A Haiku is defined as a short poem, usually 3 lines containing a season word and having no more than 17 syllables.
A one breath poem is also a way to describe it. The Haiku form originated in Japan. Basho and Issa are considered masters or founding fathers. Some people like to follow tradition and use the format 5-7-5 to write their Haiku but modern Haiku does not have to follow those rules. Here are a few random Haiku of mine I would like to share with you:
Valentine’s Day
at the Casino
Queen of Hearts
Crossroads
the lunar eclipse
in his eyes
Iridescent dragonfly
each wing
a rainbow
Herbal conference
in Utah the
sweet smell of incense
Toes
in the sand
castles
Neighborhood fire
a book on war
survived
Late dinner
I watch the clouds
swallow the moon
Wizard of Oz
slot machine
the wicked witch’s cackle
Twilight
he is just
a memory
Fortune Teller’s dilemma
which black dress
to wear
Carrot juice
a splash of vodka
health nut
Circles, cycles
birth and death
the wheel of fortune spins
I’m a member of the New Orleans Haiku Society. I joined in 2004 before Hurricane Katrina devestated this city.
Writing Haiku became a therapeutic and helpful way of expressing all the emotions we were feeling during that surreal time. Eventually and collectively as a group, we published a small but lovely book titled Katrina-ku Storm Poems.