Haiku genre

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Haiku is a short form of Japanese poetry that traditionally consists of 17 phonetic unitscalled "on" arranged in three phrases of 5, 7, and 5 on respectively. In English, haiku are often written in three lines totaling 17 syllables or less. The poems aim to capture a fleeting moment or feeling, often related to nature or the seasons.

Here's a classic example by Matsuo Bashō:

An old silent pond...
A frog jumps into the pond,
splash! Silence again.

Terms

• Hokku: The opening stanza of a longer linked poem from which haiku originated in Japan.

• Kigo: A word or phrase associated with a particular season, used in haiku to indicate the poem's seasonal context.

• Kireji: A "cutting word" that provides a pause or closure to one of the haiku's phrases.

• On: A Japanese phonetic unit similar to a syllable, used to define the structure of haiku.

• Phonetic unit: A distinct unit of sound in a language, such as a syllable, used to define poetic structure.

Analogy

Haiku poems are like photographs capturing a brief instant in time. Just as a photo frames one particular scene or subject, a haiku frames and freezes a specific moment, feeling, or observation in a concise poetic snapshot.

Misconception

Many people mistakenly believe haiku must strictly follow a 5-7-5 syllable structure. However, this applies to traditional Japanese haiku which count sounds (on), not syllables. In English, haiku often deviate from this pattern, focusing more on brevity and juxtaposing images than on a rigid structure.

History

1. Haiku originated as the opening stanza (hokku) of longer linked poems in Japan.

2. In the 17th century, poets like Matsuo Bashō began writing hokku as standalone poems.

3. Haiku was established as a distinct form and given its current name by Masaoka Shiki in the late 19th century.

4. In the 20th century, haiku spread globally with poets writing in many languages while incorporating elements of the Japanese tradition.

How to use it

1. Take a walk in nature and jot down what you notice with your senses. Compose a haiku that captures a striking image or moment from your walk.

2. Keep a haiku journal to record little snapshots of your day, like a beautiful sunrise or a funny conversation.

3. Practice observing small, often overlooked details in your environment and distill them into haiku to share with others.

Facts

• The great Japanese haiku master Matsuo Bashō wrote his famous "old pond" haiku in the 17th century.

• Traditional Japanese haiku include a kigo (seasonal word) to signal the season reflected in the poem.

• Haiku began as the opening verse of a collaborative linked poem called renga before becoming a standalone form.

• While haiku originated in Japan, today poets write haiku in many languages around the world.

• A haiku is the shortest poetic form in world literature, capturing a moment in just 17 syllables or less.