The power of daily haiku | Zezan Tam | TEDxUniMelb

Zezan Tam writes haiku - one every day. Taking a step outside his comfort zone, he enters the TEDxUniMelb stage to discuss his forays into daily poetry and how it has allowed him to reflect on his life. He explains three main themes that seem to underlie much of his writing, and how they translate into life lessons around gratitude, courage and humility.
Zezan Tam is an entrepreneur and technologist. He works as a product manager at Redbubble, an online creative marketplace with headquarters in Melbourne.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@JechtNH]

Screen of my smartphone Reflects an exhausted face Longing for some sleep

[@PettyBlue1]

Writing haikus really does give pleasure. You feel like you have created something out of things that were already there for everyone.

[@martinjimenez7392]

Like making a coffee

[@atticushelvig2030]

Making something good, from the things already there. It brings me pleasure.

[@1213141516171897]

Love it!@@atticushelvig2030

[@KindleReads]

I love leaving a piece of me behind, something to reflect back on

[@Emericask8b]

KindleReads this is beautiful

[@KindleReads]

@@Emericask8b thank you

[@KindleReads]

@@Emericask8b thank you

[@latayshiashaw4198]

Ne bnbehffuri iiiieeie oooooihiiow ooooo iooooooopo owas oooiooooooqña amue

[@slayaforever6009]

KindleReads, I'm not great at recognizing syllables but I'm pretty sure there is 8 in this sentence? Am I right? Please tell me if I am, I'm trying to get better at it... Also, this is beautiful!

[@aaronbarry3017]

I used haiku to keep myself sane while recovering from an illness years ago. Ended up sticking with it 'cause I liked the feeling so much. Just released my first haiku collection the other day, eggplants & teardrops: a haiku collection. Stick with it, guys!

[@user-lj6ww5pj9j]

This might be late but, congrats on releasing a haiku collection!

[@ryanhall7033]

He writes one a day Zezan Tam the haiku man He's doing God's work

[@slayaforever6009]

I wrote my first haiku today..... I think I'm obsessed with them now? They are just SO FUN to write!!!! I can't believe it took me this long in my life to find out what a haiku is!!!!

[@smellydonut5088]

same here! I had no idea how fun haiku's were to write :)

[@dadapotok]

guess it's time to share if you're up to it ) i'm curious, had to write them on the third minute of video lol

[@morgisugly]

started writing daily haikus as a coping mechanism while i recover from an OD. it’s really been an amazing thing for me.

[@carsonbarrett1380]

A lethargic night Introspectiveness is key What’s serenity?

[@maximel7568]

His daily training, clearly has paid off, great talk Thank you very much his daily training, cementing his thought pattern, changes his whole life.

[@jinjinliu7543]

nice haiku

[@mistersydster]

A beautiful speech. I just started these myself. Less pacing next time.

[@zenish]

Thanks for the feedback :) I'm not a very experienced speaker, so it helps me keep my speaking tempo, apologies if it is distracting!

[@shutupcharli483]

I really love how honest this guy is, it really drives his message. I had to write some haiku for my creative writing class and I hated the restriction at first, but when I was done I saw how rich the words and message were. I might start writing daily ones too cause things like gratitude are so important.

[@vipinkanoujiya9582]

Good

[@LisaAnnMarkuson]

yes! i feel the same way

[@iranfilms.tehran2533]

love you ഖിൽബെ 😘👏👏👌💚🌎

[@iranfilms.tehran2533]

Vipin Kanoujiya happy to see a indian in this comment 😍👍👍🌎🇮🇳

[@iranfilms.tehran2533]

Lisa Ann Markuson 😍wow

[@johnvaldez1444]

He's speaking with such an honest and self-aware mind. You can perceive that he went through a long process of self-reflection, which happened just by choosing the words that were really meaningful to him.

[@meervi77]

Darkness now for weeks. We stand outside and tremble Shapes obscure the stars

[@meervi77]

the midsummer rain for my flowers perhaps joy but i am chilled

[@brandoncreighton775]

Candle Cascading, Shades solicited into sight, Phantasms of plight.

