How to Write Haiku

A Japanese style poetry that is famous for its simply read and written 3 lines poems. Traditionally, haiku poems contained a seasoned word, or kigo, that represented the time, or season, of the poem. Most haiku poems are written about a part of nature, or at least involves the natural world to some degree.

Remember that haiku poems are only 3 lines- no more and no less.

You have to choose your words carefully because you are restricted by the syllables in each word. When composing a haiku poem, you want to have 5 syllables in the first line, 7 in the second, and 5 in the third, final, line.

You want to count your syllables carefully. Make sure to count the word phonetically versus how it sounds when you speak it, which may be different.

Each line of a haiku poem is broken up with distinct grammatical breaks, called kireji, which is usually placed at the end of the first or second line in the poem.

1. Understand the basic format of a haiku.
2. Pick a general topic. Most haiku poems focus on the imagery of nature and the natural world.
3. Pick a season. Because most haiku poems are set around nature, it is easy to pick a topic related to a season.
4. Contrast. Try to evoke an emotional impact on the last line. In many haiku poems, the poet will switch moods on the second or third line.

When looking that the four seasons, you can come up with a variety of ideas and themes:

• Winter: cold, sadness, hunger, peace
• Summer: warmth, love, anger, temptation
• Fall (Autumn): decay, supernatural, jealousy, saying good- bye, regret, misery
• Spring: infatuation, youth, passion, fickleness, birth or rebirth

Other Tips:

1. When writing your haiku poem, it'll come easier if you write what you're feeling, versus what you see.
2. You don't have to make full sentence. Haiku excepts all forms of writing, and that includes phrases.
3. Have fun. Haiku poems don't have to be 100% serious in matter. Make it funny.

Basho

this autumn

as reason for growing old

a cloud and a bird

* * * * *

the cruelty

of being under a helmet

a cricket

Jane Reichhold

Putting on lipstick

Before writing the letter

White-glove lady

* * * * *

With cold fingers

Writing down words

Everyone knows