How to Create a Non-Traditional Haiku Poem

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A Haiku is a Japanese form of poetry which most of us have heard of one way or another. Maybe in passing while in elementary school or in depth in Jr. High. Either way, you know of it, but do you remember how to write it? Further more, are you aware that there is the more traditional type of Haiku and a non-traditional form? Well, now you do! Traditional Haiku originated in Japan and had 17 sounds in the poem. The topic of the poem was nature or an event in nature/environment. The focus was very specific and narrowed down. One well known poem by Matsuo Basho is: old pond... a frog leaps in water's sound. This is very specific, and tells you an action through very few words. In the US, the traditional form of Haiku is most often taught as a form using 3 lines with 5/7/5 syllables. The misconception is that there are 3 lines to a Haiku, with 5/7/5 syllables. The traditional sounds of Japanese Haiku would actually be about 15-17 syllables. In the 20th Century, American writers began to make their own versions of the Haiku, keeping some of the original form for consistency. Below is how to create your own new form of a Haiku.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Pencil
Pen
Lined paper

Step1

Number 3 lines on your paper with the pencil.

Step2

Now, think about nature. Concentrate on a specific area of nature, then a specific action or event in nature. A rabbit stepping on a branch for example.

Step3

Focus on this thought. Think about the colors, the environmental objects such as plants. What can you smell, taste, hear or touch?

Step4

Flip over your paper and write down some of these images.

Step5

Now, circle the images that would work best connected together to complete a thought/action in three short lines.

Step6

Now, flip over your lined paper to the side with the 3 numbered lines.

Step7

Write your connecting descriptions of smell/sound/image on these lines, but make sure that the first and third line or shorter than the second line.

Step8

Read over your Haiku. The lines should not be too long (say more than 5-6 words), and the first and third should be shorter than the second. The Haiku should be simple and about nature.

Step9

Next, write another Haiku, only this time use the pen so that you will not be able to erase your decisions for the words you use.

Tips & Warnings

For fun, you can also try to write a non-traditional Haiku with lines one and two 3 words long, and line two 3 words long.
Also try writing a Haiku in the 5/7/5 syllables format.