Haiku

Etymology of Haiku

The term has its roots in Japanese literary tradition, dating back to the 17th century. The word “haiku” itself evolved from the earlier collaborative linked-verse form called renga or renku. Renga involved multiple poets taking turns composing alternating sections of verse, usually consisting of three lines each with a syllabic pattern of 5-7-5.

Meanings of Haiku

Semantically, it is stated to have been formed from two Japanese words; hai which means amusement or enjoyment, and ku which means verses. In other words, it means the verse written to amuse. However, grammatically, it is a plural with haikus.

Types of Haiku

Type	Features	Example
Traditional	Follows the 5-7-5 syllable pattern and focuses on nature and seasonal themes.	An old silent pond… A frog jumps into the pond, Splash! Silence again. – Matsuo Basho
Modern	While still brief and nature-oriented, modern type may not strictly adhere to the 5-7-5 syllable structure, allowing for more flexibility in expression.	The light of a candle In the old shrine Is transferred to another – Masaoka Shiki
Senryu	Similar to haiku but focuses on human nature, emotions, and everyday life rather than nature and the seasons, it also follows a 5-7-5 syllable pattern.	New Year’s Day everything is in blossom! I feel about average. – Kobayashi Issa
Tanka	A longer form of Japanese poetry consisting of five lines with a syllable pattern of 5-7-5-7-7, Tanka often explores themes of love, emotions, and personal experiences.	In the moonlight The color and scent of the wisteria Seems far away. – Fujiwara no Teika
Haibun	A combination of prose and poetry, it typically consists of a concise prose paragraph followed by a related haiku that complements or enhances the prose.	The sound of the water   Gazing at the moon – Matsuo Basho
Renku/Renga	A collaborative linked-verse poem, often composed by multiple poets taking turns to add verses. Renku follows specific structural rules and themes.	On this road Where nobody else travels Autumn nightfall – Matsuo Basho
Shisan	A modern form of haiku that uses 3 lines, each with 3-5-3 syllables, which sums up to 11 syllables in total.	Melted snow, Floating in the waves of Rivers – Yosa Buson
Sedoka	A form of Japanese poetry consisting of two three-line stanzas with syllable patterns of 5-7-7 and 5-7-7, respectively.	People gather And in evening Grass smoke rises – Ki no Tsurayuki
Mondo	A type of haiku that poses a question or presents a problem to the reader.	Over the wintry Forest, winds howl in rage With no leaves to blow. – Natsume Soseki
Zappai	A playful and informal type, usually incorporating puns or wordplay.	In the cicada’s cry No sign can foretell How soon it must die. – Matsuo Basho

Please note that the examples provided are English translations of the original Japanese haiku poems, and syllable patterns may vary slightly due to the nature of translation.

Definition of Haiku

In literature or English literature, it is a short poem having three verses in structure as given above, demonstrating the presentation of themes through images. However, it is to be noted that in Japanese even single-line exists, while in English a haiku poem examples has three verses.

Literary Examples of Haiku

In order to understand better, it is essential to read more haiku examples as follows in English.

Example	Author	Explanation
“The Light of a Candle”	Yosa Buson	The light of a candle Is transferred to another candle spring twilight.
		This haiku is the English translation of the haiku of Yosa Buson, a Japanese poet of the 18th century. Although it is just a translation, it fulfills some conditions of being a haiku. The poem also fulfills the condition of having three verses and the number of syllables in each verse. Therefore, it is a good example of a Japanese haiku in English translation.
“In the Moonlight”	Yosa Buson	In pale moonlight the wisteria’s scent comes from far away.
		This is another good haiku by the same poet. It shows that Buson has created some of the best haikus. The haiku also shows the conditions a poet must have to be called a haiku. It has three verses that make up good images and has also a three-five-three ratio of syllables in each verse.
“A World of Dew”	Kobayashi Issa	This world of dew is a world of dew, and yet, and yet.
		Another Japanese master of the 18th century, this beautiful poet has penned down several haikus that fulfill all the conditions of a haiku poem. This haiku shows very good images of dew and the delay. However, it is interesting that it fulfills the major condition of syllables even in its English translation.
“In a Station of the Metro”	Ezra Pound	The apparition of these faces in the crowd; Petals on a wet, black bough.
		This poem seems a trial version of Ezra Pound as an attempt to write haiku in original English instead of translation from the Japanese. It shows that Ezra Pound has come up to the yardstick of writing good haiku with a different ratio of syllables and different modern images.
“Haiku [for you]”	Sonia Sanchez	love between us is speech and breath. loving you i a long river running.
		Written by a modern poet, Sonia Sanchez, this beautiful piece shows that English poets have started writing good haikus. This haiku shows that English poets have also matured in writing better and good haikus.
“After Killing a Spider”	Masaoka Shiki	After killing spider, how lonely I feel in the cold of night!
		This haiku by Masaoka Shiki captures the emotions of loneliness and regret after killing a spider. It adheres to the 5-7-5 syllable pattern and showcases the human-centric theme often seen in senryu. The poem reflects on the consequences of an action and the emotions it evokes in the poet.

Suggested Readings

1. Beichman, Janine. Masaoka Shiki: His Life and Works. Cheng & Tsui, 2002.
2. Henderson, Harold G. An Introduction to Haiku: An Anthology of Poems and Poets from Basho to Shiki. Doubleday, 1958.
3. Higginson, William J. The Haiku Handbook: How to Write, Share, and Teach Haiku. Kodansha International, 1989.
4. Ueda, Makoto. The Path of Flowering Thorn: The Life and Poetry of Yosa Buson. Hokuseido Press, 1998.
5. Yuasa, Nobuyuki. The Narrow Road to the Deep North and Other Travel Sketches. Penguin Classics, 1966.