Haiku is a popular form of Japanese poetry and many people enjoy writing Haiku poems because of their meaningful, compact, and powerful nature.
The simplicity of a Haiku along with the added focus on the present, perfectly aided with a connection to nature is purely therapeutic for human mind.
It provides the writer with mental clarity and creativity within carefully chosen words.
Before we go further, let us understand what a Haiku poem is:
“According to Britannica: A Haiku is a type of short Japanese poetry that aims to capture a moment, an emotion, or a seasonal expression in carefully chosen 17 syllables.”
Like other things in the Japanese culture, Haiku poems also focus on minimalism while maintaining simplicity and depth.
We guide you in this read step by step on how to write a Haiku poem and also provide you with a bonus section on how to write a Haiku in seconds, stay tuned.
Guide to Writing a Haiku Poem
To write a Haiku poem it is best to understand the structure and content beforehand. Normally a Haiku poem is about topics on nature, a spontaneous observation in a moment, and usually a contrast or a concept shift between second and third line.
This is the traditional structure as originated, the modern Haikus can be about anything.
The structure of a Haiku goes with having three lines and 17 syllables:
- Line 1 has 5 syllables
- Line 2 has 7 syllables
- Line 3 again has 5 syllables
To understand it better, here is an example of a traditional Haiku:
An old silent pond
A frog jumps into the pond—
Splash! Silence again.
– Matsuo Bashō
Steps to Write a Haiku Poem
Now that we understand the structure, it will be easier to interpret the steps involved in writing a Haiku. Below are the steps to follow for writing a deep and impactful poem:
1. Choosing a Subject
Traditionally a Haiku focuses on themes like Nature, Seasons, and Personal Emotions. It would be of essential importance to choose a subject for your Haiku first thing so that the effort is well guided. We will choose the theme of seasons and the autumn season specifically.
2. Capture a Moment
Haiku is purely about giving a snapshot of a moment in pure and simple words so the reader is mesmerized and is able to picture that moment. The careful choice of words is crucial so the reader is not confused and clarity prevails in the poem.
3. Simple and Direct Words
Words speak louder than anything, simple words even louder. A Haiku is about using easy words that are short and simple. Avoid the usage of complex words or slangs and let your words paint the picture.
4. First Line
Your first line in a Haiku is the introduction of the moment you want to describe. Having five syllables to work with, it is necessary to choose them carefully.
Example:
“Golden leaves descend,”
It contains 5 syllables.
5. Second Line
The second line of your Haiku is built upon the first line. It either provides a shift in perspective or it further expands the first line giving a deeper insight into the emotion or the image you are trying to envision.
Example:
“Crisp air whispers through the trees.”
It has 7 syllables.
6. Third Line
The third line typically should bring a sense of closure or a final detail that ties up the whole poem together. Offering a subtle twist, an observation, or a simple conclusion can also wrap up a Haiku poem.
Example:
“Winter sleeps nearby”
It has 5 syllables.
7. Proofread
Now is the time to read it out loud and check the flow and impact of the poem. Read it to check if it perfectly represents what you intended to convey? If you were the reader would you perfectly understand what the Haiku is trying to describe? If adjustments are needed, make sure that the number of syllables is unchanged after the revision.
Here is our poem on the autumn season:
Golden leaves descend,
Crisp air whispers through the trees,
Winter sleeps nearby.
Write a Haiku Poem Instantly
With the aforementioned method of writing a Haiku poem step by step, some of you might still be iffy, as it can feel like a lot of effort.
In the fast paced world of today, we seldom have time to do things manually and just for this reason, we provide you an alternative that can write a Haiku poem on your given topic, in seconds: to use a free poem generator.
Poem generators are available online with user-friendly and simple interface, these tools are able to write a Haiku poem for you instantaneously on any given prompt. Along with Haiku it is able to write a poem on any given poem topic and length with perfect clarity and coherence.
Who doesn’t like their work done flawlessly by an AI tool without any effort?
As a poet, I personally use poem generator by AI Poem Generator to write different types of poems and the results were astonishing. For your interest we present a Haiku we wrote on the topic: “Tulips in Spring”.
Conclusion
Haikus are known for their simplicity, conciseness, and clarity and are immensely popular among readers. Writing a Haiku from scratch focuses mainly on choosing the right topic and a careful selection of words to maintain the Haiku structure.
With an AI tool like a poem generator it is absolute that you can write a Haiku on any given prompt without putting in any time or effort and get exquisite results.
