Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry consisting of verse written in three parts of five, seven, and five syllables. The haiku poem also makes reference to a kigo, a word that relates to a particular season. While Japanese haiku is formatted in a single vertical line, haiku in English is usually printed in three lines.
Here are two haiku examples that I wrote:
If you did not know
how long my love for you blossoms –
tis infinitely
A haiku on dying about my grandmother…
She passed when the leaves
began to fall in autumn,
the season she liked least
And a cat haiku inspired by the site How to Tell if Your Cat is Plotting to Kill You…
My midsummer born cat
are you secretly plotting my
untimely demise
For me, one of the most difficult things was confirming that I had the write syllable count in each part. Fortunately, I found a free syllable counter tool that does the trick.
So, if you are feeling inspired, why not enter a haiku writing contest why not try out your hand at haiku? Copyblogger is was holding their second Twitter Writing Contest. First prize is a MacBook Air! The rules are that you have to tweet your clever haiku submission via Twitter in the following format: Phrase one (5 syllables) / phrase two (7 syllables) / phrase three (5 syllables). Then post it with a link to your tweet in the comments. The deadline is was midnight Sunday, November 16th. I am hoping to be able to re-submitted my entry, as my first one was not that great – I should have done the research for this post first before entering.
So if you don’t have a Twitter account, missed the deadline, or just want to share, feel free to put your haikus in the comments! 🙂
Thursday Things with three haikus on love, longing, and social networking More poetry in a variety of styles on romance, dreams, the seasons, and more
Wow, I used to write haiku at work when I got bored, I may try my hand at entering that contest!
Thanks for the comments 🙂
Vickis last blog post..Sparkle Roundup
Kristi- I entered the Copy Blogger contest too. But I really should have read your blog post first because then I may have come up with a better haiku. Good luck and hope you win the MacBook Air!
Debbies last blog post..Thankful Thursday – LIFE
Hi Kristi, hope you’ll do better this time, all the best to you!
I have never written a haiku poem before in my life. Might give it a shot. How difficult could it be.
I like pizza now.
Always makes me very happy.
Friday is pizza.
Ok, now I have written a haiku poem. Woot for me!!!
Freddie Taylors last blog post..Blog Contest a Linkers Blog
I heard of the contest first at Darren’s TwiTip blog.
The one about your late grand mother is beautiful ! It brings so many pictures to my mind.
The Cat one – hilarious !
Thanks for the tips. I like that syllable counter – although I wish it analyzed every line of a poem instead of the whole ! 😀
Jaffers last blog post..Quatrains to Sugar Snap Peas
I tried that syllable counter and either it’s wrong or I can’t count. How many syllables in ‘Google Loves To Tease’? I make it 5 but it says 6
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Hi Kristi
I have given you an award. http://awakeanddreaming.org/?p=1480
Roshans last blog post..Arsenal Lose To Villa
I’m not so good in poem, especially in English because it’s not my mother language. However, thank you for sharing this Haiku tips. 🙂 5-7-5, right? Good luck with your contest too!
Aldhiss last blog post..Are you deaf?
I’m too late for the contest, 🙁 Oh well, thought I might give it a go anyway, so long as I’m not punished Kristy! lol
I think I’m getting confused on the sylables though, as blossoms I would say is two…but the online reader says its one…I’m going to go on my gut here…
oh heart inside me
beats fast for me and my one
a present of love
Dan
Well, if I don’t win than I hope Kristi does 😉
My friend told me that your jaw should drop for each syllable so you can count syllables that way. I agree with @Sire – ‘Google Loves to Tease’ is 5 syllables not 6.
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@Vicki: I hope you got your entry in! Good luck! 🙂
@Debbie: Yes, after I did the post, my haiku’s were much better than the first one.
@Zunnur: Thanks. I have my fingers crossed.
@Freddie: Congrats!
@Jaffer: Thanks, and you’re welcome. The syllable counter isn’t perfect, but it was the best one I found. There was another one, but it was far worse.
@Sire: I ran into a line that had 8 words, but only 7 syllables. It’s not the greatest… I think the only way to be fully accurate would be to whip out a dictionary. I didn’t have one at the time though.
@Roshan: Why thank you! That is sweet… I will have to find a way to incorporate that on my blog. 🙂
@Aldhis: Yes, 5-7-5. Plus the kigo word as reference to the seasons, although the contest just asks for the 5-7-5 format.
@Dan: I think I agree with you. Nice haiku! 🙂
@Kim: And if I don’t, I hope you do! 🙂
Hi Kristi,
Enjoyed your Hiaku. If you would llike to publish some on my blog, I’d love that. Also, you have my permission to copy some of my photos to use here, as long as you give me credit,and refer them to my link. Keep up the good work. Mary come visit too: http://www.writersunbound.com Mary
@Mary: Thanks for the invitation! I will definitely take a look at your site, and let you know the next time I get into my haiku writing spree. 🙂
impressive poem. But can be Haiku used in english like what you did?
@dharma: It is the English version of the Japanese style. It still follows the same rules. 🙂
I assume I missed the contest but want to say that I liked the syllable counter and here is my first ever Haiku
I love apple pie
More than chocolate icecream
maybe you should try
mmm…pretty bad..lol
Hey guys,
Just wanted to let you know that there is a much better and more reliable syllable counter out there. Check out:
http://www.HowManySyllables.com