Mrs Donn's Special Sections
 
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HAIKU |
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Japan is a country where many customs, ways of living, sounds, smells, and tastes are different than they are in our country. Hundreds of years ago, the Japanese created an art form - in the shape of a small verse. The verse is haiku (HIGH-koo). In haiku, we share the thoughts, the moods, and the feelings of the Japanese poets.
Haiku grew from an early writing game in which the first three lines of a poem were written by one person. A second person wrote the closing two lines. The great Japanese writer, Basho (1644-94) grew tired of this game. He felt that the first three lines could stand alone. In that way, haiku was born.
There are no rhyming words in haiku, and each 3-line verse has only 17 syllables or less! The three lines are often arranged so that the first line has five (5) syllables, the second line has seven (7) syllables, and the third line has five (5) syllables. This is called the 5-7-5 rule. Haiku does not always follow the 5-7-5 rule. But to be haiku, the verse must express a thought, feeling or mood. The verse cannot be composed of more than 17 syllables; it cannot have more than 3 lines; and it cannot rhyme.
As you read each verse below, put yourself in the poet's place - try to share what he or she is feeling. Then share the poem with someone else. You may find that others receive a different image or feel a different mood than you do, all while reading the same words. That is one reason a haiku verse is often accompanied by an illustration.
Here is an example of haiku written by the great Japanese writer Basho. Ask yourself, what season is it?
This snowy morning |
These haiku verses were written by kids. As you read these, ask yourself, "What season is it?"
| We could hear the trees ... As we went through the forest Play with the wind —Roger, age 10 |
A castle standing On a hill boldly watching The time goes on .... on —Therese, age 11 |
The above examples of haiku verse, written by Basho, Roger, and Therese, can be compared in many ways. For one thing, they all follow the 5-7-5 rule. Another way to compare them is by looking at their use of seasons. Using nature to express a mood or image is at the heart of haiku. All three of these verses use nature or the natural movement of things to express their thoughts. Basho's verse takes place in the winter, which gives the black crow against the white snow its beauty. Roger's verse is probably set in the summer or perhaps in the fall, when leaves are on the trees. Therese's verse is more timeless - it flows through many seasons, while keeping itself aloof.
"Having few words and pausing at the end of each short line gives a special feeling to haiku. Even a simple statement sounds thoughtful—as though it has a deeper meaning." Factmonster took some dialogue from Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone, and presented it as if it were haiku. By taking a sentence out of context, and putting it into haiku form, they were able to easily change a simple comment into a thoughtful statement.
| How many times will We be able to witness A dragon hatching? —Ron Weasley |
Before you begin to write a haiku verse of your own, be sure to visit the Children's Haiku Garden. This site has posted haiku verse written and illustrated by kids from around the world. As you explore the many paths in the garden, it is easy to see how each haiku shares a thought, a mood, or a feeling.
Mr. Donn's haiku instructions to his students:
To write haiku
First, get a picture in your mind of a thing or a person that made you angry or sad or happy or glad - "Or maybe you think ... A blanket wrapped around you ... By someone you Love" - can be made into haiku.
Write down your image using 10 to 15 words. Then put it into the 5-7-5 form.
Try to make others see your picture or idea.
An illustration of what you are trying to express might help.
Lessons & Activities
Court of Kyoto (Haiku poetry, court life lesson)
Haiku - Poetry of the Samurai Warrior
Mountain Haiku Poems (by kids)
Lesson Plan & Haiku Template & Sample Template & Sample Haiku
Poetry & Language Arts Lessons (Donn)
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Counter start date January 2006
Have a great year!