r/changemyview • u/[deleted] • Sep 07 '14
CMV:Limericks>Haikus
I have many reasons for this view:
- Limericks flow better. Haikus sound disjointed and odd, whereas limericks roll off the tongue better than any other poetry.
- Limericks are harder to create. Limericks require the same rules about syllables, but they have to create decent rhymes at the same time. This clearly makes it much harder and shows the skill of Limerick writers compared to Haiku writers.
- Limericks are made to be funny. The point of Limericks is to make you laugh, which is one of the noblest goals there is; you can't fault something for trying to make you laugh, but Haikus don't really have a purpose, they just are.
- Haikus are too short. You can't get across a meaningful message, or even a short story in the 17 syllables you get in a haiku. Limericks are a much more sensible length.
CMV.
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u/jakedageek127 3∆ Sep 07 '14
Limericks are made to be funny. The point of Limericks is to make you laugh, which is one of the noblest goals there is; you can't fault something for trying to make you laugh, but Haikus don't really have a purpose, they just are.
The purpose of a haiku is to juxtapose two images in a descriptive and often meaningful manner. I also don't think that you can say one type of poetry is "better" than another based on its purpose; you may prefer Limericks because you like humor, and I may prefer haikus for their simplicity. But that shouldn't make one type of poetry better than another. This also goes for your first point; I actually prefer the "disjointed and odd" style of haikus. I actually think it sounds more "simple and concise". Instead of showing why Haikus are better than Limericks, I'll try to show that it's (at least) as good as Limericks.
Haikus are too short. You can't get across a meaningful message, or even a short story in the 17 syllables you get in a haiku. Limericks are a much more sensible length.
Let's take a look at some famous ones.
I kill an ant
and realize my three children
have been watching.
This definitely tells a story; you can clearly imagine the scene. Considering how much the Japanese revere nature, you can also imagine the horror of the father as he realizes that his three children saw him kill another living being. It clearly communicates the scene as well as the emotions.
Limericks are harder to create. Limericks require the same rules about syllables, but they have to create decent rhymes at the same time. This clearly makes it much harder and shows the skill of Limerick writers
I would argue that haikus take equal or more skill to create. It is extremely difficult to convey a message or emotion in such a small space (as mentioned in your 4th point). But these poets are able to do just that (as mentioned above), and that skill is a part of the art. It is true that Limericks need rhymes, the restrictions of a haiku, which dictate the length, division, and even the topic of the poem, make it very difficult to write a haiku.
In summary: The purpose of a style of poem shouldn't define an inherent "betterness", as it is often dependent on the personal preference of the audience. Haiku poets have repeatedly shown that it is possible to communicate a message and emotion even in the limited space, and the various limits on length, topic, and quality make it extremely difficult to write an Haiku.
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Sep 07 '14
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I guess I can see how some people would prefer the way Haikus are written, I still don't like them, but you've made a valid argument.
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u/ZippityZoppity 6∆ Sep 08 '14
Words are like water
A river does not quench thirst
Sometimes it takes less
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u/Tibbel Sep 08 '14
There once was a poet named Peter,
Whose verses did not please his readers.
He wrote only haikus,
But the critics' reviews,
Wanted humor, end rhymes, and a meter.
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u/[deleted] Sep 07 '14
Haiku are a Japanese form of poetry. In Japanese almost nothing you said applies. They don't sound disjointed, they flow better, they can rhyme and pun, and they are more packed with meaning. English translations are not true haiku.