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How to Write Haiku Poetry to Help Learning: Explanation of Poem Structure, Advantages, Have a Go & Examples
Haiku form explained
For those of you who are not familiar with Haiku, it is a Japanese poetry form with
only 3 lines:
- 5 syllables
- 7 syllables
- 5 syllables,
should contain an indication of ‘time of year’
and should have a ‘cutting’ word (change of view/surprise), usually in the second line.
It should also make you think!
Have a go at composing your own; think of a subject, describe it as simply as possible but use colourful, unexpected words, maybe juxtaposed, maybe contrasting in different ways. Put together the unusual, like settees and rivers or dogs and skis! It's great fun and you'll be surprised what effective poetry you can create.
Read over each one and see if you can make it crisper, more succinct, play with alternative words. I find that one haiku often gives me an idea for another.
I suppose the trick is to say as much as possible in as few words as possible, whilst creating as much effect as possible. Not that I always manage to do that but it's great fun trying!

Warm Thoughts for a Winter's Day
The sun is ablaze
burning off the mist - bluebells
bask; I smile, captured.
Soothing Sand
My feet too constrained,
the shoes come off. Hot, beaded
grains of sand massage.
Working Waves
The water rushes
into shore, he runs shrieking,
pure joy in his eyes.
Natural Sustenance
Dappled shade it gives,
the full canopy - dripping
drinks of fresh growth rain.
In his Eyes
Trees rustle, sway
and swoop above, his eyes wide
in baby wonder.

Swallows & Starlings
The swallows dart in
magnetic blue twilight - grab
their unwary prey.
Starlings on the wire,
‘Move up, move up, fall in line!
Gossip tweet on air!’
Advantages over other Poetry
Traditional poetry is beautiful and has structure too, of course. However, to appreciate it properly, we need time to read it, quietly, without distraction. It takes even longer to write it; to include all the emotions and descriptions that one wants to convey, to do justice to the poetry and to oneself.
Haiku can be done in an instant; it's so much fun and you can include just as much emotion. It's brilliant for concentrating thoughts during the day, to catch an idea and encapsulate it, to record ideas in almost memo form! It's a good discipline to practise and it's a brilliant way for children to start writing poetry - they don't have to find a rhyme but they still have to conform to some rules.
Part of an Anthology


Use in Teaching
I have used this form of poetry to encourage and help a dyslexic student who, though he had a good vocabulary, had difficulty recognising syllables as well as being able to organise information in his head to put to paper. His general knowledge and his varied vocabulary was channelled so that he had to choose his words carefully to convey exactly what he meant; the results were amazing. He was over the moon - a person who often struggled at school. We put together an anthology which was circulated in school and used for fund-raising.
The key to writing Haiku (or anything else for that matter!) is not to be afraid, to let your imagination go and see what happens. You'll probably be surprised at the result! Good Luck!!
Are you Haiku Happy?
Did you already know about Haiku?
© 2012 Ann Carr
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Comments
I enjoyed the article. I have been thinking of doing this art form. Thanks for the technical info. I will attempt this. Voted useful!
Oh, my! How I love to write within the format and confines of the Haiku.
Great hub! Ive wanted to try haiku but didn't know its discipline.I may try it now, you explained it very well and it is also interesting to learn how it has helped your student with dyslexia. voted up.
Great Hub - I've often seen Haiku but never really read about their background. You've inspired me to write a couple of my own - first attempts! Thanks annart.
This is a lovely Hub. I love Haiku, even mine. lol I have been guilty of taking liberties with seasons. But I adore the crisp, clean, brief words in a Haiku poem. I can see how it helped your student. That was very wise of you to use it. Your won Haiku are very good also.
Your hub gives me enough info to try this form. Voting this Up and Useful.
Very nice! I recently took a closer look at haiku via another hubber and actually enjoyed giving it a go. Here's one for you. :)
mysterious bloom
bright white with heady fragrance
lighting the night gloom
Moonflower I wait
Breathing the night breezes in
To catch your first scent
What a fun flower. It beats the Titan Arum which blooms after 75 years and you don't want to smell it. =:)
Thank you. I often wondered what a Haiku was. I was of course told years ago in an English class, but alas...as a teenager I tended to not listen well.
I love it in it's entirety...you want to come in and stay.
I love haiku, I have even published a few on hubpages. I enjoyed reading your haiku. They are beautiful.
This is my favorite one:
Trees rustle, sway
and swoop above, his eyes wide
in baby wonder.
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