The Art of Haiku

The haiku form was developed in Japan. It tells a story or draws a mental picture of something that happens in nature. Many descriptive words are used in haiku. The great Japanese master of haiku was Matsuo Basho (1644-1694). The name Basho means “banana tree” and was adopted by the poet when he moved into a hut located next to a banana tree. Haiku consists of 17 syllables and usually three lines that do not rhyme. There are five syllables in the first line, seven in the second, and five in the third. Each haiku must contain a kigo, or season word, that indicates the season in which the haiku is set. For example, cherry blossoms indicate spring, snow indicates winter, and mosquitoes indicate summer, but the season word isn’t always obvious. The poem contains a “cutting” or division between contrasting parts. In English, the first or second line usually ends with a colon or long dash to indicate this cutting. In writing haiku, contemplate nature and the present moment.

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Haiku 20

It rains all day long.
My umbrella is broken -
It still keeps me dry.
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Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Haiku 19

The voice of a friend,
We speak words that we can't write
from a far flung land.
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Thursday, July 5, 2007

Haiku 18

I said "She. Not he."
The students said "He. Not she!"
I thought he was she.
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Monday, July 2, 2007

Haiku 17

A man fell asleep
On a train from Osaka -
leaned on my shoulder.
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Friday, June 29, 2007

Haiku 16

A silent eve'ning -
View the moon from a swingset
I swing for some breeze.
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Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Haiku 15

Hot, muggy and damp -
I cannot see the mountains
The clouds are with us.
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Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Haiku 14

Green travel chopsticks -
My new way to love the earth.
Shop with a cloth bag.
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Friday, June 8, 2007

Haiku 13

Gravel clacks under
small blue umbrellas -
dodge rain and thunder.
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Thursday, June 7, 2007

Haiku 12

Separate the junk,
A Trashology degree-
Burnables today?
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Wednesday, June 6, 2007

Haiku 11

Twenty kids at lunch,
Chopsticks held in little hands-
Practicing English.
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Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Haiku 10

Drive home through the town,
the mountain's sunset backdrop-
Stone grey ...then red ...orange.
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Monday, June 4, 2007

Haiku 9

Is it sunny? yes.
Alphabet cherades and nouns,
Past tense verbs ...sung ...sang?
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Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Haiku 8

Tears were shed in flight-
Hope sits patiently to watch
friendships continue.
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Friday, May 11, 2007

Haiku 7

I'm her red-haired girl
Ohio to Illinois
Grandma knows my name.
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Thursday, April 12, 2007

Haiku 6

Clouds hover above
Lightening brightens our faces -
Norwood is alive.
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Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Haiku 5

Puppy-Pants let one
while we were talking with God -
I tried not to laugh.
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Saturday, April 7, 2007

Haiku 4

I bought a ticket
that will take me to Japan -
I leave May fifteenth.
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Thursday, March 29, 2007

Haiku 3

Beneath an oak tree
Though his dead ears heard no sound
Life clapped, cried and swayed
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Monday, March 26, 2007

Haiku 2

A friend runs with me
our words flow through the warm air-
Sleeping muscles wake.
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Sunday, March 25, 2007

Haiku 1

Buds hold future shade,
Basil walks on greener grass-
Sounds of friends outside.
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