Haiku notes! I have haiku notes! You’re all going to think I’ve turned into a geek (nerd?) after this but…

After reading Wiki, I decided there might be more to writing haiku in English than they told you in grade school. So, I went to the library and checked out a book so cleverly entitled “Haiku in English.” Do I get bonus points for this? It’s a little book written during the 60s when haiku was a fad in America. (And, when the library obtained a copy in 1969, the book was only $1. Random trivia. I like old stuff.)

This particular book is a brief summary and overview of classical Japanese haiku and how that pertains to English haiku, all in fairly easy-to-understand terms. So if you can wrap your head around it, you’ll find that haiku is a specific art with a specific purpose, not just a poem in 5-7-5 meter.

In fact, the 5-7-5 rule is perhaps the LEAST important characteristic.

In summary, the purpose of a haiku is to recreate a scenario so that the reader can “put themselves in the poet’s shoes” and experience the emotion.

Additional guidelines include…

-The poem is written in present tense and revolves around a single event, attempting to describe the event as happening NOW. (Perhaps a bit like the immediacy of a screenplay.)

-Ideally, the poem uses a nature (not human nature) metaphor. This can either be an object from nature (snow, water, cold), or words that are associated with a specific season (biting cold, New Years).

-The poem avoids stating the author’s emotions. I.e., the poem does not say “I feel lonely.” It would instead describe the scenario, the event, the surroundings, and make the reader FEEL the loneliness.

-And, of course, the common meter is 5-7-5. Note that these are Japanese syllables, or “character-sounds.” It is impossible to divide English words by Japanese syllables and… that’s as far as I got in the book. I am gathering, though, that 5-7-5 is just a guideline. The point is brevity with rhythm.


Okay, so that is the really scientific way to go about that, but if you can grasp it it’s really fascinating!! And the idea really suits me, personally. To describe a scenario in such a way to put you there and make you feel what I’m feeling… That is how I like to write. I like emotional writing.

And, perhaps, it makes haiku a good exercise for screenwriters who, above all writers, have to “show, not tell” using a visual scenario.

(Stop staring, please… And I hope to finish the book this evening and write a haiku, just in case you’re wondering!)

Well, where I live, "Paper Barons" is a term for the owners of the paper mills. Back in the day, these wealthy folk dominated the area... and their gorgeous Victorian mansions still line the scenic drive by the river, hailing to years past.

Did that make sense?

In summary, the purpose of a haiku is to recreate a scenario so that the reader can “put themselves in the poet’s shoes” and experience the emotion.

Glad they didn't ruin your fun. I didn't really think y'all would stare, but I think the people on the other forum were like... "She's totally weirded out and taking this way too seriously..."

It would be hard to take proficiency too seriously.

I just meant that it's hard to be too serious about learning the craft of writing, in whatever form (including haiku) you happen to be writing in. So your seriousness is inspiring rather than weird.

*also pokes* Where be your haiku?

*apologizes for the long wait*

Harvesting flowers
Bees fill the hive with honey
Buzzing as they fly

If anyone else on this thread is willing to let me quote their haiku... speak up.

Aemi, with your permission, could I quote one of your haiku on the Holy Worlds Twitter account? They fit in 140 characters.

Like so.

You can use mine... though preferably only the serious ones, not the joking ones.

Awww, why not the joking ones? They're the best!