What is a Haiku?
Haiku is a type of short form poetry originally from Japan.
Traditional Japanese haiku consist of three phrases that contain a kireji, or “cutting word”, on (a type of Japanese phoneme) in a 5, 7, 5 pattern, and a kigo, or seasonal reference.
Originally from Japan, haiku today are written by authors worldwide. Haiku in English and haiku in other languages have their own styles and traditions while still incorporating aspects of the traditional haiku form.
Read more about haiku on Wikipedia.
James Bryant’s DARK HAIKU
Departing from the traditional imagery of the natural world, Mr. Bryant focuses his poems on themes of suffering, death, and alienation.
Let’s embrace the darkness together. It is not for the faint of heart!
My first dark haiku chapbook in the works!
James’s first dark haiku chapbook: a collection of 25 haiku entitled At Death’s Door Knocking, will be published soon.
Artwork by Craig Firsdon
Let’s Collaborate!
If you are an illustrator, and would be interested in collaborating with James on future projects, drop him an email.
He is also looking for voice talent to read his dark haiku in a future audio chapbook release.
oic.studios@gmail.com
Or send him a message on Facebook.
Connect with James on Facebook
Recent Publications
In October of 2020, four of Mr. Bryan’ts dark haiku were published by:
Gnashing Teeth Publishing
This small independent publisher was looking for spooky and haunted haiku. But to make it more challenging, they wanted it in audio format!
Take a listen!!!
On all Hallow’s eve:
On all Hallow’s eve
when witches brew and cats mew
they trick and they treat
Whispers like a moan:
Whispers like a moan
full of fear, close to the ear
you are not alone
Dark and stormy night:
Dark and stormy night
howling among the tombstones
digging up my bones
creaking door opens:
creaking door opens
letting in the rot and stench
of those dead bodies
DARK HAIKU in the studio!
Read by James Bryant and Mark Pearce
Music provided by O I C Studios
For the Love of God:
For the love of God
end this darkness, I beg you
I’m yours to destroy
My Body, Garbage:
My body, garbage
left in the dumpster, to rot
decomposing waste
My Plight of Darkness:
My plight of darkness
sobs racking me like torture
suicide beckons
Something From Nothing:
Something from nothing
mind is void, heart is empty
a wailing absence
Read by James:
Read by Mark Pearce:
There Is No Shelter:
Hurricane laughter
into the eye of my storm
there is no shelter
Read by James:
Read by Mark Pearce:
Continue To Sob (Read by Mark Pearce):
Continue to sob
you cannot hate the machine
for doing it’s job
This Darkness In Me (Read by Mark Pearce):
This darkness in me
institutions of the heart
tearing me apart
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