Haiku Are Not Frozen in Time
The poems that we know as haiku were developed in Japan over 300 years ago. They followed conventions that had been part of Japanese poetry for over a thousand years, such as alternating lines of five and seven sound symbols (on or onji, not quite the same as syllables) and “season words” (kigo) — words or phrases that provide a seasonal context for the poem. Traditional haiku in Japan and other countries still follow versions of these and other conventions of haiku form and content.
Beginning in the late 19th century, Japanese poets modernized haiku in response to the profound societal changes brought by modernization. At the same time, haiku were introduced to international audiences through translation. Modernization and internationalization have given rise to a wide variety of haiku practices around the world.
Many haiku try to capture some insight into the workings of the world expressed through images (as opposed to philosophical statements, for example), usually by pairing these images so that their relationship becomes apparent, all phrased as economically as possible.
More Than 5-7-5
Outside of Japan, a haiku is often defined as a three-line poem with five syllables in the first line, seven syllables in the second line, and five syllables in the third line. In the Japanese tradition, however, there is more to haiku than the five-seven-five sound pattern. Traditional Japanese haiku include a “season word,” and they often try to convey a connection between Nature and human nature. They are often divided into two asymmetrical parts that do not make a complete sentence. They typically use simple language and present images with little or no commentary.
Haiku composition cannot be reduced to rules. But the poems in haiku anthologies and literary journals do follow common conventions. To craft poems others might recognize as haiku, consider adopting two or more of the following conventions, inspired by Patricia Donegan and Kazuo Sato’s Haiku Guide.
Traditional Haiku Form
Traditional Japanese haiku are composed of seventeen sound symbols arranged in a pattern of five sounds, seven sounds, and five sounds. Early translators assumed these sound symbols were equivalent to English syllables. Often, they are not equivalent, but by the time this mistake was realized, the five-seven-five syllable count had become a tradition in English-language haiku. Five-seven-five haiku are probably the most popular form of haiku in English.
A traditional Japanese haiku is often divided into two asymmetrical parts that do not make a complete sentence. This two-part structure can sharpen a contrast, make a comparison more striking, or otherwise heighten the poetic tension in these little poems.
Contemporary Haiku Form
The history of any art is a mixture of tradition and innovation, and the history of haiku is no exception. In the 20th century, many haiku poets in Japan and elsewhere began challenging the traditional five-seven-five sound pattern, traditional subjects, and every other haiku convention.
If you read anthologies and literary journals that focus on haiku in English, you’ll see that most poems are not in the five-seven-five pattern. However, most of the haiku follow these conventions:
- The poems have a total of seventeen syllables or less, usually ten to twelve syllables.
- They are typically written in three lines.
- They are often written in the pattern: short line/long line/short line.
- They are often divided into two asymmetrical parts: a one-line fragment and a two-line phrase.
Season Words
A season word is a word or phrase that provides a seasonal context for the poem. Sometimes the poem mentions the name of a season or holiday. At other times, the poem mentions a plant, an animal, or an event associated with a particular season. Season words bring “a shared background of color, scent, and sound” to the poem, as H.F. Noyes once said. Emotional and cultural associations with the seasons add depth.
Meaning Through Images
Haiku often use simple, direct language. They present images in dynamic relation to each other to convey something about the world and our place in it.
Feeling
Compared to Western poems, many haiku seem objective. They consist almost entirely of images with no commentary. As you become familiar with haiku, you’ll notice that they often appeal to emotions in an understated way.
A Sense of “Now”
Haiku often convey a sense of “this is happening right now.” The poems are often written in the present tense, for one thing, but there is more to it than that. Haiku poets find ways to make us linger over a moment in time.
Surprise
Haiku often present a scene in which something surprising happens. This is one way to make a short poem more interesting.