Haiku in English facts for kids

A haiku in English is a special kind of English-language poem. It's inspired by the ancient Japanese haiku style. These poems became popular in the early 1900s. English haiku often talks about nature, changing seasons, and uses strong images, just like its Japanese ancestors. But it has also changed to fit the English language and cultures around the world. Many people enjoy writing and reading haiku today.

What Makes English Haiku Special?

How Haiku Are Structured

Traditional Japanese haiku have three parts and usually 17 sounds, called on. These sounds are often arranged in a 5–7–5 pattern (5 sounds, then 7, then 5). English doesn't have an exact match for on. So, English haiku writers use different ways to create a similar rhythm and length.

Finding the Natural Rhythm: Organic Haiku

Some poets write "organic haiku." This means they let the poem's natural rhythm and meaning guide its shape. They don't strictly count syllables. Instead, they focus on making the poem clear and expressive. The poem's form grows from what it's trying to say. Often, these haiku have three lines. The middle line might be a little longer than the first and third. The whole poem usually has fewer than seventeen syllables.

The 5-7-5 Syllable Idea

Many people learn that English haiku must have a 5-7-5 syllable pattern. This idea came from trying to copy the Japanese 5-7-5 on pattern. However, Japanese on are often shorter than English syllables. So, a 17-on Japanese haiku is usually shorter than a 17-syllable English haiku.

This 5-7-5 rule became very popular in the mid-1900s. It was often taught in schools. But many haiku experts say it's a "myth." They believe it doesn't truly capture the spirit or shortness of Japanese haiku. Poet Charles Trumbull said this rule often gives a wrong idea of what haiku really is. Another poet, Cor van den Heuvel, noted that the 5-7-5 form is "now mostly written by schoolchildren as an exercise to learn how to count syllables." Many modern English haiku poets use other ways to write their poems.

Other Ways to Count Rhythm

Some experts suggest counting accented beats instead of syllables. For example, a 2-3-2 accented beat pattern can create a rhythm similar to traditional Japanese haiku. This makes the poem feel natural to English speakers.

Haiku in One Line: Monoku

Sometimes, a haiku can even be written in just one line! This is called a monoku. It became more common in the late 1970s. Many writers today create excellent one-line haiku.

The "Cut" in Haiku

A special technique in haiku is called the cut (or kire in Japanese). It's like a strong pause or break in the poem. This break divides the poem into two parts that seem different at first. The reader then uses their imagination to connect these parts. The cut makes you think and find a deeper meaning. In Japanese haiku, special "cutting words" (kireji) create this break.

English doesn't have exact "cutting words." So, English haiku uses other ways to create the cut. This can be done with punctuation, extra spaces, line breaks, or grammar changes.

Here's an example using a comma:

old home
the light we’d leave
on, off

Here's one using spacing:

after the garden party       the garden

And one using a line-break:

beam by beam
the old barn taken down
to sky

Putting Ideas Together: Juxtaposition

The cut in a haiku often creates a juxtaposition. This means placing two different images or ideas side-by-side. These two parts are usually separate and about different things. When they are put together, they create a special "spark" or tension in the poem. This makes the reader think about how they relate.

Some haiku experts also talk about "disjunction." This is a stronger kind of connection. It's when the poem surprises you and makes you see things in a new way. It's not just putting two things next to each other. It's about the unexpected feeling or thought that happens when you read them. This "disjunction" can make a haiku very powerful.

Here are some examples of English haiku that create this surprising connection:

even, if, because
plum blossoms
in the courtyard

the river
the river makes
of the moon

dark star in the ultrasound image her tiny fist

deep snow,
    in a dream, I find
    her password in

Season Words and Keywords

In traditional Japanese haiku, a kigo (season word) is very important. It tells you the time of year. But it also brings with it many feelings, cultural ideas, and traditions. For example, "plum blossoms" mean spring, and "cicadas" mean summer. These words have a long history in Japanese poetry.

It's hard to translate kigo directly into English. This is because seasonal words mean different things in different parts of the world. They also don't always have the same deep cultural history in English-speaking countries.

