Haiku
Student Poetry This Project: WR245 More Home		Haiku is a minimalist form of poetry. The writer has 17 or fewer syllables through which to convey an experience.          The content of a haiku is typically, but not always, focused on what a person witnesses in everyday life that is more outstanding or important than normal, something deemed worth reaching for in written expression. The something can be auditory--a bird call, or visual--light glistening on water, or a human sentiment--a fleeting infatuation, or a memory associated with something seen, heard, felt. Some argue that a haiku must contain an obvious reference to a season and must be nature focused, but at least half the English language haijin do not have a nature focus. After all, for the most part we live in cities, not the rural Japan of several centuries ago when the haiku form was invented by a monk named Basho.          The content of a haiku might be about an everyday (but noticable) event, or about an awe-inspiring experience, or about a transformational experience--an epiphany or special insight. Part of writing haiku is finding the 'awe' that is usually passed by without notice--the act of creating a haiku is the act of a focusing our attention more closely than we might otherwise do.          Haiku Form:          English-Language haiku is incorrectly said to have a prescribed form, three lines of 5-7-5 syllables and a seasonal reference. However, there is a great deal of debate about the form of English haiku and few agree that the 5-7-5 season reference form is the only acceptable form. What then is the form of a haiku? Some of the critical aspects of haiku form that have been mentioned are: Brevity - one to three lines totaling 17 syllables or less Three lines - some would insist of 5-7-5 syllable structure, some suggest a structure of three lines with 5 or less, 7 or less, 5 or less syllables When read aloud - can be completed in one breath Avoidance - of traditional English poetic forms, such as rhyming and metaphor Juxtaposition - two elements or lines of the haiku indirectly relate to a third Descriptiveness - haiku describe, they don't prescribe or tell
		Links for examples and more information: Yield by Sean Casey Linked Haiku by Rose Lefebvre Modern Haiku The Heron’s Nest Simply Haiku World Haiku Review Haiku in the South Sea
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