Wisteria - A Journal of Poetry

Japanese version of Haiku has totally 17 sounds (five in the first part, seven in the second and five in the last part). They count the sounds not syllables and they write Haiku in single vertical line, but in English we use to write in three horizontal lines. Haiku should use objective sensory images, and avoid subjective commentary.

Steps to be considered to write Haiku:

• Understand the way Haiku is made - In English, the ideas can be expressed with a short line, a long line, and another short stack. Sometimes, haiku can turn out very bad and cheesy.
• Choose a season - Many haiku seem to focus on nature, but what they are really focusing on is a seasonal reference. Japanese poets use a season word almanac to check the seasonal association for key words that they might use in a haiku. The season is important for coming up with words to use in a haiku.
• Add a contrast or comparison - While reading most haiku, you'll notice they either present one idea for the first two lines and then switch quickly to something else or do the same with the first line and last two. A Japanese haiku achieves this shift with what is called a "kireji" or cutting word, which cuts the poem into two parts. In English, it is essential for nearly every haiku to have this two-part combined structure.
• Use primarily objective sensory description - Haiku are based on the five senses. They are about things you can experience, not your interpretation or analysis of those things.
• Like any other art, haiku takes practice – Basho (a Japanese poet who lived in the period of 17th century) said that each haiku should be a thousand times on the tongue. It is also important to read good haiku and not just translations from the Japanese but the best literary haiku being written in English.

For more information on writing Haiku please visit here

Haiku of the Day:
Glorious the moon
therefore our thanks, dark clouds
come to rest our necks.