I wrote a haiku poem, called “Dancing with the Stars”. Haiku is such a uniquely simple, yet, poignant form of poetry. I thought I would share my poem, as well as provide a little information to anyone looking to get started on his or her own haiku adventure!
My haiku poem, “Dancing with the Stars”:
Dancing with the stars,
you left, on a gust of wind…
I used to hold you.
Other examples of haiku poetry:
“The Sentry” by C.J. Almeten
“Standing Your Ground” by Tim Yu
“Hurricane Haiku” by Edward J. Neary
Three Famous Haiku Poems
What is haiku poetry?
Haiku is a Japanese form of poetry. Traditionally, Haiku poems have three phrases made up of a total of seventeen morae (often confused with syllables). The first and last phrases should contain five morae, while the second phrase should contain seven. Generally, haiku poets avoid using metaphors or similes.
There are two very important elements to Haiku poetry. First, haiku poems refer to seasons. This is done with the use of a kigo, a seasonal word or phrase, such as “bare tree”, “frog” (in reference to the season when frogs are abundant), “clouds” (in reference to the rainy season), or “cold winds” . The poem does not have to be about the season. The seasonal word simply provides a mood/time, or backdrop, for the scene that the haiku poem is painting. Second, Haiku poems juxtapose two ideas or images, often without directly pointing out what the contrast between them is. In Japanese haiku, a kireji is used to do this. Unfortunately, there is no real English equivalent to a kireji. Because of this, English poets will often use special punctuation, such as a dash, in its place. Several English poets simply leave the kireji unmarked, however.
Many English and modern Japanese haiku poems do not comply with all of these rules. Haiku, like most things, changes along with the people who make it. Each culture has a different take on haiku, and each new generation writes poetry just a little bit differently. Feel free to experiment with your haiku poems! But, do keep in mind the traditional guidelines that make haiku unique.
More information about haiku and how to write poems:
How to Write a Haiku Poem
How to Write a Good Poem
How to Write Poetry – the Haiku