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Haiku from the Heart


WHAT IS HAIKU?

Haiku is a type of poem, originating in Japan.  The term "haiku" technically means "parallel sentence" but is translated more aptly as "amusing sentence."  


Traditional haiku has a total of 17 syllables and consists of just three lines.  The first line contains 5 syllables; the second line contains 7 syllables and the third and final line contains another 5 syllables.  Traditional haiku is strictly about nature; one's observation of nature; and/or one's interaction with nature.  Example of a traditional haiku poem:


dragonfly shimmers

colors cascade together:

a wing-ed rainbow


Non-traditional haiku has the same formal structure as traditional haiku (i.e., three lines in the 5-7-5 syllabic format).  However, the content or subject matter can encompass basically any topic.  Example of a non-traditional haiku poem:


while playing bongos

i hear a musical sound

(my cell phone ringing!)


There is a trend among English-speaking nations/peoples for acknowledgement of Unconventional haiku.  Haiku poems in this category contain anywhere from 10 to 17 syllables and are usually, but not always, three lines in length.  Example of an unconventional haiku poem:


steep ravine

hikes down

its own gravel path



WHY HAIKU?

Good question.  I love the haiku format because it structure forces you to be concise and clear in your poem:  there isn't room for elaborate descriptions or copious use of Big Words.  You need say what you want to say without "fluff".


haiku has no room

for elaborate, Big Words

such as "erudite"


The beauty is in the brevity.