The concept of haiku poems tends to be quite common, and many people have heard of them and know about them a little bit. However, the specifics of this type of poem are not typically well-known.
The art form known as haiku began in 13th century Japan as the opening poem for a longer piece, called a renga, which was usually 100 stanzas long. The concept of the short haiku broke away and became its own art that people began to spend a lot of time crafting and perfecting.
Learn more about what haikus are and why poets write them, as well as how to get started on your own!
Characteristics of Haiku
What is a haiku? A haiku, or a hokku as it can be known, is a Japanese poem that can be based on many themes but typically includes nature. It’s known for having several unique characteristics that make it different from other forms of poetry, like the poems known as sonnets.
A Haiku is a Japanese form of poetry with 17 syllables, divided into three lines of 5, 7, and 5, typically centred on themes of nature.
Here’s a bullet-point guide to the main characteristics of Haiku poetry:
- English-language haikus usually contain a total of 17 syllables
- The haiku format is usually composed of 3 lines of 5-7-5 (syllables)
- 2 subjects are often placed in juxtaposition, giving a sense of profound insight
- These 2 simple subjects are most often separated by punctuation
- A Haiku traditionally contains a reference to the seasons or to nature and the natural world
Let’s dive deeper into these characteristics.
Syllables
Originally, in Japanese, Haiku poetry was measured in sounds, or "breaths," not English syllables. The 5-7-5 approach was a rough approximation to get the same feel as the traditional Japanese poems. The 5-7-5 form is still popular today and many poets still embrace the framework.
The goal is to be able to recite the poem in one breath, which mirrors the poem’s subject: a moment in time.
Surprisingly, this is one of the haiku rules that can be broken.
What? But I thought that was always the most important part!
Understandable! The 5-7-5 layout is a great starting place. It gives new writers a solid foundation to explore and lends itself to more experienced poets as well.
But, there are more important rules that make a haiku, which we will discuss in the next few points.
While you're at it, find out more about writing and performing slam poetry.
Topics
Here are some typical topics for Haikus:
- A focus on nature.
- A "season word," such as "snow," which tells the reader what time of year it is.
- A division somewhere in the poem, which focuses first on one thing, then on another. The relationship between these two parts is sometimes surprising and gives the reader a deeper understanding of what the author wants to convey.
- Instead of saying how a scene makes him or her feel, the poet shows the details that caused that emotion. If the sight of an empty winter sky made the poet feel lonely, describing that sky can give the same feeling to the reader.
Two Subjects
One of the main rules for writing haiku is to use two subjects to build a scene in the reader’s mind. You’ll understand this more when we talk about examples, but it’s one of the pillars of haiku that must not be left out.
Conveying a Moment in Time
Haikus are sort of like the Impressionist painting style of the poetry world. They are meant to portray a specific moment in time with both clarity and broadness. But brevity is highly valued in haikus, as opposed to longer forms of poetry like epics.
Succinctness is how a haiku can be fewer than 17 syllables and still be a haiku. If it follows the other rules of writing a haiku (using two subjects, conveying a moment in time, written in three lines), even if it has a different syllable structure, then it is a haiku.
Generally, there are 17 syllables in a haiku arranged in 3 lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables, respectively. However, it’s possible to write haikus with fewer syllables!
Examining Haiku Examples
Traditional haiku focuses on two simple subjects while giving an unexpected perspective. Much like a joke, the first part of haiku can often serve as the set-up, while the second part delivers the “punchline.”
Here’s an example from the Japanese poet Murakami Kijo (1865 – 1938):
First autumn morning:
the mirror I stare into
shows my father’s face.
In Kijo’s example, we can see that it follows the rules we explained above: two simple subjects (the mirror and the author’s face), punctuation separating the lines, a reference to Autumn and the unusual perspective in the ending.
Read Varying Haikus
Here are some more famous Haikus for you to enjoy. Examine the haiku poem structure in each example to get a better idea of how there can be a different amount of syllables, yet it still adheres to the haiku rules and is not like a free verse poem. See if you can spot the typical characteristics of seasons and surprising endings.
Haiku by Lynette Arden
king tide
the bay ripples
with jellyfish
Haiku by Jack Kerouac
The low yellow
moon above the
quiet lamplit house
“Haiku” is a Japanese word, shortened from haikai no ku which means ‘light verse’.
