1. Haikus

3. Structure Haikus have a very distinct structure
They consist of three lines, each with a specific syllable count:
1st line: 5 syllables
2nd line: 7 syllables
3rd line: 5 syllables
They do not have to rhyme

4. Imagery and theme
Haikus tend to use strong imagery and themes, often times pertaining to nature
Imagery: descriptive words that evoke the senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch).
Example: “It was dark and dim in the forest” (visual imagery)
Example: “The girl ran her hands along the soft fabric ” (tactile imagery)
Theme: the subject(s)/topic(s) of a piece of writing
Example: Love, Nature, Power, etc.

5. History
Originated in Japan during the 9th-12th centuries as a popular activity
Began as a progressive poem called “tanka” where the poem would be passed from person to person, and each individual would add onto the lines that were already there
The first person would write the first three lines with a structure (called hokku) and the next person would add a section with a 7-7 structure
The chain would continue with this pattern
The name “Haiku” is derived from “hokku”
The three “masters” of hokku lived during the 17th century, and their poems are still used as the primary model of haiku writing today (Basho, Issa, and Buson)

6. Example – Basho Matsuo
Basho is considered to be the “Shakespeare” of Japanese poetry
This is his most well known poem:
Original Japanese
English Translation
Furu ike wa
Kawaza tobikomu
Mizu no oto
An old pond
A frog jumps in
The sound of water

7. Example – Scott Alexander
Alexander is a Western 20th century poet
By an ancient pond
A bullfrog sits on a rock:
Waiting for Basho.

8. Example – James Kirkup Kirkup is a contemporary Western poet
In the amber dusk
Each island dreams its own night—
The sea swarms with gold.

9. Now you try!
Add onto this hokku with two lines that are each 7 syllables long, and then share with the class:
Help me, I am trapped
In a haiku factory
Save me before they

10. Write your own Hokku
Now that you’ve practiced a little, we are going to focus on just the hokku portion of haikus

11. Before writing
Look at the following images and write down any words that come to mind. These could be adjectives describing the scene, feelings, memories, phrases, etc.

12. Image 1

13. Image 2

14. Image 3

15. Write Choose one of the images to write a haiku about
Beside each of the words you brainstormed, write down its number of syllables
Start composing lines with your words that reach 5 and 7 syllables
Combine your lines together to form a haiku