Haiku

Definition

A haiku is a traditional Japanese short poem written in a 5 7 5 syllabic structure and usually broken up into two or three lines. The themes of a haiku often revolve around nature and seasons. To be a proper haiku, it must contain a season word kigo which indicates which season the haiku is set in. Additionally, each of the lines must be a thought on its own.

Example

Matsuo Bashô: Frog Haiku

 Furu ike ya
 kawazu tobikomu
 mizu no oto

This is one of the most translated Japanese haikus[1] One translation of this poem by Lafcadio Hearn is:

 Old pond
 frogs jumped in
 sound of water.

In this case, the frog is the season word which references spring.[2] Here, the translator decided to work to preserve the essence of the Japanese rather than enforce a strict pattern to it.