Do you haiku? Do you like to write haiku? I do. In the past few years I’ve been trying my hand at haiku and found I really love it. The traditional haiku is three lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables but there are a lot of variations on that now and the rules are not so strict.

As The Academy of American Poets asserts, “As the form evolved, many of these rules – including the 5-7-5 practice – have routinely been broken. However, the philosophy of haiku has been preserved: the focus on a brief moment in time; a use of provocative, colorful images; an ability to be read in one breath; and a sense of sudden enlightenment and illumination.”

What I like about haiku is that you have to express your thoughts and feelings in just a few words. Think of it as a game. Can you make the reader feel what you feel or see what you see in just few lines? Can you paint a picture of what you felt in a moment in time? You can find more technical info on writing haiku here.

Following the haiku rhythms (with some alternatives) can be a relaxing way to put an image into poetry. It takes some time to get into the haiku mood. Plan to do some rewriting until you like the result. Ask friends to review your work, if you like. Fellow writers or poetry lovers can provide a wealth of feedback.

With a little practice, I think anyone can write.  Let your creativity flow. And you can write haiku in any language. 

Below are some of my haiku that have been published in the Asahi Haikuist Network. Two more haiku were published this month. Check out this site thrice monthly for new magical haiku from writers all over the world.

Welcome to the Asahi Haikuist Network, a selection of seasonal haiku from poets living around the world. The column, curated in 1995 by David McMurray, a professor of intercultural studies at the International University of Kagoshima, appears on the first, third and fifth Friday of the month and occasionally as special issues. We welcome your original contributions. Don’t be shy–send in your haiku and tell the world how you feel.

Perhaps you’d like to try your hand too in the comments below. 

The first haiku was inspired by my granddaughter, who is now 6 years old. The other two were inspired by winter days and winter nights. Enjoy!

http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13394480 Published May 29, 2020.

http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13141419 Published Feb 21, 2020.