Ironically, the first haiku of Gurga's that captured my attention was not about the country, but something that is a honored tradition in my hometown; Christmas Pageants.
Christmas pageant—
the one who had to get married
plays virgin Mary
Gurga, Fresh Scent, 102
I found this haiku while flipping through the pages of Fresh Scent in class shortly after receiving it. I had to read this haiku twice before the beauty of these three lines sunk in. The first line "Christmas Pageant" evokes beauty in the mind of the reader. Anyone who has ever been in and/or attended a Christmas Pageant can see the beauty of this statement. Those attending are dressed in fancy clothes reserved for the special holiday. Songs and bible readings specially reserved for the Holiday season are read, and trees are strung with cheerful lights and dazzling ornaments dripping from every branch.
The second line "the one who had to get married" introduces something mysterious into the pre-conceived beauty of the haiku. Gurga turns the mood from carefree and joyous to shock. Readers can picture the shocked expressions of those in attendance as they take note of the girl who "had to get married," some of which are most likely wondering why she is there. Gurga then delivers a final shock to readers with his closing line "plays virgin Mary." This final appeal to reader's emotion completes the beauty of the haiku bringing it full circle. I can picture a young girl who found her place in the church through a mistake. A girl who was courageous enough to marry the father of her baby and carry out the pregnancy. Now she is the one playing the special role of Mary in the Christmas pageant. Gurga allows readers to form their own image of the reaction of the audience, some would picture it as a total shock, and some would form the image of whispers rippling through those there to watch the pageant.
Gurga does an excellent job of conveying a message without directly stating his main point. This haiku seems to be written from a personal experience he may have had at one time. Gurga also ties beauty and mystery into a wonderful haiku which is full of spirit and excitement, as well as a hint at peace, displayed by the women and her baby playing the all important role in the Christmas story.
The second haiku that caught my attention took me back to fall 2012 and my weekend in Grafton Missouri. Gurga captured beauty and nature in three lines.
scenic overlook
the whole Mississippi valley
hidden in mist
Gurga, The Haiku Anthology, 56
Gurga opens this haiku with "scenic overlook." This immediately creates a picture in the reader's eye. Some imagine spring with trees showing peaks of green and bright colors of flowers opening for the first time. Others may imagine summer; trees are full of deep green leaves, and dashes of color are provided by the occasional purple week or wildflower. Still other may imagine fall when the entire overlook is alive with bursts of yellow, orange, red, and brown. They can smell autumn in the air and when they watch closely they can see leaves making their departure from trees and landing softly on the ground which is already covered with color. Finally, some may imagine winter. The trees have been stripped bare of their leaves but are now blanketed in white. The overlook reveals a crisp, clean image which some may see as the most wonderful time of year. Gurga's general first line allows his readers to create their own mental picture of the valley choosing their favorite time of year to do so.
The second line, "the whole Mississippi valley" continues this mental picture but narrows what the readers are looking at. While most would create an image of a specific season in the first line, others may have thought of a totally different view than what Gurga writes in his second line. Personally, this makes me think of being in Grafton Missouri at the Aries Winery. From their dining room one can gaze out for miles over water and trees. I was there in the fall when the trees were full of color and the river was a beautiful blue snaking through the middle. Gurga's use of this specific location most likely stems from a personal experience in which the beauty of the Mississippi Valley most likely inspired this haiku.
Finally Gurga once again delivers a shock to his captivated audience with his final line "hidden in the mist." In his first two line Gurga allows readers to paint a beautiful mental image of their choice and then that image is suddenly hidden with the final line. One could say this would be a disappointment to a tourist who spent months planning a getaway to see the million dollar view promised by the valley only to have everything ruined by a foggy mist. I picture the valley alive with the colors of fall blanketed by mist unwilling to share its complete beauty. The mist allows those anxious to visit the scenic overlook mentioned in the first line a chance to discover an even more beautiful image. With the addition of his final line, Gurga adds mystery into his haiku. The beauty readers pictured in the first two lines is suddenly taken away allowing them to create a picture, which in some cases, may be more beautiful than the first.
