How to Write a Haiku

Were you the student in Poetry class staring out the window? Well, haiku might be just the kind of poem you’d actually enjoy writing. If you’re just hearing about haiku, it’s either because your English teacher forgot to include it in the syllabus, or your “staring out the window” moments made you miss out. So you’re about to find out what this style of poetry is, and how to write a haiku like a pro. Haiku is a traditional form of Japanese poetry. It’s a short poem consisting of just three lines. The 1st and 3rd lines of a haiku poem have five syllables, while the second line has seven syllables. There are accomplished poets who will tell you it’s not necessary to adhere to the 5-7-5 rule. For those writers, it’s more about form than conformity. So if you read a haiku that doesn’t fit the format, you’ll know why.

Step 1:  Look for inspiration

Nature is a popular topic of haikus. Some of the best haikus are inspired by objects in the natural world (rocks, rivers, beaches, flowers, trees). If you’re not going outside, draw inspiration from nature pics online. While nature hikes and nature photographs are considered the best stimuli for haikus, naturally they’re not the only source of inspiration. You can write about your favorite band, your pet, or a specific detail you like about a particular time of the year. With haikus, no topics are off limits. Here’s a sample 5-7-5 haiku May-Lily wrote:

Seat Belt Warning Little blinking man You mock with your judging tone Beep beep beep beep beep

Step 2: Think of the message you want to deliver

Once inspired, carefully consider the message you would like to convey to the reader. You can think of an unexpected connection or twist for the reader to consider. Though compact in size, this three-line poem still has to deliver a strong message. Be sure to describe the topic or subject with sensory detail and incorporate concrete images that the reader will find easy to visualize.

Step 3: Follow the 5-7-5 syllable structure

Beginners should use the 5-7-5 guideline. Later, experimenting with variations will be the next step as your writing progresses. So for now, write or type some words and count the syllables on each of the three lines. You can change them around until they match the syllable structure. A thesaurus will come in handy as it will help you find synonyms that will enable you to reach your syllable count. The lines in haiku poems rarely rhyme. Your haiku doesn’t even need to have a title. It doesn’t get easier than that! So, if you thought that you would never make it as a poet, give haikus a try! Speaking of syllables and synonyms, here’s a haiku for you: 

What does Thesaurus eat when starved? Why, synonym rolls!