Haikus

Author's note

Haikus are an ancient Japanese verse form. They are three lines long and should follow a syllable pattern of 5,7,5. A haiku should be visual and about nature. It is considered pure to include a word-play or pun. They should not rhyme.

The great Japanese master, Basho (1644-94), wrote in Japanese, so his haikus do not follow the rules when translated. He also shows us that a haiku does not always have to be visual or about nature. Here are two Basho Haikus.

"Moon-daubed bush-clover-
ssh, in next room
snoring prostitutes."

"Poet grieving over shivering
monkey, what of this child
cast out in autumn wind?"

Now, here are some of mine:

These follow the rules: