General Category

A haiku is a traditional form of Japanese poetry renowned for its brevity, simplicity, and deep focus on the natural world. Originating as the opening verse (hokku) of longer collaborative poems called renga, haiku evolved into an independent literary art form popularized by legendary poets like Matsuo Bashō in the 17th century. Rather than telling a story or expressing complex personal arguments, a haiku captures a brief, vivid moment in time—often contrasting two distinct images to evoke a specific emotional resonance or sudden insight.

Writing a traditional haiku follows a few structural and thematic rules:

• Syllable Structure: The poem consists of exactly three lines with a total of 17 syllables, arranged in a strict 5-7-5 pattern (five syllables in the first line, seven in the second, and five in the third).
• Seasonal Word (Kigo): The verse must include a word or phrase that explicitly links the poem to a specific season, such as "cherry blossoms" for spring, "lightning" for summer, or "frost" for winter.
• The Cutting Word (Kireji): A traditional haiku includes a structural pause or turn—represented in English by punctuation like a dash, comma, or colon—that separates two juxtapositioned images or ideas, allowing the reader to contemplate the space between them.
• Present Tense & Simplicity: Haiku is written in simple, objective language in the present tense, focusing on direct sensory observation without relying on explicit rhyming or metaphorical ornament.
• One more element that we are adding-something personal or meaningful to you.  It can include the martial arts like my example below, but whatever it is make it personal.

Pines wave in the breeze,

Karate my endeavor,

Simba my spirit!

                    -Sensei Miller-2019