Influence of the Japanese haiku master, Matsuo Bashō, is very prominent in Niedecker’s poems. Although they differ a bit in that haiku often has substantial leaps in the images and ideas, which brings both spaciousness as well as clarity to whatever is chosen to be brought into the poem. Niedecker, on the other hand, often keeps a lyrical quality in order to hold her poems together. Where Japanese haiku finds freedom in open connection, Niedecker finds freedom in sonic connection.

Something in the water
like a flower
will devour

water

flower

*

Sky
in my favor

to fly
to downtown crowds
home

and Bashō
on my mind

*

The eye
of the leaf
into leaf
and all parts
…..spine
into spine
neverending
…..head
to see

But now two examples for when Niedecker does incorporate a more traditional Asian style:

Stone
and that hard
contact--
the human

*

…….Frog noise
…….suddenly stops

Listen!
They turned off
their lights