[@tajs476]

Swallowed by my thoughts My voice missing when I talk It's all for nothing

[@cheemes4536]

It'll get better my distant friend :)

[@lupin2382]

Dreams under false skies Spiral passage through the clouds Behold! True purpose.

[@Rimjhim_phrogwizard]

Gratitude , Bravery , choose Humility I loved the talk ! ♥️

[@OscarWrightZenTANGO]

FANTASTIC talk !

[@robinfinney1808]

Hello Z, I really loved you speech. It was so inspirational. Here's a hiaku just for you: You are much a jem! a diamond in the deep rough; a valuable soul.

[@astralityyy]

a random comment in the vast sea of people lost in the madness

[@user-gq6dg7ee6d]

I see a weeb Begging for attention But I watch JoJo

[@b.b.holmes8255]

@@user-gq6dg7ee6d the last line is qrite, but you messed up the rest

[@1.4142]

Used to see faces But this year I only see profile pictures

[@kenroddis1571]

@@1.4142 Troubling and succinct Is Kevin's eloquent verse. Poetry? For sure.

[@loishenderson4344]

Thank you SO much - now I know far more how to face my audience at the McGregor Festival, which is coming up from 19 to 21 of November. My very first Poetry Festival and I have two spots to share my haiku with professional poets - me, a little backwoods girl (actually a battered world-weary and world-torn academic editor living in a small fishing village on the West Coast of South Africa). Still really intimidated about it all, but I feel MUCH better now. So, once again, I wish to say: thank you SO much.

[@manishbarik2267]

She wish she could fly far away from the chaos and sleep in the sky

[@wtf_taiyo]

A spoon of happiness Covered with my deep fears Still makes my day

[@sby60118]

Isn’t that 6-6-4? Edit: a spoon of ha ppi ness Co vered with my deep fears Still makes my day

[@wtf_taiyo]

@@sby60118 it was my first try

[@wtf_taiyo]

@@sby60118 😅😅

[@BIBLE-a-s-m-r]

❤

[@BIBLE-a-s-m-r]

You did good anyway. Is it about anorexia?

[@vipinkanoujiya9582]

Thank u big brother...blessing

[@wilmavoss9654]

I wanna try this. It’s like a diary except you have to think more about it since you only have 17 syllables :))

[@lisabelle808]

I really liked this!! Goosebumps.

[@meervi77]

Deep woods. Now the rain. Warm in my tent boots off lights out Tomorrow the mountain

[@meervi77]

it gave me a shiver that dark shadow in the tree whispering my name.

[@noelshafi1314]

I write haiku because I love writing poetry in general, but haiku in particular is special because it focuses your mind on a singular, complex moment, to the point where the process of writing becomes almost a deep, meditative experience.

[@Niliank]

Thanks for showing this to us in the most nicest and simplest way, I really enjoyed it

[@dwirjo]

Inspirational!

[@gloriamitchell3518]

This has helped me tremendously. Adding this to my morning ritual.

[@redtruck3020]

I’m really glad that you referred from Kenny’s talk because of her so much and even better mood right now

[@lobten2376]

Your sincerity What i appreciate the most Thanks for the great talk

[@sby60118]

I the second not 8? Maybe: What i appreciate most What1 I2 A3-ppre4-ci5-ate6 most7

[@kaesnow2380]

Reading this after covid-19 lockdowns....haven't been inside a cafe for 10 months.... would be full of gratitude for that simple pleadure of drinking a latte in my favorite cafe again ❤.

[@SoftArtCloud]

Could not agree with you more. How nice it would be to sit in a cafe, surrounded by other human beings, and write a haiku.