To help with this, English haiku sometimes uses "keywords." These are words or phrases that create shared experiences and feelings. They are not just limited to seasons. Kigo are a type of seasonal keyword. But other keywords can also have special meaning for a culture. They help to connect poems and ideas.

Here's an example using a keyword:

moonlight
river divides the forest
into two nights

In this poem, "moonlight" is a keyword. It creates a certain mood and feeling, even without being a traditional season word.

The Language of Haiku: Diction

Japanese haiku often mixed different kinds of language. It combined elegant, old-fashioned words with everyday, common speech. This mix created a special effect.

Early English haiku writers believed in using "simple words." They thought the language should be "direct" and "common." They wanted to avoid fancy or overly poetic language. Writers like Jack Kerouac promoted this idea. He said a haiku should be "very simple and free of all poetic trickery." This idea of clear, almost "invisible" language was popular for a long time.

However, in recent years, English haiku has started to explore language in new ways. Some poets now use words that are more surprising or thought-provoking. They might use techniques like surrealist ideas or figurative language. This shows a balance between keeping things simple and trying new, creative approaches.

The History of English Haiku

First English Haiku Poems

The very first haiku translated into English appeared in a book about the Japanese language in 1877. Later, in 1899, a book called A History of Japanese Literature also described the haiku form. This book was very important for poets in the early 1900s.

Haiku in Britain and Australia

In Britain, the magazine The Academy held the first known English haiku contest in 1899. This contest inspired other poets to try writing haiku. The Academy's influence even reached Australia. There, a similar contest was held, and the poet Robert Crawford won.

American Haiku Writers

Ezra Pound wrote a very famous haiku-inspired poem called "In a Station of the Metro" in 1913. Many consider it the "first fully realized haiku in English." Pound said Japanese poetry greatly influenced his work. He described how he first wrote a long poem about seeing many faces in a subway station. Then, he shortened it to just two lines:

The apparition of these faces in a crowd;
Petals on a wet, black bough.

Pound felt that showing his experience as an image made it more personal and meaningful.

Another important figure was Yone Noguchi. In 1904, he encouraged American poets to try writing Japanese hokku (an older form of haiku). He published his own English Japanese Hokkus in 1920.

Haiku's Comeback After the War

After World War II, haiku became popular again.

Famous Haiku Poets

Many poets from the Beat Generation, like Diane di Prima, Gary Snyder, and Jack Kerouac, started writing haiku. Kerouac was interested in Buddhism, which often connects with haiku.

Richard Wright wrote about 4,000 haiku between 1959 and 1960. He later chose 817 of them for a book published after he passed away. His haiku showed a strong connection to the Zen ideas he studied.

Whitecaps on the bay:
A broken signboard banging
In the April wind.

James W. Hackett was another important poet who believed Zen was key to haiku. His poems were considered some of the best outside Japan in the 1960s.

Even Pulitzer Prize winner W. H. Auden wrote haiku. He explored its structure and calm qualities. Auden's haiku series from 1964, about the death of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, was even set to music.

The first English-language haiku group in America started in 1956 in California. They studied different haiku collections.

Haiku Magazines and Groups

In 1963, the magazine American Haiku was founded. It featured poets who started to break the strict 5-7-5 syllable rule. This helped show that haiku was a serious form of poetry.

The Haiku Society of America was created in 1968. It started publishing its own journal, Frogpond, in 1978. Other important magazines like Modern Haiku also began publishing around this time.

The first Haiku North America conference was held in 1991. The American Haiku Archives, which keeps a large collection of haiku materials, was founded in 1996. It's located in California.

Where to Find English Haiku Today

Haiku Journals in North America

Many journals in the U.S. publish English haiku. Some well-known ones include Modern Haiku, Frogpond, Mayfly, Acorn, Bottle Rockets, and The Heron's Nest. There's also Tinywords, which is published online.

Haiku Journals in Other Countries

In the United Kingdom, you can find Presence and Blithe Spirit. Shamrock was an online journal from Ireland that published international haiku until 2022. Australia has Echidna Tracks. Kokako is published in New Zealand, and Chrysanthemum (which is bilingual German/English) comes from Germany and Austria.

Famous English Haiku Poets

Here are some notable poets who have written English-language haiku:

Learn More About Haiku