One of the first "country" haiku of Gurga's that caught my attention was the first place winner of the Canadian Writers' Journal Haiku Contest in 1996.
morning mist . . .
the soft brown eye
of the suckling calf
Gurga, Fresh Scent, 99
Gurga opens this haiku with the mysterious element of morning mist. Morning is a time of newness and unknown. A new day is beginning, full of anticipation of what one will do with the hours ahead of them. Mist creates a sense of mystery for the readers, making them wonder what is hidden in the day ahead of them.
The second line "the soft brown eye" adds to the mystery of the first line. Readers are left to wonder what the brown eye belongs to. Is it an animal, or another person? Gurga's use of soft allows readers to imagine something gentle just like the morning hours. At the end of this line readers are left wondering how this haiku will be completed. Without the last line, this haiku would not be complete. However, Gurga did complete his haiku with a wonderful last line "of the suckling calf." Anyone who has spent time on a farm has most likely had the pleasure of seeing a baby calf. Some may have even had the opportunity to feed one. They are typically gentle, matching "soft" in the second line, and their eyes are wide and kind, full of excitement for the meal they are enjoying. Overall this haiku is an excellent representation of country life, and once again provides a very relatable memory for anyone who lives or has lived in a small rural town.
Another one of Gurga's haiku dealing with the beauty of the morning is:
summer sunrise
through morning haze
the bobwhite calls again
Gurga, The Measure of Emptiness, 10
In this haiku Gurga creates the beautiful image of the country in the early morning hours. His first line "summer sunrise" creates a picture full of color, warmth, and feeling in the readers mind. Farmers are typically up when the dark sky begins to warm with the first rays of light. Then the sun slowly makes its way out of "bed" and brings the first light to the sky. Gurga's second line "though morning haze" gives readers the impression of heat and humidity despite the early morning hour. During the hot summer months it seems like the sun rises with the heat creating the morning haze described in this line. Readers can imagine the haze clinging to blades of grass along with the dew, and feel the heat building with the brightening sky. The beauty of the sunrise is also masked in this haiku; partially hidden from view by murky haze Gurga describes.
Gurga closes his haiku with "the bobwhite calls again" completing the summer image readers formed in their minds. The sound of the bobwhite calling is repeated over and over during the warm summer days. Readers may think of the sound as friendly or somewhat of a nuisance. For those that view the bird call as beautiful they may picture a fresh country day full of sight and sound that began with a beautiful sunrise. Those that hear the bird song as annoying may think of a miserable day full of heat and humidity that began as soon as the sunrise.
Gurga once again writes a beautiful haiku full of meaning. However, he allows his readers to create their own individual picture of what the exact meaning is. Gurga creates sight, sound, and feeling by using everyday occurrences in a small town; the sunrise, morning haze, and the call of the bobwhite. While these things are something all too familiar to residents of rural areas, Gurga creates something beautiful out of this.
When I read the pair of haiku that follow I began to put together a beautiful image of a typical day in the country. While I am uncertain if they were written to tell a story, when compared side by side they tell the story of hard work from morning to night.
bales of hay
dot the bluestream meadow—
morning breeze
Gurga, The Measure of Emptiness, 24
last bale of hay—
we sit down on it
and watch the moon
Gurga, The Haiku Anthology, 57
In the first haiku Gurga once again creates a beautiful haiku to match a common thing seen on America's country roads. In the first line "bales of hay" readers picture a freshly baled field dotted with hundreds of hay bales. I picture on of the many fields covered with acres of green grass dotted with huge round bales anxiously awaiting the wagon coming to pick them up. Readers who have never had the pleasure of seeing a seemingly endless field of hay bales probably picture a painting seen on the walls of a doctor's office.
In his second line "dot the bluestream meadow" Gurga continues the picture started in the first line by adding meadow. Some readers now picture rolling hills with bales of hay randomly placed every ten feet, on top of hills, in the valleys between, and everywhere and anywhere on the sides. Other readers may once again visit the picture they have seen hanging on the walls of their doctors office. These readers fail to receive the image of peace and contentment those who have stood in real field gain from this line. Those who have stood in one of these fields feel the joy of a job well done and the feeling of knowing their animals will have food to eat.