[@Madewholebynature]

Honesty and you Merge together as you speak Nice meeting you here

[@NicholasKlacsanzkyICM]

It's an admirable project and it is done with good intentions, but haiku is more to do with seasons and how they interact or connect with humanity aesthetically, spiritually, and emotionally than a syllable count (which made for Japanese and does not translate well to other languages). What Mr. Tam is writing is more western micropoetry rather than haiku. Sorry to sound like a snob, but as a widely published haiku poet, I like to inform people about the craft I love. As award-winning haiku poet Michael Dylan Welch says: "Haiku in English is typically a three-line poem that uses concrete sensory images to convey or imply natural and human seasonal phenomena, using a two-part juxtapositional structure as well as simple and primarily objective language. Originally a Japanese genre of poetry, now written and adapted in many languages worldwide, traditional haiku in Japanese consists of seventeen sounds (not to be confused with syllables) in a pattern of 5-7-5. Because of differences in language, this rhythm is generally not followed for literary haiku in most languages other than Japanese. As intuitive and emotional poems, haiku often capture a sense of wonder and wholeness in presenting existence such as it is. Rather than presenting one’s emotions, haiku present the cause of one’s emotions, thus empowering the reader to have the same intuitive reaction to an experience that the poet had. "

[@shaundelsattaur6887]

Watched this in 2020 This vid is really superb Hope you are happy

[@blackvitruvianman]

This summer evening//brown bird flies from the treetop//to my balcony!!

[@loveannbea]

Looking forward to your next Haiku TEdtalk 🙂

[@amitanshuv]

great talk. I have been writing one haiku everyday too, it's definitely worth it.

[@murray2343]

English language haiku doesn’t have to have 5,7,5. Japanese haiku counts “mora” which is different to English syllables. “Nippon” for example, has 4 mora but two syllables. “Scarf” has 4 mora but 1 syllable. It’s similar for many other words. So in English language haiku it’s good to aim for less than 12 ( absolutely no more than 17) syllables with a 2 line phrase and a one line fragment. The juxtaposition between the phrase and the fragment creates the poetic scene/feeling/imagery. Single line and two line are also possible if you are skilled enough.

[@bubba101010]

Exactly. And his haiku are too cerebral and in his own head. Haiku are supposed to be observational using mainly the 5 senses. The reader would supply the emotion. Also seasonal words and a cut are needed. The Haiku Handbook (Higginson) would have been a good book for him to have read first or at least somewhere along the way of his journey.

[@dadapotok]

​@@bubba101010 i think the whole beauty of it is not that Zezan Tam gave us a technical classic poetry lesson but that he shared an experience of how he jokingly adopted an unfamiliar thing, made it his own and set on a journey that otherwise wouldn't happen, a journey of learning things and appreciating being alive deeply - which is one of the definitions of poetry to me - so in the end he did give us a poetry lesson, but of it's essence instead of the technique. yes, it's a poetry of slightly self-centered, individualistic modern person, slightly obsessed with bettering oneself, but this only makes it better reflect the modern world and culture. See, writing like Matsuo Bashō would only be a grave-digging and meaningless stylisation. While this guy, Zezan Tam, to whom i'm instantly grateful (yeah, grateful lol) even used a goddamn plastic coffee cup mobile photograph instead of the etching or the ink wash painting to illustrate his setting. This is truly a profound experience

[@bubba101010]

@@dadapotok thank you, very well made points! Have a great day! ☀️

[@meanmansmum]

Really helpful, a challenge that's so do-able, thanks for sharing your growth journey. Blessings 🙏

[@debbiedean3165]

You are such a lovely human being 😊, very inspirational, I also love writing Haiku for fun 💕

[@meervi77]

Two shadows I cast. Behind me the Autumn Moon and the ghost of my father again.

[@emmanuelhakiza596]

I know ill be great, God got me no matter what, Success is my path.

[@falandoatoa]

That's awesome man! I'm gonna try!!

[@BUKCOLLECTOR]

