Repeat After Me

"Haiku" is a term, at times, [loosely] applied to any short, impressionistic poem, however there are certain characteristics that are commonly associated with the genre, such as having a strong focus on nature or the four seasons. The haiku often has a contemplative or wistful tone, and/or a vague briefness to the setting, that might inspire the poet. There may be a division involving two asymmetrical sections that juxtaposes two subjects, such as the natural world as opposed to the human made. In other words, two unexpectedly similar things are being compared one to the other.

The Japanese haiku poem typically consists of 3 lines, with syllables measuring 5 -7 -5 without requiring a set rhyme or pattern, instead relying, to a great extent, on the enhanced feelings the poet wishes to express. In contrast, certain characteristics associated with English-language haiku have incorporated at least three or more different, or experimental forms of the style. I believe what my contemporaries are trying to say is that the poet themselves are in search of one's personal sense of perfection, hoping to convey those private occasions, expressed with creative disciplines while catching the mood of the moment the poet themselves wish to share, using as few words as possible. Still, there are those schools of thought that believe in paring down haiku to its most simplistic arrangement possible, using as little as two or three words, again depending on which school of thought one might subscribe to, or not. This may be in part due to the fact that Japanese and English expressions are not, in essence, always comparable. As a result, it is rare to find a poem as long as seventeen syllables in today's English-language haiku. As for me I believe it is the poet's intent not to dishonor the poetry that is Japanese haiku, but instead create something it may call its own.