Haiku Adventure!
An Introduction to Haiku Verse

Clouds come from time to time
Giving us a chance to rest -
From looking at the moon.
      -Basho
 

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What is Haiku?
Haiku is a popluar and well known form of Japanese verse. Most people know that it was traditionally written in three lines, with a total of 17 sylables. When haiku is translated into English, or written in English, it does not always follow this strict rule, however. The essential point is that it be short - using as few words as possible - to portray a sharp, clear image of one particular moment in time. In the Basho haiku shown above, you are given the image and the feeling of the exact moment the clouds cover the moon, the sky darkens, and you lower your gaze to rest the ache in your neck. Aha! You can feel that instant.

Other Features:
This haiku also illustrates some of the other features of haiku. For one thing, there should always be a focus on nature, and natural things. The elements that refer to humans or human culture are always in relation to nature. Hence, we hear Basho talk about the moon and how people feel looking at it. To find a subject for your haiku, you must spend some time sitting still and observing the world around you. Go outside and sit still for awhile. Look around carefully. What do you see?

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Another element is that haiku should contain a seasonal word. In Basho's haiku the season is fall, and the full moon is the traditional word that refers to fall. In Japanese haiku there are traditional reference words for each season: cherry blossoms for spring, cranes and crickets for summer, the moon for fall, Mt. Fuji or snow for winter. Writing in America, we have to find seasonal words that make sense for us.

I mentioned above that haiku should always contain one sharp image of a single thing. This is not exactly correct. The key element that makes really good, profound and memorable haiku is that you are given one sharp image in the first two lines, and than a contrast, or surprising revelation of the image in the last line. This startling new point of view is what gives the haiku it's "Aha!", or inspirational impact. If it were just looking at the moon, that is a bit of a cliche. But the clouds come, and our neck is given a rest. So nature at it's most beautiful contains some darkness, but that can be a relief! I often think of this haiku when trouble comes, or it rains on my picnic.

Here is another of my favorite haiku, this one also by Basho.

A solitary
crow on a bare branch-
autumn evening

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More:
Click the links below to learn more about haiku and to read some of the best haiku. After you've read a lot of haiku, try writing some yourself. Write several, and think about them for awhile. Then send me an email, and submit your haiku to this web page. I'll publish the ones I like the best.

 

Last Updated 3/19/06