Very much enjoyed your your poems and reading. I, too, am a Poet but specialize in Japanese forms: i. e. haiku, tanka, haibun, kyoka, senryu. I hope you don’t mind me sharing a tanka and my haiku tribute poem to Matsuo Bashō’s frog with commentary by the late AHA founder and poet Jane Reichhold who considered my poem among her top 10 haiku of all time. What an honor. Here’s the Bashō poem and commentary: Bashō,s frog four hundred years of ripples - -Al Fogel “At first the idea of picking only 10 of my favorite haiku seemed a rather daunting task. How could I review all the haiku I have read in my life and decide that there were only 10 that were outstanding? Then realized I was already getting a steady stream of excellent haiku day by day through the AHA forum. The puns and write-offs based on Basho's most famous haiku are so numerous I would have said that nothing new could be said with this method, but here Al Fogel proved me wrong. Perhaps part of my delight in this haiku lies in the fact that I agree with him. Here he is saying one thing about realism-ripples are on a pond after a frog jumps in, but because it refers back to Basho and his famous haiku, he is also saying something about the haiku and authors who have followed him. We, and our work, are just ripples while Basho holds the honor of inventing the idea of "the sound of a frog leaping is the sound of water". As haiku spreads around the world, making ripples in more and larger ponds, its ripples are wider-including us all. But his last word reminds us all that we are only ripples and our lives are that ephemeral. It will be the frogs that will remain”. And my tanka: returning home from a Jackson Pollock exhibition I smear my face with paint and turn into art -All love in isolation from Miami Beach, Florida. Al

[@rickeishaperreira7628]

Oh my this is well taught through...

[@sby60118]

Zezan Tam’s Ted Talk: Power of daily Haiku. Quite good video.

[@alfredcaulin]

These aren't really haiku, they're senryu. But that's pedantic of me, he admits he's not an expert. His greater goal of encouraging people to examine their life is a good one.

[@zenish]

I hadn't heard of senryu - thanks for bringing that to my attention!

[@faridjunaidistrategi]

Is very hard to write real haiku not in japanese

[@gardenlover9663]

Doesn't matter what it's called. I am writing this for myself. When I spend my time, criticizing, I don't allow the good stuff to make it's way to me. I get to write a haiku about it! Oops. Senryu.

[@meervi77]

Lonesome coyote In his den safe from the storm. Mother come home soon.

[@deborahrenee]

This is true haiku. Outstanding!

[@jerimegarcia960]

Cold schoolyard mornings Lonely, I await the one The one I adore

[@meervi77]

The Starship lies derelict half buried by the sands of Mars A Dread Thing waits there.

[@midoann]

Marvelous! I'm grateful to have seen this video. I've never related my daily grateful morning routine (and during the day ) to HAIKU. It will help a lot, making your grateful time artistic! I think we all have an artistic tic side and this idea will as thrive artistically and in a spiritual way. Thank you! Did you think on that day making the audience practice Haiku? Like composing in 5 min or less their Haiku?

[@redtruck3020]

I feel energized tripod to put myself out a bad mood when I’m stressed out

[@mondoflambe8522]

Algorithms numbers shaping thoughts and words are tidal forces .

[@meervi77]

She is beautiful. This whisperer to magpies. She wore blue today

[@vraft2359]

Beautiful speech ಥ‿ಥ

[@dustash1578]

What is to improve? All things are as they should be, Just let it all go.

[@redtruck3020]

Thank you for the self-help. Talk for a smart guy.

[@meervi77]

Once in a forest A flash of red now the wolf. Grandmas house is near.

[@deborahrenee]

True haiku.

[@konradzimmermann2263]

notice how he paced in the entire video

[@jasonc.6861]

Kunai in cold wind Leaves drop next to fallen friends shinobi season

[@meervi77]

once in the forest So cold the eyes following I turned back home

[@meervi77]

down from the mountain through the darkest woods we run still the tiger follows

[@meervi77]

walking in the park. I saw a dog; lost forlorn. One wag of tail love

[@meervi77]

deep woods man and wolf just the trail and no other way softly now the rain

[@meervi77]

Flight of dragonflies Is most pleasing to the eye. Sun on azure wing.

[@Mote.]

You should write whatever you want. Don't limit yourself to syllables and rules someone made up. But you can still write haikus too. Just remember to be yourself when writing

[@Mote.]

Maybe haikus sound good in Japanese. I wouldn't know, i cant read it. But in english, Haikus don't tickle my fancy. Thats just my opinion though

[@redtruck3020]

I like that poem about coffee

[@andrebernardo4501]

No one here can write A proper haiku poem It's easy to see

[@abdalmuakhir8205]

Beneficial rain Slept through the western sunrise Stream full of catfish

[@deborahrenee]

Real haiku

[@BIBLE-a-s-m-r]

Now, I feel anxious Currently wait for my friends I don’t know them yet

[@jessemathat3863]

A chatter a day May Leave a smile to the brave Both sides are happy

[@howardleekilby7390]

Haiku conference in Arkansas November 10-11, 2023 Open to everyone - free

[@yuli1_266]

It's the haunting. Comfort has now let us go. Us..on our own.

