The haiku is one of the most underestimated and misunderstood poetic forms of our time. Many people (scholars and poets included) dismiss haiku as poetry for schoolchildren or refrigerator magnets. And once they make this judgment, they never give the haiku a second chance.
A haiku is a Japanese poem, derived from the first stanza of a linked poem that party-goers would compose together in the old days. This article isn't about the history of haiku, but there are many resources available to anyone interested (some of which are listed below).
Japanese haiku had strict rules to follow. They contained 17 "onji" (similar to English syllables), a seasonal or nature reference ("kigo") and a break in the poem, or cutting-word ("kireji"). In English, the function of the kireji can performed by punctuation (usually an ellipsis, comma, or hyphen).
When the haiku was introduced to America, many American poets tried to imitate the 17 syllables of Japanese haiku, broken down into three lines of 5-7-5. However, it soon became recognized that 17 Japanese onji did not equate to 17 English syllables, and most haiku poets discarded the arbitrary 17-syllable rule. Haiku today are typically written in three short lines containing between eight and 14 syllables, but this number can vary greatly depending on the individual poem. Some haiku contain only three words, or may be written all in one line.
The haiku in English is a poem more concerned with content than form. Good haiku show us something about the world as if we were there watching it, like a baby sparrow emerging from its shell, or a line of ants steadily marching through rain and mud. A haiku should point out a moment or event, and then stand back, out of the way, and let us watch it for ourselves.
Pure haiku contain very little "poetry" - metaphor, simile, and rhyme are all avoided when possible. I say "when possible" because there are always exceptions. Many English-language haiku employ metaphor, but in the best poems you will barely notice it.
Strong haiku often use juxtaposition or contrast to illustrate that "haiku moment," such as the brilliant red of a cardinal perched on a snow-covered tree. Contrast lets the poet show you what he wants you to see, and - more importantly - why he wants you to see it.
Many books have been written on the art of haiku. For those wanting to learn how to write and appreciate haiku, some of the best books to check out are:
- The Haiku Handbook by William Higginson & Penny Harter (a detailed and extensive reference book, describing the history and origin of haiku and containing many fine examples of Japanese and international haiku)
- Haiku in English by Harold G. Henderson
- Book of Haikus by Jack Kerouac (be sure to read the introduction by Regina Weinreich)
- The Haiku Anthology edited by Cor van den Heuvel (containing some of the best English-language haiku around)
And for a complete haiku education, read the Japanese masters as well - Basho, Buson, Issa, and Shiki. Here are a couple of good books to get started with:
- Essential Haiku edited by Robert Haas (contains translations of Basho, Buson, and Issa)
- On Love and Barley, Haiku of Basho, translated by Lucien Stryk
- The Classic Tradition of Haiku, edited by Faubion Bowers (contains multiple translations of many Japanese poems)
Many of these books can be purchased used. The more you read, the more you will respect and enjoy the art of haiku.