Example of a Japanese Haiku:
This may instill some class in his
narrow little soul?
Haiku
A haiku is a Japanese form of poetry that consists of seventeen usually unrhymed syllables in three lines of 5, 7 and 5 syllables. Here is an example of a Japanese haiku:
Nothing in the cry
of cicadas suggests they
are about to die.
--Basho
A haiku often takes nature as a subject. It may pair a meaningful comparison of time and place with a vivid image or observation. Modern Japanese haiku have pushed the boundaries of the 5-7-5 form, some using 7-5-5, 8-4-5, 5-9-3, 5-8-4, and other forms. It has also been suggested that the underlying structures of the haiku follow more of a two phrase pattern, resulting in forms such as 5-12, 12-5, 8-9, 9-8, 10-7, and so on.
Haiku written in English may use fewer than 17 syllables. Some American poets suggest writing haiku in 11 syllables, using a 3-5-3 form, or even fewer syllables such as a 2-3-2 form. This is done to approximate the compression of meaning found in Japanese haiku. More information can be carried in a 17 English syllables than in the same number of Japanese syllables.
Write three haiku using any of the forms we discussed. Post your haiku on the Your Haiku message board.
By A haiku often takes nature as a