
WALES
HAIKU
JOURNAL
A Haiku Poet In Pill - Haiku as Social Document
(View in full screen here.)
In a short film produced by BBC Wales, Wales Haiku Journal editor, Paul Chambers returned to his home in Pillgwenlly, Newport, to explore ways in which haiku could document the day-to-day experiences of living in one of the country's most deprived wards.
As part of the exploration of haiku's capabilities to capture the everyday realities of living in the area, Paul worked with students at John Frost High School to create poems which gave more truthful representations of their community than is often portrayed in the media.
In response to the sensationalism and distortion of the community's image, the students produced haiku detailing their personal experiences of Pill, without prejudice or agenda, using their own voices, to tell their own truths...
cold, crisp winter night
dry leaves crunching
under my feet
Jamiha Meah
the gleaming of the sun
moist, sweat
clings to their arid skin
Nathan Manchee
sun shining
the smell of the BBQ
and the green grass
Tayyibah Maliha
the summertime screams
the echoing youth
and positive cheer
Dilan Thevathas
salty taste of heavy breeze
water crashing
in silent reprieve
Sama Chowdhury
it’s a new season, a colourful evening,
dry, crunchy leaves
fallen to the ground in the twilight
Tasmia Begum
warm breeze brushing against you
park full of cheer
kids playing together
Hadiya Miah
summertime stupidity,
youth screaming,
piercing ears
Dilan Thevathas
joyous screams
euphoria in the making
members of one body
Sama Chowdhury