Download Article
Haiku poetry made easy for kids or adults
Download Article
If you like the idea of making a profound impact in just a few words, haiku might be the perfect poetry form for you. A haiku (俳句 pronounced similarly to "high-koo") is a short, 17-syllable poem broken into 3 lines, meant to be read in a single breath. The most important thing about a haiku is that it captures and conveys a sensory image of a single moment in time, leaving the reader feeling enlightened and illuminated. Read on to learn everything you need to know to write a powerful haiku poem of your own—plus, we’ve interviewed professional writer Alicia Cook for tips on brainstorming, titling, and overcoming writer’s block while writing poetry.
Writing Haiku Poems
To write a haiku poem, craft three unrhyming lines of poetry: include 5 syllables in the first line, 7 syllables in the second, and 5 syllables in the third. Your poem can be about anything, but haiku usually reflect on a personal insight based on an observation, often related to nature.
Steps
Section 1 of 6:
Easy Steps to Write Haiku Poems
Download Article
-
Take a nature walk or meditate to get in the right state of mind. Since most traditional haiku talk about nature, a walk in nature is a good way to brainstorm ideas. Observe your surroundings silently, absorbing everything around you. Take a notebook and a pen with you so you can write down your observations, or record your observations using the Notes app on your smartphone. If nature isn't available to you, look at photographs or videos of nature instead. [1] X Research source
- You can also meditate to orient yourself in the present moment, since a haiku is a moment captured and conveyed in the present tense (as it’s happening).
- Focus on your breath to bring yourself into the present moment, then quietly observe the world around you. Really immerse yourself in the moment, absorbing every detail you can. [2] X Research source
- It can help to look at the big picture and then think of "zooming in" on a single thing and capturing every possible sensory detail associated with it. For example, you might be looking out at a forest and focus on a single leaf falling.
- Don't want to write about nature? That's technically a senryū , which follows the same basic structure, but is more about humanity than nature. [3] X Research source
-
Make a list of all the observations you’ve made. Continue your brainstorming by cobbling together a written list of all of the things that you’ve seen, observed, and felt during your nature walk or meditative experience. Write down as many things as possible that you see—a haiku can come from even the tiniest observation. [4] X Research source For example, if it's fall, you might notice that the leaves are falling from the trees around you. Go smaller! A single leaf falling. A single leaf quivering on a branch before getting taken to the ground by a gust of wind.
- If you’re feeling a bit of writer’s block, Cook recommends moving your body or engaging your brain in some way. “Listen to music, read, go outside, or experience new scenery,” offers Cook. “Sometimes even walking into Home Depot and looking at the paint samples and seeing these poetic poetic paint names can inspire me…Find an environment that encourages [your] creative flow.”
Advertisement -
Rewrite each observation into sensory and seasonal words. Moving down your list of observations, write a single phrase or list of words associated with each one that evoke the five senses. For example, if one of your moments is a single leaf falling, you might list words such as "brown," "crunchy," and "dry."
- You can also use seasonal words, temperature words, and weather words. Phrases that talk about the light, the atmosphere, or the length of the day can also reflect the season to your readers. [5] X Research source
- To continue our example of a single leaf falling, you might write down seasonal words such as "crisp," "cool," "harvest," and "dusk."
- Stick to shorter words, which have more versatility in the haiku format. Haiku poems also aren't supposed to rhyme, so you don't have to worry about that as you're trying to think of words. [6] X Research source
- If you’re struggling to come up with the right language for your poem, Cook recommends “starting broadly with the concept. What do you want your poem to be about? Then, start shaping the words to fit that poem.”
-
Choose two distinct images for the first two lines. The essence of haiku is the juxtaposition of two distinct images to reveal a surprising or enlightening relationship between them. For your haiku, these two images can be literally anything on your brainstormed list. The important thing is that they are distinct from one another. [7] X Research source
- For example, you might choose a leaf falling to the ground and a gust of wind as your two images.
- The end of the second line of a haiku typically includes a "cutting word"—this is a Japanese concept that doesn't really exist in English, but you can think of this as a moment that pivots, or changes, your scene.
-
Include a revelation or inspiring thought in the haiku’s third line. The third line of a haiku relates the images conveyed in the first two lines to life or the world at large in an interesting and surprising way. Ideally, you'll come up with something that's thought-provoking and inspirational to your reader. [8] X Research source
- For example, if your haiku is meditating on a single leaf falling to the ground, you might think about how beautiful the leaves are in the fall. They only get their colors because they're dying, though, and death is not something people normally consider beautiful. There's your surprise!
