WRITE MODERN ENGLISH HAIKU

Haiku (俳句) is a traditional form of Japanese poetry.

I want everyone to enjoy writing Haiku, so I made my own simple rules for English Haiku.

Traditional Japanese haiku follows a 5-7-5 rhythm and usually has a seasonal word called Kigo (季語). But English and Japanese are very different languages.

Trying to write 5-7-5 in English can be difficult.
What can we say in 17 syllables??

And what about Kigo?

I want people all over the world to enjoy Haiku. Seasons are different depending on where you live, so in my version, you don’t need a Kigo.

So, I made the rules much simpler:

3 lines.
1 moment.
That’s it.

Well, let me break it down a little bit.

First, I want modern Haiku to feel casual, not too serious or classic.

Second, every Haiku should come with a photo. We all have cameras in our pockets now, so why not use them.

The photo and the words make one poem together.

That’s my idea of modern English haiku.

Here are some of mines

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Now, I think you’re ready.

Pick a photo.
Write 3 lines. And post it with #haiku !!