HAIKU
The History of Haiku
The modern haiku was fashioned by a Japanese poet named Masaoka Shiki in the late 1800's. He created this new form of poetry to present realistic portrayals of nature and life. In Japanese, haiku are traditionally printed in a single vertical line while haiku in English often appear in three lines to parallel the three phrases of Japanese haiku. The essence of haiku is "cutting" (kiru). This is represented by the juxtaposition of two images or ideas with a "cutting word" (kireji) between them. The cutting divides the haiku into two parts, but the two sections must remain independent of each other. Both section must enrich the understanding of the other. To make the cutting, either the first or the second line ends normally with some form of punctuation, such as a comma, period, colon, long dash or ellipsis.
The modern haiku was fashioned by a Japanese poet named Masaoka Shiki in the late 1800's. He created this new form of poetry to present realistic portrayals of nature and life. In Japanese, haiku are traditionally printed in a single vertical line while haiku in English often appear in three lines to parallel the three phrases of Japanese haiku. The essence of haiku is "cutting" (kiru). This is represented by the juxtaposition of two images or ideas with a "cutting word" (kireji) between them. The cutting divides the haiku into two parts, but the two sections must remain independent of each other. Both section must enrich the understanding of the other. To make the cutting, either the first or the second line ends normally with some form of punctuation, such as a comma, period, colon, long dash or ellipsis.
Poverty's child -
he starts to grind the rice, and gazes at the moon. Temple bells die out. The fragrant blossoms remain. A perfect evening! |
In "Poverty's Child," notice the juxtaposition between working and daydreaming. This poem breaks from a truly traditional form of 5-7-5.
In "Temple Bells," notice the juxtaposition between the bells dying out and blossoms remaining. This poem uses the 5-7-5 format. |
How to Write a Haiku
Tradition insists that a clue to the season be included. This poem is made up of three lines only. There are only 17 syllables altogether. The pattern of syllables goes like this:
five syllables
seven syllables
five syllables
The tricky part is to find a way to express yourself using few words totaling seventeen syllables. The entire haiku should be read in one complete thought and reference any aspect of nature or the natural world. Here's an example:
Round swirls of color
Drifting in a summer sky
Carry me away
Juxtaposition
Definition: Two unlike ideas are placed side by side.
Why Writers Use It:
By placing two words or ideas next to one another, we can highlight the differences between them. Juxtaposition can be used on a small scale (like between words or images) or on a large scale (like between two characters or story lines). The effect can be funny or dramatic, depending on how it is used. A huge lion cowering with fear at the sight of a tiny mouse is a silly image. A grandmother holding a newborn baby might be a very powerful image, juxtaposing birth and old age.
Definition: Two unlike ideas are placed side by side.
Why Writers Use It:
By placing two words or ideas next to one another, we can highlight the differences between them. Juxtaposition can be used on a small scale (like between words or images) or on a large scale (like between two characters or story lines). The effect can be funny or dramatic, depending on how it is used. A huge lion cowering with fear at the sight of a tiny mouse is a silly image. A grandmother holding a newborn baby might be a very powerful image, juxtaposing birth and old age.