HAIKU: Definition And Examples Of How To Make One

HAIKU: Definition Of This Short Poem And Its Examples

HAIKU – Here we will learn the definition of a form of poem in Japan called haiku and how you can make one following its format.

Haiku is a type of poem that originated in Japan. There are many variants of haiku but the basic and common form is composed of 3 lines following the 5-7-5 syllable format, thus, a total of 17 syllables.

Example:

A lonely old man

Bonded by chains of his past

Lives in suffering

Notice that the poem follows the 5-7-5 format. Let’s read the poem again but counting each syllable.

A lone-ly old man (5)

Bond-ed by chains of his past (7)

Lives in suf-fer-ing (5)

Here are other examples from famous poets:

An old silent pond…
A frog jumps into the pond,
splash! Silence again.”

Matsuo Basho

“In the twilight rain
these brilliant-hued hibiscus –
A lovely sunset.”

Matsuo Basho

“In the moonlight,
The color and scent of the wisteria
Seems far away. “

Yosa Buson

“A little boy sings
on a terrace, eyes aglow.
Ridge spills upward.

Robert Yehling

READ ALSO: PROGRESSIVE VERB TENSES: 3 Tenses In Progressive With Samples

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