[@meervi77]

from edge of the world. what do the butterflies see out there in the void

[@meervi77]

Quiet prayers sent there snows of the high Himalaya shelter ancient gods

[@dintainta]

Nice speech... Congratulations. just walking beside the ownerless dog among the vines Thank you so much. Regards.

[@TimGreig]

among the vines an ownerless dog just walking

[@dintainta]

@@TimGreig thank you!

[@meervi77]

Lost in a desert I tumble down a dune. Great stone lion greets me

[@martinjimenez7392]

Young man “Boy without father Young Flower with out sunlight Fish out of water” -Martin, 2023.

[@happyhaikuslessonsinwritin2320]

Haikus are truly a form of poetry unlike any other; not only are the rules simple, but there is only one rule! 5. 7. 5. It is just restricting enough to get creative with it, but free enough to give original material every time.

[@starscorn]

bye, I say to her I would rather work it out, She turns, walks away

[@meervi77]

A Samurai tale Fear me not little rabbit Lets share this quiet spring

[@CameronKarimi-Zand]

haikus are great if you have a short attention span (or lazy lol) but want to be creative. i love it

[@meervi77]

The Elf Lord stands alone. Strangers of wing and claw bow. This fair green world taken.

[@meervi77]

my father sent ravens but the bell in not ready the village must wait

[@HeWhoShams]

I've started writing haikus everyday.. im already ahead of the game before the video 😅

[@charlitoafrikana5978]

As I scroll down here, I read all those good haiku, Sad I’ve not wrote them.

[@taekfute]

Waves are light hearted Unlike their driving currents Where do waves return?

[@fm00078]

I thought I'd read some comments to get an idea how well or poor this speaker made a difference, if any, to folks. Surprised so many threw a few words out there and did a few haiku's. OH? .. .. WAIT-WHAT? .. .. 🤔 DID I JUST??? Surprised so many threw a few words out there and did a few haiku's. 😉👍

[@meervi77]

No Earth no Sky yet still it snows. The Hibiscus by the road. My horse ate it. The Mother I never knew- Every time i see the ocean. Every time. The pass at Izuzu - Best to use horses. Having no talent I long for sleep.Noisy birds. The English translation of these classic Haiku show that we are mostly ignornat of the cultural and historic context. What we are missing as well is the wonderful sounds of the original language. In the West we are scolded for trying to follow the rules of 5 7 5 and they are correct. We are failing to use the wonderful sounds we can make with English words. An extra word 5 7 6 or 5 8 5 perhaps would make our Haiku sing. I propose we create Haiku20 poems using no more than 20 still with 3 lines so that our language can be put to the form. Examples below with 5 7 5 then Haiku20. 5 7 5 forced this... Starship lies derelict Half buried in Martian sands A Dread thing waits there. Haiku20 The Starship lies derelict Half buried in the sands of Mars. A Dread thing waits there. 5 7 5 forced this... Deep Woods. Now the rain. Warm my tent boots off lights off. Day break the mountain. Haiku20... Deep Woods. Now the rain. Warm in my tent boots off lights off. Tomorow the mountain. Just a suggestion to make our own Language sing.

[@meervi77]

she came to stay here it was the longest winter lion we call Shishi

[@caesartae2550]

Notification! Not her. Should I call, or wait? Moonlit night, cool breeze.

[@natashajohnson2258]

😍 Beautiful ✨️💖✨️ "Courage sheds armour Both fortunes gifts and curses Faced with open heart." - 9:51

[@meervi77]

I left the spy store. Packed my Ninja suit flew west Scarlet Johanson

[@thundercat6709]

I miss many things as if they are still not here transient like smoke

[@meervi77]

Once in a forest A flash of red now the wolf. Grandmas house is near.

[@meervi77]

All the birds of Eden Being left unnamed, desolate Mourn Adam sing no more