Japanese Lantern Poem
For the end-of-the-year printing project, you’ll be writing a Japanese lantern
poem. Like many of the Japanese poetic forms employing the sparse use of
words, it is one that is easy to create but very hard to do well and effectively.
First of all, the lantern is a centered, 5-line poem, resulting in a shape similar
to a Japanese lantern.
The lines are as follows:
1. The first line is one word (or instead of counting words, you may use
one syllable).
2. The second line is two words (or count two syllables).
3. The third line is three words (or count three syllables).
4. The fourth is four words (or count four syllables).
5. The fifth and final line is one word (or if you are counting syllables,
one syllable).
Clearly the poem is simple and succinct (concise, to the point, brief, pithy,
terse, economical). It should aim to reflect nature, beauty or being-ness or
human nature. It will be somewhat fragmented, quick and direct, but still try
to savor beauty or open the heart. It should strive for a deeper meaning in its
implications, a worldwide application, a philosophical or religious
connotation, clearly something beyond description. You must have
something to say through the use of your image. Incorporate ideas from your
imagination to go beyond the perception of your senses. Use concrete word
images. Spend time reflecting on what you can write for your 5-line poem.
The poem will be “written” (drawn) out creatively. The lettering needs to be
designed relating to the theme of the work and to the word itself and all the
words need to be unified in appearance. Be sure words fill the page
artistically.