- You can also use wordplay to create your surprise. Throwing in a pun takes your poem beyond its literal meaning to surprise and amuse your readers. [9] X Research source
- Nothing in a haiku has to rhyme, but an unexpected rhyme could also fit the bill for the third line.
-
Fine-tune your lines to fit the 5-7-5 syllabic structure. A syllable is simply a unit of spoken language that consists of a single vowel sound. A traditional English haiku has 5 syllables in the first line, 7 syllables in the second line, and 5 syllables in the third line. Watch how this might work with the fall leaf haiku example: [10] X Research source
- In the first line, the leaf is still clinging to a branch of the tree. You might write, "Dry brown leaf quivers." That's 5 syllables, so there's your first line.
- The second line features the moment of the gust of wind, which also serves as your "cutting word." You might write, "A sudden gust of wind blows."
- Your third line surprises your reader by equating death with beauty. You might simply write, "Beauty in dying."
-
Revise your haiku by reading it aloud and tweaking the language. Wait at least a few hours (preferably a day) after you draft your haiku to go back to it. Then, read it aloud several times to feel the rhythm. Take note of any stumbling or awkward spots—you'll need to fix those. Even if your haiku reads smoothly, there still might be better words you can use. A haiku is short, so every word counts! [11] X Research source
- Ask yourself what each word is showing your readers, and if there’s another word that would do a better job. Are there any words that tell readers what to think or feel, rather than showing them? How can you show them the moment more directly?
- Based on your observations, play around with words and images to improve the haiku and help it read more smoothly. You can see how this might go with the fall leaf haiku example:
- In the first line, the word "quivers" is really evocative, so we definitely want to keep that. "Dry" and "brown" aren't exactly inspired, though. Perhaps if we changed the order? "Brown leaf dry quivers" seems more interesting and poetic.
- The second line definitely has problems. "Gust of wind" is somewhat redundant, and "blows" seems totally unnecessary—what else does a gust of wind do, but blow? Try instead "A sudden gust; branches snap," which enables us to use the semicolon as your "cutting word."
- The third line cleanly conveys a surprise, so we could leave it as it is.
-
Format your haiku on the page. Traditionally, haiku are formatted with each line centered so that they form a diamond shape. Punctuation and capitalization are entirely up to you! The haiku form doesn't require anything specific, so you can use all lower-case letters with no punctuation at all if that's what you prefer. [12] X Research source
- To follow through with our example, the final haiku would be:
brown leaf dry quiversa sudden gust; branches snapbeauty in dying - Haiku traditionally don't have a title. You might add a short one for clarification, but it's usually not necessary and will only detract from the impact of your poem.
- If you do decide to add a title to your haiku but aren’t sure what you want that title to be, Cook suggests “showing the poem to a trusted colleague or friend and saying, ‘What pops out at you with that poem?’ [Your friend or colleague] might insert their own experience, but still tell us something from a different point of view.”
- Speaking to her own experience as a poet, Cook goes on to share that she “likes titles of poems that add another line to the poem. So, [her] titles are…sometimes longer and actually take the poem in itself to another level.”
- To follow through with our example, the final haiku would be:
Advertisement
Downloadable Template for a Haiku Poem
Community Q&A
Search
-
QuestionHow could I write a Christmas haiku?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerSince haiku are traditionally about nature, you'd want to start by thinking about some natural things that are typically associated with Christmas—holly, perhaps, or pine trees. Just make a big list of natural things. You might also think about seasonal words associated with winter, such as snow. And, of course, you could always include the word Christmas (or a synonym, such as yuletide) directly in your poem. Have fun!
-
QuestionWhat is the reason for the 5-7-5 syllable structure?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerThe short answer is that this is just how this particular poetry format evolved. However, despite what's often taught in Western schools, the 5-7-5 syllabic structure isn't a strict requirement of haiku. In fact, that structure doesn't even really equate to the original Japanese concept, which counts sounds rather than syllables.
-
QuestionCan Haiku have punctuation, such as a comma?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerYes, haiku can have any punctuation that's necessary or that improves the flow of the poem. Haiku don't need any sort of punctuation at all, though (or even capitalization, for that matter)—whether you include it is entirely up to you as the poet.
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Video
Reader Videos
Submit a Video Tip!
Share a quick video tip and help bring articles to life with your friendly advice. Your insights could make a real difference and help millions of people!
Submit a Video
Coming Soon!
