Imagine you're a reporter at a famous painters art gallery. The people around are looking at the paintings. You walk up to a couple that are looking at a painting and ask them what they see. You record their reply on a tape recorder
What they said into your microphone was: sunlit blue day sky, harsh red desert sand dunes, khaki green cactus.
Automatically your minds eye visualises and you see a picture before you. The less that is said, the more the mind is allowed to conceptualise and the greater will be the quality of the picture in your mind. Unknowingly a Haiku has been created

Most people consider Haiku to be a very strict form of 5 7 5 syllables and in following this rule it can actually destroy the true essence of the form. Whilst it is nice to have rules, remember that rules are made for our guidance and not blind obedience.
The true Haiku presents an observation, a web of closely associated ideas (renso). A suggestion of time and place linked with this observation and an active mind on the part of the reader and we have "Haiku".
Working together a mood or a picture is created. The poet does not need to comment on this mood merely to leave the reader with the image that has been evoked.

True Haiku have two specific images and do not have a specific number of syllables. Remembering that Japanese writing runs down the page and not left to right as occidental writing does and so the two ideas compliment each other.
Whenever possible only concrete specific language should be used. Adjectives and adverbs often interpret what is seen and should be avoided.
Weak verbs should be replaced with strong verbs.
ie; instead of "go", use "run or walk etc".
Words using sensory connotations are preferable so that the imagination is left to respond to the stimulus.

This poetry form emerged and was developed by the poet Basho (1644-1694) into a refinement of Taoist symbolism and Zen Buddhism and although starting in the eighth century many Japanese poets state that "Haiku" began and ended with Basho.

The important difference between Japanese poetry and occidental poetry is the reliance by occidental poetry on the metaphor to set the image, whereas Japanese poetry relies on the literal accuracy.

To summarise:
The basic form is 5. 7. 5. Syllables.
Use words that arouse the imagination and make the senses respond.
The use of verbs should be strong with definite meaning like "Running" rather than weak like "Going".
Most of all adjectives and adverbs should be avoided as very often they help interpret what is happening rather than allowing the mind to sense what is happening and there is no need at all for the definite and indefinate article.

To see what has been posted in previous challenges take a look at:

Cinquain Poetry

Ghazal Poetry

Luc-Bat Poetry

Kyrielle Poetry

The Mists of Time

The Piper at the Gates of Dawn

Quintet Poetry

Rondel Poetry

Terzanelle Poetry

Triolet Poetry

Pantoum Poetry



If you have any questions regarding poetry form or style please email me

Return to the Kaleidoscope

Further information about Poetry Form

I use and recommend the following literary references:

The New Book of Forms, A handbook of poetics.
Lewis Turco.

The Norton Anthology of Poetry 4th Edition
Ferguson, Salter and Tallworthy

The Norton Introduction to Poetry
J. Paul Hunter (Editor)

The Complete Rhyming Dictionary (Revised)
Edited by Clement Wood Revised by Ronald Bogus

The New Princetown Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics
Alex Preminger and T.V.F. Brogan (Editor)

All of these books can be purchased from Lewis Turco at his

Please take a look I think you'll find his site very rewarding.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank

Inspiring One and Leanna

for their encouragement and help.

Only after the last tree has been cut down Only after the last river has been poisoned Only after the last fish has been caught Only then can we realise that money can not be eaten - Cree Indian Prophesy