Haiku: Poetry in three lines
The haiku is a very structured poetry form. Initially introduced by the Japanese, they are three-lined poems containing five syllables in the first line, seven in the second, and five in the third. Containing just seventeen syllables, the haiku cannot capture a "big picture." One depicts in them tiny images of incredible beauty, something glorious that might be missed if the writer had not taken the time to point it out. In a haiku one may depict a drop of water on a leaf reflecting early morning light, the smell of the evening dew, the answer of one bird to another's call, the persistence of a flower pushing its way through the cracks in the pavement to touch the sky. A haiku is about serenity and peace. It is getting in touch with nature; it feels like a gentle sea breeze.
Famous Haiku - Matsuo Basho
Some of the most famous haiku were written in the late 1600s by poet Matsuo Basho:
Not so famous Haiku
Soft little droplets
Which quench mother nature's thirst making the world green by Kristen Armand |
Origami cranes
One thousand beautiful birds Bring eternal hope Credit: Japanese Joy Website |
A gentle breeze blows
Taking the scent of a bud Along for the ride. by Samantha Keim |
Things you might write about
Focus on the small things, such as a blade of grass or light reflecting off a rain drop. Look for the beauty in the detail: a butterfly's wing, the march of ants, the bark of a distant dog. Express an emotion.