In his final line Gurga writes "morning breeze." For those readers who have experienced a field of hay first hand they picture a farmer going to his field to collect the hard work that was completed the day before. They see the farmer being thankful for the morning breeze to cool him while he works in the warm morning sun. Others who have not had this experience firsthand may struggle to feel this breeze. While paintings create a beautiful image of hay in a field, those looking at the painting may struggle to feel the cool morning breeze gently blowing though the field.
Gurga creates another site common to rural America. During the summer a short drive will open passenger's eyes to beauty of the farm communities. Fields of corn, beans, and hay line the road which are each uniquely beautiful. Gurga once again has captured something wonderful that many people take for granted on a given day.
I chose to compare this haiku to the second because I love the story told between the two of them. While I am uncertain if Gurga wrote these haiku together after a long day of farm work, the story they tell when being compared is wonderful. In the first readers picture a farmer heading to his field of hay with his wagon ready tackle the job waiting for him. In the second readers feel a sense of completion. The job is done except for the last bale which the characters take time to sit down on. I love how Gurga introduces romance in the second haiku as well. One can picture the farmer, tired from a long day of work sitting next to his wife to watch the moon and stars. These haiku bring a typical day in the life of farmers full circle, from the morning breeze to the bright moon, these haiku tell a wonderful story.
Harvest is one of the most important times of year in small towns throughout the United States. Farmers spent days praying for excellent weather in the correct times to provide growth and drying to their crops. Gurga captures a moment of this process with the haiku:
the sound of rain
moving through the wheatstubble;
a night of love
Gurga, Fresh Scent, 30
The first line "the sound of rain" can instill many feelings among readers. Some may feel relief which comes with the first rain after a drought. The rain may be much needed on the dry cracked ground. Others may think of feelings of dread. Perhaps they live in an area that receives too much rain or that floods easily. With his first line Gurga once again enlightens his readers with a sense of mystery, as he does somewhere in almost every one of his haiku. He also begins to introduce the season. Readers may think of spring, when the rain will mean new life coming to the earth. Others may think of summer and the cooler air that will follow the rain. A fall rain would bring the temperatures and leaves down. Overall, Gurga's first line provides an excellent opening to this haiku.
Gurga's second line "moving through the wheatstubble" solidify the season and sets the scene for this haiku. Wheatstubble can interpreted to summer because wheat harvest typically occurs in June. In rural areas farmers typically are in a race against the weather, rapidly combining the wheat and planting their double crops before the rain comes. The setting is also revealed in this line. After reading this Gurga's audience will be able to determine this haiku is also set in a small town that's main income is from the crops in the fields. Readers are now able to picture a refreshing and much needed rain falling on the double crops that are not yet seen. Farmers and their families would see this as something to be thankful for because this image of rain falling in their field will surly bring them an excellent fall harvest. Gurga uses his second line to set the scene, season, and create feeling. The mystery of the first line is relieved within the words of the second line.
Gurga delivers the shock of his haiku with his final line "a night of love." Readers who thought they knew exactly what was occurring in this haiku receive a shock with the last line. This line leaves the haiku open ended for readers to end it how they wish. Some will picture a farmers thankful for the rain falling on his field and in love with the blessing he has seen. Others will picture the farmer thankful and enjoying a lovely night in with his family thankful he will be able to continue to provide for them with the crops that will now be able to grow in his field. Gurga once again creates a beautiful mental picture which captures and fulfills all the qualities of an excellent haiku; the season, feelings, appeal to the senses, and indirect interpretation of the main point. Gurga also remains true his style of writing, delivering mystery and allowing his readers to interpret his writing in their own unique ways.
The theme of rural living continues throughout the books containing Gurga's haiku. Continuing the crop theme of my previous favorite is this work:
rows of corn
stretch to the horizon—
sun on the thunderhead
Gurga, Fresh Scent, 65
In the first line "rows of corn" reader begin to picture many different things. Those who reside in rural areas picture something that is very familiar to them. They see the fields they pass on a daily basis or some may think of the view from the windows in their house. Other will picture the rows of green they see as they travel down the interstate on their way to work or traveling with the family on vacation. Gurga also uses this line to introduce the season in this haiku. Rows of corn are typically seen in the summer, with the stalks growing tall, green, and proud.
