Write Haiku Poems
How To Write Haiku Poems:
1. A haiku is a poem. It should be artistic.
2. Haiku poem is short and balanced. The first line has five syllables, the
second has seven, the third has five syllables.
3. Using words with many consonant sounds, like "strength", is a
no-no, or the sounds should each be counted as a syllable. The entire
poem should be able to be said aloud in a single breath.
4. The poet observes nature. At the moment when he experiences his own
oneness with nature, the "haiku moment", he describes exactly what it
is in nature that elicits this feeling, at the instant when the
feeling occurs.
5. In his description of something in nature, the poet elicits strong
human emotion from his readers.
6. Using a mention of a seasonal word, or otherwise invoking a notice
of the season, is intended to broaden the depth of meaning of the
poem, through association with cultural expectations of what that
season means to the reader.
There are many haiku rules, some of which may be broken if necessary.
1. Three lines of 5-7-5 syllables.
2. No rhyme.
3. Use only ordinary words.
4. Subject is nature.
5. Use of a seasonal word.
Haiku rules which may not be broken:
1. Haiku poem is art.
2. Haiku poems must elicit emotion from the reader.
To begin a practice of haiku, write seventeen-syllable observations.
Choose ordinary words which carefully express your observation.
This word-selection and conciseness is a very good writing exercise.
