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Charles Ghigna - Father Goose®

the author of more than 100 award-winning books from Random House, Disney, Hyperion, Time Inc.,

Scholastic, Simon & Schuser, Capstone, Boyds Mills, Abrams, Orca, Charlesbridge and other publishers.

How to Write a Haiku

The Japanese haiku,
one of the oldest forms of poetic expression,
teaches us much about the art and craft of poem-making.
The entire poem consists of only three short lines,
yet the haiku contains all the basic elements of poetry.

The haiku is understated and concise.
It is lyrical and dramatic, poignant and precise,
personal and universal. Sometimes it is witty.
But always it is ethereal and timeless,
as meaningful today as it was hundreds of years ago
when Basho, Buson and Issa first began
exploring its potential as an art form.

Here is a brief description of the haiku
written in the form of a haiku
along with four examples.

Enjoy!

* * *

Haiku

Haiku is a poem
of seventeen syllables
with only three lines.

The first line has five.
The second line has seven.
The third line has five.

Each haiku describes
a fleeting moment in Time,
a glimpse of Nature.

* * *

April

Ivory butterflies
perch on black branches,
the dogwood blossoms.


June

The cricket calls to
the meadow, each evening he
hears his echo sing.


September

Shadows bow to the
setting sun, pray to the sky
for blessings of light.


October

Artist Autumn comes,
paints her blush across each tree,
drops palette, and leaves.


From Haiku: The Travelers of Eternity © Charles Ghigna

4 comments:

Looking for the Write Words said...

Charles,

I love your poems and am now signed up as a follower. So glad to have found your blog. Happy Poetry Friday.

~Theresa

Author Amok said...

Your June haiku is so lovely! Any thoughts about haiku vs. senryu?

Anonymous said...

I love the progrssion especially the "ivory butterflies".

Amy L V said...

Thank you, Charles! You are an inspiration! And I am now going to add a spot on my blog for information about different forms of poetry...inspired by this post.
A.