Through participant and guest-led walks, written and visual documentation, the Walkative Project explores how walking can trigger processes of thinking, researching, collaborating and making.

Walks and Events – Archive

A Walkative Haik(u)

A walking workshop that makes the essence of haiku accessible to English speakers

Thumbnail image for A Walkative Haik(u)

Many thanks to everyone who came along, experienced and contributed poetry to ‘A Walkative Haik(u)’ (Haiku Ginko) in Hyde Park on Sunday 12th May which was led superlatively by haiku poet and critic Yuzo Ono. The images are a selection taken by Simon King, Emma Harry and Ryan McDonagh.


  • You dive head down with no fear
    To underwater follow the first circle created
    That flows away and disappears
    (Haiku & image: Marina Stavrou)
  • Haiku in the grass
  • Haiku in the grass
  • The introduction via four examples of the haiku form (Japanese and non-Japanese)
  • Yuzo creates the line according to Ginko Haiku tradition
  • Yuzo reads a haiku that has received anonymous ‘likes’
  • Illustrative examples of classic haiku
  • Walkers awaiting feedback from Yuzo

Here are the haiku that we wrote on the day – not all conforming to the content and structure of the classic Japanese form …

BIRDS ON THE FIELD
 THE DOG RUNS
 FEATHERED SMOKE
STONE COLD MORTALS
 REFLECT THE GOLDEN SUN
 MEANWHILE, A CONSORT TOPPLES
DISTANT PLANE ROARS
 CUT GRASS AIR DRIES
DAISIES PUSHING THROUGH
LURKING TREE BY DAY
 BRIGHT PAGE IS QUITE HUMBLE
THE PARK'S STATIONARY
HIDDEN BEHIND TREES
THEN WOBBLING
SNEAKING UP FROM BEHIND
"I AM NOT HERE"
IS A TREE STRIPPED BARE?
OR TWO THOUGHTS HALF FULL

IN PILED FORMATION
EIGHT KNEECAPS CHEER 
AGAINST THE YELLOW HEADWIND
THE WIND MEETS
THE GRASS
THEY APPLAUD

STARLING CUTS SKY
DECKCHAIRS REST IN STACKS 
MEMORY OF SNOW

PURPLE KNIGHTS
PLANT THEIR FEET, 
MAKE THOUGHTS TOO

A LOUD CLICK IN
CONDENSED TIME
TASTES LIKE APPLE

IN THE BOWER SHADE
MUFFLING GRASS HIDES
CADENT RHYTHMS, DISTANT VOICES

HOW THE TREES ARE FOR ME
THE FLOWERS ARE  
FOR THE BEE

THE GOLDEN STATUE IS
WAITING FOR THE REVOLUTION
- OR JUST SMILING?

THE TREE TRAPEZE SCHOOL
ADMISSIONS OPEN
FLY NOW

ARE TRAPEZE BOYS
LOVING THEIR BLUE
IN THIS WAY?

HELLO SQUIRREL
NICE THAT YOU CAME TO MY BENCH
WHY RUNNING AWAY?

FRIENDS OF THE GARDENS
DOG TAILS WAG
ROOTS PLANTED TO STAY

A COOT CLICKS
PATTERNS SHIMMER ON THE SURFACE
JUMP AND SPLASH

A LITTLE GIRL TOUCHED MY LEG
HER MUM SAID: "SHE IS A STRANGER, DON'T TOUCH HER"
I'M NOT A STRANGER

I SEE YOU BINOCULAR CHILD
RUSHING, RUSHING

SMILING UP AT LIGHTNING
SOME SAY IT'S LUCK