Tuesday, February 05, 2019

Just exactly what is Haiku?

Many people are intimidated or, at best, put off by the mention of haiku. They may find it confusing, contradictory or just downright silly. Actually, it is none of these things when you understand the structure and premise of this lovely form of Japanese inspired poetry.


First of all, let us consider the structure. A haiku consists of three lines of non-rhyming poetry. Lines one and three consist of exactly five (5) syllables; no more, no less. Line two consists of seven (7) syllables. Count them. Sound them out. There must be exactly seven. 


Next rule: the haiku must relate, in some way, to nature. Birds, bees, plants, animals, the sun, the sky, the moon and stars, the seasons; anything that has to do with nature. 


Finally, each line has a specific purpose. Line one sets the stage. It’s like the introduction, the opening statement. Line two supports or expands on line one. Line three is the kicker. It often seems to take the poem in a completely different direction. However, on closer inspection the reader realizes it is not only related to the previous two lines, but gives them a whole new meaning. This juxtaposition is the essence of haiku.


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