In his second line "stretch to the horizon-"Gurga continues the images readers began to form in the first line. Those that live in areas where corn fields are seen on a daily basis see fields of promise of food on the table and presents under the tree at Christmas. Those that fly past these fields while traveling fail to realize how the tall stalks affect their daily life. They fail to realize the essentials of life that rely on the fields stretching as far as the eye can see. Gurga also creates feeling in this line. Stretching to the horizon creates the image of dread to some as they think of the work ripening in this haiku. Those that live in rural areas may think of the beauty seen as the sun sinks under the top of the swaying stalks.
Once again Gurga adds a final "punch" with his last line "sun on the thunderhead." The beauty readers have thought of in the first two lines is coupled with feelings of worry and dread with the last line. Farmers and residents or rural areas view the thunderhead and are immediate worried. They think of what that cloud will bring; high winds? A flood? What will happen to their crops? Those that drive by the fields with minimal emotion for the swaying corn think nothing of the possibility of a storm later that evening. Gurga creates mystery and shock with his final line. Readers are left to wonder what happened to the field of corn that seemed so perfect in the first two lines of the haiku. This haiku is another example of Gurga's signature style of writing, and also contains all the essential elements of the very best haiku.
Gurga also explores various cultures within the lines of his haiku. While reading through his haiku I came across a few with reference the Amish. I decided to include one in this essay because they also reside in small towns throughout the United States and live in homes located in rural areas.
spring horse auction
a cluster of Amishmen whispering
through their beards
Gurga, Fresh Scent, 88
I chose this haiku because I feel that it fits the theme of "small town" very well. Gurga's opening line "spring horse auction" sets the season and the scene for this haiku. Reader's picture people gathered around clutching bid cards hoping to purchase horses for the upcoming work season. Some may wonder why Gurga writes about a horse auction when most people today would rather attend a machinery sale. Therefore Gurga also adds his signature element of mystery with this line. In addition the season is set. Spring is a time of new life and hope. Readers think of farmers anxious about the upcoming seasons, will their crops yield a bountiful harvest? Will they have the proper equipment at the correct time? Gurga does a wonderful job introducing these three elements with his first line.
In his second line "a cluster of Amishmen whispering" Gurga provides an answer to the mystery presented in his first line. Readers now understand why Gurga is writing about a horse auction. The Amish are known for their "old-fashion" ways and are frequently seen driving their buggies to town pulled by the horses purchased at an auction similar to the one in this haiku. Readers are also able to further depict exactly what is happening in this haiku. The Amishmen are said to be whispering. One could read this in many different ways. They could be whispering as a result of a shocking sale, a horse many of them would like to buy, or for many other reasons. Gurga uses this line to appeal to the senses. Readers can hear the men whispering and see the cluster of men.
In his final line "through their beards" Gurga once again appeals to the senses. Readers can now see the full image of the Amishmen, as well as hear them whispering. They can see varying bead lengths and hear the quiet whispering between them. Gurga also introduces color into his haiku. Many Amish people have dark brown/black hair. By adding "beards" to this line readers can also see the dark brown hair proudly displayed on the faces of the men. Overall, Gurga once again does a wonderful job of capturing a simple moment that is typically only found in a small town. Auctions frequently occur for personal property however livestock auctions typically occur in rural towns. Gurga does an excellent job of bringing something typically seen in the past to life again in this haiku by tying it in with the presence of the Amish. He also adds in his classic elements, mystery, season, and sense throughout the three short lines of this haiku.
