Sitting Behind the Eight Ball

Learning Hay(na)ku

Slice of Life Post for April 8, 2025, by Barb Edler

Last Saturday I went to a Poetry Palooza event at Grandview University in Des Moines, IA. The first workshop I attended was given by Vince Gotera, Iowa’s Poet Laureate. Vince was sharing how to craft a hay(na)ku. The “hay” part sounds just like Hi as in haiku.

Vince Gotera, Iowa Poet Laureate.

A Hay(na)ka is a poetic form invented by Eileen R. Tabios, a Filipino American poet. This form was originally called “the Pinoy Haiku. “Pinoy” is slang for “Filipino”. Vince suggested “hay(na)ku” as a pun. The phrase “hay(na)ku” in Filipino is an all-purpose, iconic exclamation denoting surprise or dismay or even frustration, like “Oh my” in English.

The hay(na)ku is a three-line poem (or tercet) with one word in the first line, two in the second, and three in the third. You may be interested in reading Tabios’s blog at https://eileenrtabios.com/haynaku.

Needless to say, the hay(na)ku is a bit more difficult to write than it may appear. Vince also shared ways to create a hay(na)ku sonnet and how to craft reverse hay(na)ku. Vince invited us to write our own versions, and several writers shared theirs aloud. I’m not happy with my hay(na)ku sonnet, but I thought I’d share it here:

scars 
puckered pink
render railroad tracks

fertile
parts removed
crush future dreams

miraculously
life begins
hope rises anew

seven
months later
back kicks subside

puncture wounds buried
deep, often bleed
Barb Edler, 5 April 2025
Vince’s current poetry book Dragons & Rayguns is delightful, and I was fortunate to have him sign it. He left a lovely note, and I found out he is also participating in the Stafford Challenge, and we both had met William Stafford in person.

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Barb Edler
Hello, I am a retired English teacher. I live along the Mississippi River and enjoy watching birds, the river, and nature in general. Writing for me is a gateway to healing, and I love to wrestle words in hopes of capturing an emotion or image others may relate.
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9 responses to “Learning Hay(na)ku”

  1. Glenda Funk Avatar
    Glenda Funk

    Barb,

    I do t think I know this form, so thank you for sharing it. The cover of Vince’s book is delightful. I can see it appealing to teens. I really like your poem, but I’m not sure if it’s about a cesarean or hysterectomy. I’m guessing a pregnancy w/ the seven months later and scar like railroad tracks. I’m definitely giving this firm a try

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    1. Barb Edler Avatar
      Barb Edler

      I misspelled baby. It’s about a stillbirth after having my ovaries partially removed.

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      1. Barb Edler Avatar
        Barb Edler

        Denise, back should be baby. Ugh. Anyway, I think writing one of these each day would be challenging!

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  2. Denise Krebs Avatar
    Denise Krebs

    Oh, I like the idea of a hay(na)ku sonnet. I enjoyed seeing yours, but I wish I could have read more. Glenda’s comment helped me, and now I feel like I understand more. So powerful and tragic.

    Once I wrote a hay(na)ku (or a haiku) every day in my journal for quite a few months.

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    1. Barb Edler Avatar
      Barb Edler

      Denise, I think that you wrote a hay(na)ku every day in your journal is amazing. I bet that’s a fun piece to reread. I misspelled baby…it shouldn’t be back. Ugh. Anyway, I think writing one of these each day would be challenging!

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  3. kd0602 Avatar
    kd0602

    Love this format–and the challenge of so few words and not having to count syllables. Might have to try this form with my first graders (counting syllables is not their strength when it comes to making meaning at the same time!).

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    1. Barb Edler Avatar
      Barb Edler

      I think that would be a great idea. I’d love to read them if you do.

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  4. Some Hay(na)ku for the Earth: NPM25 Day 17 | Thinking Through My Lens

    […] syllable counting needed. This Filipino format was introduced to me by Barb who blogs over at Sitting Behind the Eight Ball. She provides more detail about this interesting form on her […]

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Barb Edler Avatar
      Barb Edler

      Clean
      Water flowing
      Sustains our lives

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