What Is Haiku-Examples And Description

by Terry Chestnutt

The Haiku poetry form is very simple and easy to understand. The word 'haiku' is Japanese for 'starting place'. For many centuries in Japan a form of communal poetry, called hokku, engaged many poets. A hokku was started when one poet sent a haiku, again meaning 'starting place' to another and the recipient read it and added his own verse in reaction. The second poet then sent the poem to a third person who also added a verse, and mailed it forward.

There were three rules defining a 'starting place' poem, or 'haiku'. It had to consist of three lines with five syllables in the first line, seven syllables in the second line, and five syllables again in the third line. The haiku had to make use of the images and events of nature and had to mention a season of the year. Punctuation was up to the individual contributor. Titles were not mandatory.

In the 1890s famous poet Masaoka Shiki observed that the starting place verses could be regarded as individual works and could stand alone as a new form of poetry. He encouraged the people to write and send verses modeled after the starting verse and to appreciate them in their own right. His idea caught on. Soon Haiku was a popular form of poetry in Japan. Following are some examples of what the most popular Japanese poets contributed to the growing catalog of haiku.

Traditional Haiku master Matsuo Basho who lived (1644-1694) fulfills all the requirements of traditional haiku in his native language in the following examples, but, because it is a translation into English, the syllable rule is not evident.

the cranes legs
have gotten shorter
in the spring rain

Here is a second example by Matsuo Basho

midnight frost-
Id borrow
the scarecrows shirt

Here are some examples of traditional haiku by Yosa Buson (1716-1783)

green plum
it draws
her eyebrows together

The season of Spring is clearly indicated by the "green plum."

Also we have by the same master the following:

crossing the
summer river
sandals in my hand

Here are some examples of traditional haiku by master Kobayashi Issa who lived between (1763-1827)

the kitten dances
round and round...
falling leaves

Another work by Kobayashi Issa also mentions a season of the year litterally.

spring rain--
a child gives a dance
lesson to the cat

Another great writer of traditional haiku was Masaoka Shiki who lived in Japan between (1867-1902)

stillness - -
fireflies are glowing
over deep water

In the following English haiku Spring is mentioned in the word "new Moon."

Since my house burned down
I get a better view of
The big bright new moon

An example of modern haiku, which does not restrict itself to mentioning a season is the following by American poet Martin Kloess.

Gone are his footsteps
Buried by the multitude
That followed his path

Here is another sample by the same author:

So many chances
Things we could have done better
To spoil perfection

Neither of the posts by the modern haiku writer Martin Kloess, a native to the English language, mention any of the seasons or strictly use the images of the natural world.

All these sets are powerful and moving, but the modern one breaks with tradition in several ways.

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English Haiku by Martin Kloess

My English Haiku

Funny Haiku

Matsuo Basho

Dark Haiku

Surrealistic Haiku