How to Haiku

A Haiku is the shortest poem in the world. It depicts a moment, sensation, impression or drama of a specific fact of nature--almost like a photo. Haiku speaks in parables of life.

There are several rules of Haiku, but the most important ones are that a Haiku must:

1. Have 3 short lines

2. Have a 'season' word known as a 'kigo'

3. Have one cutting word

4. Must have no rhyme or metaphor

5. Have a total of 17 syllables in lines of 5-7-5

These rules are for the stricter ancient Haiku. In modern English Haiku, variations of the 5-7-5 rule are accepted practice.

It is fun to dabble with Haiku. The following Haiku are written in original Haiku form:

Brittle vivid color
Precariously clinging--
Sapless branches drip

Tender shoots thrust upward
Trading white for green--
As sunbeams touch

Floating lily pads
Hide frogs croaking--
At circles of rain

Autumn's reds and golds
Reflecting in calm water--
Flow past my window

Sapless life
Slumbering beneath crusted white--
Dreams of rebirth

The red maple
Splatters blood over the grass--
As cold breezes blow

Geese squabble in formation
Fleeing icy death--
Swallowed into fog

The opossum prowls tonight
Bright harvest moon--
I lie awake

Try writing some of your own Haiku. One exercise that I enjoy is what I call 'Alphabet Haiku'. Start a new Haiku for each letter of the alphabet and do a series of 26. Here are some examples of Alphabet Haiku that I wrote:

APPLE--CRISP AND COLD
CLINGING FAST TO THE BARE BRANCH--
WAITING TO BE PICKED

BUMBLE BEE HIDING
DRINKING THE BLOSSOM'S SWEETNESS--
TOO DRUNK TO FLY AWAY

CORN STOCKS DRIED BY SUN
NOW ARE POPULAR DECOR--
HALLOWEEN'S COMING!

DOG FRISKING IN SNOW
ROLLING IN THE COLD SOFTNESS--
ANGELS WITHOUT WINGS

Now it's your turn. Have fun with Haiku!