Matsuo Basho is one of the most prolific Haiku writers. He wrote over 1000 Haiku poems in his lifetime. His work The Narrow Road to the Deep North (1694) is the most famous collection of Haikus in Japan. His poems were originally written in Japanese and have been translated into English for us all to enjoy, here are a few for you to read:
In the Twilight Rain by Matsuo Basho
In the twilight rain
these brilliant-hued hibiscus . . .
A lovely sunset
A Caterpillar By Matsuo Basho
A caterpillar,
this deep in fall-
still not a butterfly.
In Kyoto by Matsuo Basho
Even in Kyoto—
hearing the cuckoo's cry—
I long for Kyoto.
This poet decided to change the Haiku format altogether writing his poem Distressed Haiku over 25 lines rather than 3! But we can still see some of the other characteristics of Haiku so we think it still counts, what do you think?
For longer poetry, you can read about how to create ballad poems.
Distressed Haiku - Poem by Donald Hall
In a week or ten days
the snow and ice
will melt from Cemetery Road.
I’m coming! Don’t move!
Once again it is April.
Today is the day
we would have been married
twenty-six years.
I finished with April
halfway through March.
You think that their
dying is the worst
thing that could happen.
Then they stay dead.
Will Hall ever write
lines that do anything
but whine and complain?
In April the blue
mountain revises
from white to green.
The Boston Red Sox win
a hundred straight games.
The mouse rips
the throat of the lion
and the dead return.
How to Write a Haiku
Now it’s your turn. We’ve given you the Haiku basics and some examples for inspiration. See if you can write your own Haiku.
Get Inspired
Try getting inspiration for your haikus from the world around you.
Go for a walk in nature.
Many haikus are inspired by objects in the natural world, such as trees, rocks, mountains, and flowers. To get ideas for your poem, take a walk in a park nearby or go for a hike in the woods. Head to a mountain trail or a body of water like a river, lake, or beach. Spend some time in nature and observe it so you can get ideas for the poem.
If you can’t go outside for a walk in an area with nature, try looking at nature photographs and art in books or online. Find a particular nature scene or object in nature like a tree or flower that inspires you.
Focus on a season or seasonal event.
Haikus can also be about a season, such as fall, spring, winter, or summer. You can also focus on a natural event that happens at a certain time of year, such as the blooming of the cherry blossom trees in your neighbourhood or the icicles on houses in the winter.
Seasonal haikus often focus on a specific detail about the season, naming the season in the poem. Writing about a season can be a fun way for you to describe a particular detail you love about that time of year.
Choose a person or object as your subject.
Haikus do not all have to be about nature or the seasons. You can also choose a particular person or object as inspiration for the poem. Maybe you want to write a funny haiku about your dog. Or perhaps you want to write a thoughtful haiku about your childhood toy.
Read examples of a haiku.
To get a better sense of the genre, read haikus that are well-known and considered good examples of the form. You can find examples in books or online. Read haikus that are about nature and other subjects.
Writing Your Haiku
Once you’ve got your inspiration you can finally get writing, here are our tips:
- Write two lines about something beautiful in nature. Don't worry about counting syllables yet.
- Write a third line that is a complete surprise, that is about something completely different from the first two lines, but pulls the imagery together.
- Look at the three lines together. Does the combination of these two seemingly unrelated parts suggest any surprising relationships? Does it give you any interesting ideas?
- Now rewrite the poem. Try using the 5, 7, 5-syllable format at first. Experiment with the new ideas or perspectives that have occurred to you.
- End the poem with an intriguing last line. A good Haiku will leave the reader hanging, thinking about the imagery of the poem.
- Read the Haiku aloud, and make sure that the lines flow well together. If anything sounds rough or choppy try to rewrite them.
Now you’re fully equipped to write your own Haiku! Happy writing! The great thing about poetry is that there are so many different types of poetry after you have tried Haiku poems. Limericks are a great way to exercise your wordcraft with a more humorous approach!
There are so many kinds of poetry that you are bound to find one for you. Don’t forget, if you need help with your writing skills you’ll find a Superprof tutor to suit you. Each lesson will be adapted to your needs, whether you want to write a Haiku, a novel or just brush up on your essay skills for an exam. Superprof have tutors all over, so wherever you live, you’ll find the right one for you!
Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