As I was finishing Fresh Scent the very last haiku caught my attention. This haiku reminds me of a classic country scene, as well as something that is typically only found in the country.
from house
to barn;
the milky way
Gurga, Fresh Scent, 113
In the first line "from house" Gurga introduces the start of the scene in this haiku. Readers think of someone leaving the house. However, we are unsure why the person in this haiku is leaving the house. Therefore, Gurga adds in his classic mystery element in the first line. He then continues with "to barn;" moved over slightly to create a sense of movement. Readers now know the person in this haiku is leaving the house to go to the barn. Gurga leaves the exact reason why up to the readers. Some may think of chore time, others may think of a newborn animal in the barn that needs to be checked on, while others may think of the farmer going to the barn to work on a project. Gurga also introduces sense with this line. Readers can hear the shuffle of footsteps, the slam of the door as the character in this haiku leaves the house. However, we are still unsure about the exact setting of the haiku.
Gurga sets the season in his last line "the milky way." We now know the haiku is set at night, and in the country. The farmer is guided to his barn by the light of the Milky Way which is bright and beautiful in the country. This also makes some readers more aware of why the farmer is going to his barn. Perhaps he awoke and is going to check on the animals on a cold night to make sure they are okay. Others may picture him sneaking off to the barn to work on a Christmas gift for his wife.
Gurga once again creates a wonderful haiku pertaining to life in rural areas. I especially like the movement added into this haiku with the spacing of the lines. The movements seem to match the farmer's journey from the house to the barn. In addition to this, I love how Gurga leaves this haiku open to readers for their imagination to fill in the missing pieces. It is up to readers to determine the season as well as the reason for the trip to the barn. Gurga emphasizes his element of mystery with this haiku, proving an excellent end to "Fresh Scent."
The final haiku I want to include I feel sums up my theme of Small Town haiku very well.
rural interstate
all the other cars
exit together
Gurga, The Haiku Anthology, 56
In this haiku Gurga explores the feelings of living in a rural community very well. His first line "rural interstate" opens the haiku with imagination and feeling for the readers. Those that live in a rural area think of the cars flying past their hometown oblivious to the wonderful place they are passing up. Other may think of a vacation in which they passed field after field while traveling down the rural interstate Gurga describes. Gurga also creates color with this line. When readers think of a rural interstate they think of crops growing along the road, which brings yellow, green, or brown depending on the season. In addition to this colorful billboards line the side of the road advertising hotels, restaurants, and attractions. Despite only containing two words, Gurga's first line provides a wonderful start to this haiku.
In the second line, "all the other cars" Gurga introduces feeling. This creates an image of the end of the road. Those driving must either live here or the road is going to end. This line also continues the theme of color introduced in the first line. One can picture the many colors of the group of cars traveling down the interstate. In his final line, "exit together" Gurga completes his haiku bringing the theme of feeling full circle. He also introduces his signature element of mystery into the haiku. Readers are given a sense of happiness thinking the cars are all going to the same place, possibly for a town event. Others make think of this as loneliness. The word other can introduce this. Is the person in this haiku the only one not taking the exit? Why are all the other cars exiting? Gurga leaves these questions unanswered and up to the reader to decide.
I chose this haiku to conclude my essay because I feel it brings my theme to a close. In this haiku it seems people are traveling to the small town, or small towns, I have talked about in the previous parts of my paper. Gurga includes his signature elements in this haiku, as well as leaving it open ended for the individual to decide exactly what is happening in this haiku.
This essay opened my eyes to the ways of a small town put into art. I immensely enjoyed reading Lee Gurga's haiku and found myself relating too many of them. Composing review was very simple because I found many of my responses stemming from experiences I have had. Gurga follows the main themes of writing haiku including indirectly stating the main idea. Gurga frequently leaves his writing open-ended allowing readers to form their own unique responses. Additionally, Gurga tends to write with appeal to emotion. He creates vision, sight, smell, and sound throughout the lines of his writing. Overall I immensely enjoyed studying Lee Gurga's writing and hope to continue reading it for years to come.
• • •
Works Cited
Gurga, Lee. Fresh Scent. Decatur, Illinois: Brooks Books, 1998. Print.
Heuvel, Cor van den. The Haiku Anthology. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1999. Print.
Gurga, Lee. The Measure of Emptiness. Foster City, California: Press Here, 1991. Print. |
