Author:
Louise Ward
Date Of Creation:
11 February 2021
Update Date:
1 July 2024
Content
Haiku form (俳 句, pronunciation high-koo) is a 3-sentence short form of poetry, using language to describe the senses, to express feelings or images. Haiku poetry was originally developed by Japanese poets. They often use material inspired by nature, a moment of beauty, or a poetic experience. To compose Haiku, you first have to brainstorm ideas, then go into detail and closer image. Be sure to sharpen the poem and listen to the sound it makes when read out loud.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Ideas for haiku poetry
Walking in the middle of nature. Many Haiku songs are inspired by things of the natural world, such as trees, rocks, mountains and flowers. To get an idea for the poem, walk through the park or across the woods near your home. Walk along mountain trails or banks of rivers, lakes or sea. Spending time with nature and observing, you will come up with poetic ideas.
- If you can't go out for a walk, take a look at nature pictures in books or online. Find familiar natural landscapes or natural subjects like plants and flowers that can inspire you.
Focus on season or seasonal events. Haiku poetry can also refer to the season of the year, including spring, summer, autumn, and winter. You can also focus on seasonal events that only take place at certain times of the year, like cherry blossoms or salmon swimming back to the river near your home.- Seasonal Haiku poetry often focuses on a particular detail of a season that calls out its name in the poem. Writing about one season of the year can be a great way to describe what makes you love this time of the year.
Get the person or thing the subject. Haiku is not just about season or nature. You can also choose a specific person or object as the inspiration for the poem. You might want to write a hilarious poem about your dog, or a profound Haiku about a childhood toy.- Try to focus on only one person or object in your poem. Haiku is very short and you will not have enough space to write about all your thoughts in just 3 lines about the person or thing.
Read a sample Haiku poem. To get a better feel for this kind of poetry, you should read famous poems that are considered a good example of form. You can find these Haiku articles in good books online. To read Haiku about nature and objects, you can check out:- Haiku of Japanese poet Matsuo Basho.
- Haiku of the Japanese poet Yosa Buson.
- Haiku by the Japanese poet Tagami Kikusha.
- Haiku by American poet Richard Wright.
Focus on past events or things that bother you. Try borrowing a love scene or a metaphor that can help you express your feelings briefly. Some examples you might like:
- Boom, boom, boom, measure, measure!
- My mind is the battlefield
- Thien Thu rage
Part 2 of 3: Composing Haiku
Follow the sentence structure and syllable of haiku poetry. Haiku poetry follows the strict rule: 3-line structure, syllable 5-7-5. That means the first sentence is 5 syllables, second sentence 7 syllable and last sentence is 5 syllable.
- The whole poem has a total of 17 syllables. To count the syllables of a word, place your hand under your chin and pronounce the word. Every stroke of your chin touching your hand counts as a syllable.
- A Haiku doesn't need rhyming or rhythm, as long as it follows a specified number of syllables.
Describe your subject with sensory details. Haiku poetry conveys a brief message about the subject to the reader through the senses. Think about the subject's scent, emotion, sound, taste, and appearance. Describe the subject only with your senses, and that will come alive in the readers' hearts, they will feel the magic power on the page.
- For example, you could write about the "faint scent of pine needles" or "the bitter taste of the morning air".
- If you are writing poetry about a specific subject, like a pet dog, you could describe "the claw of the claw on the brick floor" or "the wet fur of the dog playing with water".
Use specific images and descriptions. Avoid abstract or ambiguous descriptions. Instead, you should use specific images for readers to easily visualize. Instead of using metaphors or simulations, describe your subject with specific and unique detail.
- Avoid long descriptions or use complex words. Try using simple words so you can stick to Haiku's syllable rules.
- Don't use cliché, so familiar that it doesn't make sense anymore. Instead use unique images and descriptions.
- For example, you can write "Fall leaves sweep the road" or "The dog chased after a brilliant green bird".
Write poetry in the present tense. In order to draw a poem, you should use present tense instead of past. Present tense also helps simple verses easy to follow.
End the poem with an unexpected last sentence. A good Haiku song will have a fluttering ending and leave viewers lingering. It can surprise the reader with the final image or have to reread the above two sentences in a daze.
- For example, a poet Kobayashi Issa's Haiku has an unexpected ending: "Everything I touch / albeit with tenderness, alas / throbbing pain".
Part 3 of 3: Sharpening the poem
Read the poem out loud. Once the draft is finished, reread it out loud. Hear what the poem sounds like. Make sure that each line of poetry flows spontaneously one after another when read out in a 5-7-5 rhythm. The poem must sound natural.
- If you find that there is a clumsy or clumsy texture, re-fix it for a smoother look. Replace long or complex words. Make sure the poem sounds comfortable when it is read.
Show others your Haiku. Get feedback from people about the poem. Ask friends, relatives, and fellow students what they think. Question whether they understand the poem describes a moment in nature or season.
- If you are writing Haiku about an object or subject, ask everyone if the poem does a good job in exploiting the subject.
Place the poem in the center of the page when finished. Stick the poem in the center of the page and center it so that it forms a diamond. That is the traditional way of presenting Haiku.
- You can also put a short title above the poem, like "Autumn" or "The Dog". Avoid wordy titles.
- Most Haiku poems have no title. You do not have to name the poem.
