HAIKU~ form of Japanese literature

Haiku, an unrhymed poetic form consisting of 17 syllables arranged in three lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables respectively. 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.

A poem was written in the haiku form or a modification of it in a language other than Japanese is also called a haiku. In English, the haiku composed by the Imagists were especially influential during the early 20th century. The form’s popularity beyond Japan expanded significantly after World War II, and today haiku are written in a wide range of languages.

How to write A haiku?

• Write the poem short, perhaps short

enough that it can be said in a breath.

• Write the poem in three lines, with the second line slightly longer than the first and last.

• Divide the haiku into two parts, using a syntactical break to divide the poem after the first or second line. This can be done by grammar or by punctuation. In Japanese, appropriate punctuation is a kireji ("cutting word") which is a sounded word, such as if we said "semi-colon".

• If the "traditional" syllable count is used for the haiku, use this form:

In English, it might be useful to count stresses rather than syllables, such as:

2 stresses 3 stresses 2 stresses

Some Examples are :-)

Look to the mirror

and start loving what you see.

Only then move on.

~Daily Haiku on Love by Tyler Knott Gregson

Groundhog day

through this,

each day, the very

same.

I make the tea

I cook the eggs

I toast the bread

I wash the pan.

I wake, and I do it

once more, then

once more after

that.

I have been here

before,

I will be here

again.

-Tyler Knott Gregson-

You guys can also try out some Haikus and mail them to me on vibishamulgundmath@gmail.com