Haiku

Poetry

What is it?

Haiku" is a traditional form of Japanese poetry. Haiku poems consist of 3 lines. The first and last lines of a Haiku have 5 syllables and the middle line has 7 syllables. The lines rarely rhyme.

A good Haiku tip to help you remember:

I am first with five

Then seven in the middle --

Five again to end.

Because Haikus are such short poems, they are usually written about things that are recognisable to the reader.

Where does it come from?

The haiku first emerged in Japanese literature during the 17th century, as a terse reaction to elaborate poetic traditions, though it did not become known by the name haiku until the 19th century.

What does it try to do?

A haiku is considered to be more than a type of poem; it is a way of looking at the physical world and seeing something deeper, like the very nature of existence. It should leave the reader with a strong feeling or impression.

My Northern Lights Haiku Poem

The great Northern Lights

Illuminate the night sky

Oh what a great sight