Tips
- The plural of haiku is haiku —there's no need to add an "s" onto it if you're talking about more than one.Thanks
- If you're writing a haiku for a class, try to stick closely to the 5-7-5 syllable format—your teacher will likely be pretty strict about that! But if you're just writing for yourself, don't worry about it too much—focus more on the content and message of the poem.Thanks
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- While the haiku format that is most popular in the West is 5-7-5, haiku was actually written in a variety of meters, including 8-8-8 and versions that only use two lines.
- Try not to use similes in haikus (comparisons with the words “like” or “as”).
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisement
References
- ↑ https://storyembers.org/how-to-brainstorm-a-topic-for-your-poem-when-youre-out-of-ideas/
- ↑ https://classicalpoets.org/2016/11/13/how-to-write-a-haiku-and-much-much-more/#/
- ↑ https://ideas.ted.com/i-wrote-a-haiku-every-day-for-a-week-heres-what-i-learned/
- ↑ https://spice.fsi.stanford.edu/docs/the_history_and_artistry_of_haiku
- ↑ https://spice.fsi.stanford.edu/docs/the_history_and_artistry_of_haiku
- ↑ https://www.bbcmaestro.com/blog/haiku-rules-for-poets
- ↑ https://classicalpoets.org/2016/11/13/how-to-write-a-haiku-and-much-much-more/#/
- ↑ https://classicalpoets.org/2016/11/13/how-to-write-a-haiku-and-much-much-more/#/
- ↑ https://tricycle.org/article/haiku-tips/
- ↑ https://powerpoetry.org/actions/how-write-haiku-poem
- ↑ https://tricycle.org/article/haiku-tips/
- ↑ https://powerpoetry.org/actions/how-write-haiku-poem
- ↑ https://opus.hope.edu/uncategorized/writing-and-meditating-on-the-haiku/
- ↑ https://poets.org/poem/cry-cicada
- ↑ https://poets.org/poem/light-candle
- ↑ https://classicalpoets.org/2021/09/05/the-21-best-haiku-of-2021/
- ↑ https://classicalpoets.org/2021/09/05/the-21-best-haiku-of-2021/
- ↑ https://www.hsa-haiku.org/mentors/Journal-Links.pdf
- ↑ https://web.cocc.edu/cagatucci/classes/hum210/coursepack/haiku.htm
- ↑ https://web.cocc.edu/cagatucci/classes/hum210/coursepack/haiku.htm
- ↑ https://japanhouse.illinois.edu/education/insights/haiku
- ↑ https://poetrysociety.org/poems-essays/on-poetry/senryu-the-haikus-comic-cousin
- ↑ https://spice.fsi.stanford.edu/docs/the_history_and_artistry_of_haiku
- ↑ https://www.readpoetry.com/10-vivid-haikus-to-leave-you-breathless/
- ↑ https://litreactor.com/columns/why-every-author-should-write-haiku.html
- ↑ https://www.pspoets.com/blog/2019/6/29/what-makes-a-good-haiku/
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To write a haiku poem, write a poem that's 3 lines long and make sure each line has the right number of syllables. Give the first line 5 syllables, the second line 7 syllables, and the third line 5 syllables. Haikus are supposed to help people clearly visualize something, so use sensory details by describing how your subject feels, smells, tastes, looks, and sounds. Also, use the present tense when you're writing your haiku. For more information on how to brainstorm ideas for your haiku from our co-author with an MFA in Creative Writing, keep reading!
Did this summary help you?
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 7,086,633 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "Allowing the reader to finish the haiku jumped out at me. Such a lovely exchange of communication between poet and reader. And the notion that the poet will never know how the reader finished the piece can only motivate the poet to keep writing haiku." ..." more
Advertisement
"Allowing the reader to finish the haiku jumped out at me. Such a lovely exchange of communication between poet and reader. And the notion that the poet will never know how the reader finished the piece can only motivate the poet to keep writing haiku."
..."
more
"I found this article online and used it to explain to my teenager how to write haikus. Currently she's home from school due to the pandemic. She likes writing them and it's a great way to get out feelings and also to focus on other things..."
..."
more
"Tips that I learned: 1. Keep it simple. 2. Do not use adverbs. 3. No need to use the seasonal word . 4. Carry around a notebook to write thoughts down. 5. I liked that the article had different focus points."
..."
more
"A few days ago, I was asked to write a haiku. At first, I thought it would be incredibly hard and nerve-wracking. But after reading these tips, I got good marks! Thank you, wikiHow!"
..."
more
"The idea of two juxtaposed ideas and the capturing of a simple feeling that promotes thought seem to sum up the essence of haiku."
..."
more
