Haiku - See yours in the Garden

Haiku

Free Verse

Prosies

Strictly Speaking
Haiku is a Japanese form of poetry. Strictly interpreted, the form is 5-7-5: five syllables on the first line, seven syllables on the second line, and five syllables on the third.

Here's a "perfect" example of the form:

this line has five sounds
the second line has seven
it's simple to write

The Spirit of Haiku
Because of the differences between the Japanese language and the English language, English poets can have a devil of a time adhering to the 5-7-5 form perfectly. Some haiku poets try to adhere to the "spirit" of the form instead, and break the rules of syllable counts.

Here's an example of a haiku that "breaks" the rules but remains true to the spirit:

dialing your number
i stop
at the last digit
- sooz

The spirit of the haiku form is harder to grasp, but here's my interpretation: you observe a moment, no matter how miniscule, and you comment on it. For me, haiku is a wonderful way to practice the spiritual art of being fully present in any given moment.

Simple enough, huh? Okay, you try it!

Join the Garden Party and Send in your own Haiku
Send me your haiku and I'll publish it here. You maintain all rights to your work; plus, it's published!

To send in your haiku, simply email it to me along with your name.

You can read others' haiku here.

© 2001 Frances Donovan.
Except for stuff that belongs to other people, which is reprinted with permission
and has their name under it.
Violators will get what's coming to them. Word.