Haiku Walk
Driving around New Zealand, we encounter country towns and villages of all shapes, sizes and qualities. Some look as though they have always been pretty and peaceful; some are run down and tatty; some are pulling themselves up. One that has done a huge amount of up-pulling is Katikati. A few years ago, it was - by its own admission - neglected and declining. But then a group of people got together and decided to do something about it. The result was truly inspiring. A series of delightful murals through the town, depicting its history, and making it now 'the mural town'. And to complement that, a pair of lovely walk along the riverside - in one direction displaying a series of bird sculptures (see Katikati Bird Walk); in the other some twenty or so haikus carved into boulders by the wayside (plus countless more on tiles under your feet).
Haikus are short poems, and originated in Japan. They are formed of two ideas, set beside each other, to provide some new insight into an everyday experience, some slight surprise. In their traditional form, they comprised 17 sound elements (similar to syllables), in lines of 5, 7 and 5 elements exactly. In recent decades, as haikus spread out into the western world, this strict format has been relaxed and haikus today can take a variety of forms, but are always short - and always have that final element of surprise.
The ones on the boulders along the Haiku Walk have been written by poets from across the world, but each one pictures some aspect of the walk: the bridge, the river, the sunlight, butterflies, birds. As we wander past them, we can't help stopping and reading them, not just the first time we do this walk but every time - for each change in the weather, in the season, in our mood, gives a small twist to their meaning at that moment. If we tire of these, there are many others - composed by local people - on the path itself, on the east side of the river. And in addition to all that, the walk itself is pleasant, with the slow ambling river and the winding path... With or without the dog, this walk is a must! So if you're driving down SH2, don't miss it. Do the Haiku Walk.
Haikus are short poems, and originated in Japan. They are formed of two ideas, set beside each other, to provide some new insight into an everyday experience, some slight surprise. In their traditional form, they comprised 17 sound elements (similar to syllables), in lines of 5, 7 and 5 elements exactly. In recent decades, as haikus spread out into the western world, this strict format has been relaxed and haikus today can take a variety of forms, but are always short - and always have that final element of surprise.
The ones on the boulders along the Haiku Walk have been written by poets from across the world, but each one pictures some aspect of the walk: the bridge, the river, the sunlight, butterflies, birds. As we wander past them, we can't help stopping and reading them, not just the first time we do this walk but every time - for each change in the weather, in the season, in our mood, gives a small twist to their meaning at that moment. If we tire of these, there are many others - composed by local people - on the path itself, on the east side of the river. And in addition to all that, the walk itself is pleasant, with the slow ambling river and the winding path... With or without the dog, this walk is a must! So if you're driving down SH2, don't miss it. Do the Haiku Walk.
SummaryLocation: west side of Katikati
Access: several entrances from main street in Katikati Length: 1.5 km Configuration: there-and-back Grade: flat Status: on-leash Cafes and restaurants: several in Katikati More information: http://www.katikati.co.nz/kk_text/haiku.html |
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