Haikus

Haiku is a type of poetry that originated in Japan. A haiku poem has a seemingly simplistic structure. It is most commonly broken up into three lines and a total of 17 syllables, with five syllables in the first line, seven in the second and five in the third, and typically it does not rhyme. Because of the syllabic structure, a haiku's words and grammar are simple, but do not take this poetic form for granted. It is challenging to paint a picture with rich imagery under such constraints, which is what makes haiku a beautiful art form.

Haiku is a contemplative style of poetry that originated in Japanese literature. Haikus strictly adhere to a format of three short lines, with a specific number of syllables on each line for a total of 17 syllables. Unlike other types of poems, the haiku is very short and the lines are not required to rhyme. A simple haiku is meant to chronicle the essence of a moment and how it effects a person.

Poetry has long been a venue of self-expression and many poets have found the natural world to be a source of infinite inspiration. The poets in Japan who brought the haiku form into existence were definitely among the writers who saw nature as something beautiful and wise. See the steps below to learn different ways to interpret this sometimes mysterious and always subtle poetry.