Two Haiga with Steve Veasey
Poem + picture + juxtaposition = haiga
What is Haiga?
Haiga, in its simplest form, is a combination of a picture and a poem (in this case, a haiku). But, with the picture/poetry combinations we typically encounter on the internet, the two usually complement each other. The image serves as a visual representation (with some interpretation) that depicts the image created by the words of the poem.
What makes haiga different is the juxtaposition between the image and the haiku. Poet Michael Dylan Welch puts it this way:
Just as haiku succeeds by creating space and energy in the relationship of its two juxtaposed parts, haiga creates interest through the “leap” or even disjunction between the poem and the painting (the painting is typically not just an illustration of the poem, nor is the poem a caption for the image).
This is what Steve and I tried to stay true to in our collaboration. For the first haiga, I sent Steve the haiku and illustrated the image. He sent me the image for the second one, and I wrote the haiku.
As with any haiku and visual art, we encourage you to take your time. Read it slowly, study the image, and sit with them.
About Steve Veasey
Steve is an illustrator and author (and a friend) from British Columbia, Canada.
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I loved this haiga! I think the principle of the poem not being a caption for the image and the image not just being a direct illustration of the poem is exactly what I try and capture with my poetry comics. I love the tension between seeing two related, but different, stories being shared in the image and the poem! Steve's book looks interesting! I'm going to check it out!