safe
from the ravages of time

Visiting the mueseum „Old Village“ in Kumrovec, the Croatian Zagorje region, revives my memories of the childhoold and black and white photos of a cottage where had my ancestors lived. While the old houses in the ethno village Kumrovec have been fixed up and well preserved according to monument protection measures, the house of my forebears, its appearance alike those preserved huts has been demolished and another object built on its spot.
Nevertheless, neither the ravages of time nor targeted demolition have erased it from my memory. Like its photograph, it is safe from decadence within me.

Grozdana Drašković

 …

counting the pumpkins ̶
children measure the lenght
of the sunbeams

This kind of sunbeams we may often see in the autumn fields. When I was a child, we were arranging the gourds into lines, then carry them to the trailer and drive them home.Village yards were full of sunbeams.
Today, an engine removes the seeds from the pumpkins.
Taking care of the autumn fruits and storing them at home by hands became only a memory. Even today, this joyful work arouses pride within me.

Silva Trstenjak

 …

ferry enters the port …
locals bring their scales
on the pier

I adore ships … This photograph was taken during summer in Dalmatia where I enjoyed watching the ships. To me, watching the boat entering the harbour is a very special experience. To the island, everything arrives by boats: fresh bread, newspapers, medicine … and people as well. Besides taking over the goods, some trading takes place there, as well. That particular morning, the arriving ferry reminded me of an old fashioned scale.

Vito Kovačević, 6.r.
OŠ Vežica, Rijeka
Mentorica: Mihovila Čeperić-Biljan, prof.

First day of school
thoughts still
on the holidays

Holidays are an unfailing theme of my pupils at the beginning of the school year in September. With joy they talk about their impressions and experiences, impatiently they interrupt each other’s stories. While they speak about their memories of being at the seaside, my thoughts are enriched by their still fresh images of the sea, as well.
A seagull gazing into the distance reminds me of the feeling most of us experience at the time we leave the seaside – sadness for leaving and yet remembrance of a nice time on holiday.

Grozdana Drašković

About haiga

A photo-haiga consists of two art forms, haiku and a photograph. It is important for your haiku not to describe the photograph, nor should it create any misunderstanding. Haiku and the photograph should complement each other and depict an atmosphere of sincerity, buoyancy and depth, creating a piece of art which is more valuable than each separate expression. You need to explore reality and move away from the expected poetical clichés. Be original.

In the spirit of sume-e painting, let your haiku and photography be free of any redundancy. Empty space is important. Explore and take several photographs of the item of your interest until you achieve something especially good. Let your choice of photograph speak of poetry. Take care about choosing the font with which you will write the haiku concerning your photograph. Try several different fonts until you have no obtrusive connection of the letters (shape, colour and size) with the photograph and mood of your art work.

In your haiku do not be a slave to the form of 5-7-5 syllables at the expense of the literary quality of the poem, avoid adjectives. Remember, kigo impersonates the transience of everything and denotes constant changes of everything alive. Only one kigo is allowed in your haiku. Be short and clear, use simple words understandable to each average educated reader. Unfamiliar words may be wrongly interpreted and draw the attention away from such a short poem. While your reader looks up a word in a dictionary, your haiku has lost his/her attention. Remember, haiku is complementary with our rushed, everyday lives. It is clear and short and may be read on sight. It of course hides a story to be thought about.

Try to connect your poem with the photograph in the best possible way. Create several haiga and edit them until you attain the best results. Take care about the main postulates in fine arts. Lay aside your haiga for some time and then return to them several days later. It will be easier to pick the best work. Or, you will create an even better one in a new attempt.