Anish Aaryan

Haiku is a poetic form and a type of poetry from the Japanese culture. Haiku combines form, content, and language in a meaningful, yet compact form. Haiku themes include nature, feelings, or experiences. Usually simple words and grammar are used in Haiku. A Haiku must "paint" a mental image in the reader's mind.

The most common form for Haiku is three short lines. The first line usually contains five (5) syllables, the second line seven (7) syllables, and the third line contains five (5) syllables. Haiku doesn't rhyme.

This is the challenge of Haiku - to put the poem's meaning and imagery in the reader's mind in ONLY 17 syllables over just three (3) lines of poetry!

Previously called hokku, it was given its current name, Haiku, by the Japanese writer Masaoka Shiki at the end of 19th century.
Masaoka Shiki was the pen-name of a Japanese author, poet, literary critic, and journalist in Meiji period Japan. His real name was Masaoka Tsunenori, but as a child he was called Tokoronosuke.Later, he changed his own name Noboru.

Instruction to write Haiku:-
1. Think about a theme for your haiku and write down some of the words that come to mind on that theme.

2. Organize your thoughts roughly onto three lines. First, set the scene, then expand on that by expressing a feeling, making an observation or recording an action. Keep it simple.

3. Polish your haiku into three lines, the first with five syllables, the second line with seven syllables and the third line with five syllables. It may take some time and substitution of words to make it fit.

Examples:


See?
So simple.
Try. Practise. And be a Haiku poet.