Download Writing Poetry: Haiku

Writing Poetry: Haiku
THE EAGLE
He clasps the crag with crooked hands;
Close to the sun in lonely lands,
Ringed with the azure world, he stands.
The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls;
He watches from his mountain walls,
And like a thunderbolt he falls.
-Alfred, Lord Tennyson
The poem above, "The Eagle," was written by the famous British poet, Alfred, Lord Tennyson,
who lived from 1809 to 1892. In 1850, he was named the official poet of England. (This title is
called "Poet Laureate.")
Although "The Eagle" is a short work, it is a very popular poem, probably due to its sharp
imagery that paints a powerful word picture of the majestic eagle, first as he sits high on his
perch and then as he drops from the sky.
The poem is written in two three-line stanzas, or triplets, as they are called. It illustrates
Tennyson's ability to say much in a few words. If you admire Tennyson's work, you may wonder
if you would like writing poetry. Evidently Tennyson enjoyed writing poetry, since he began
before he was ten years old. You can enjoy it, too. Poetry is "power in your pen" and gives you a
chance to express what you feel deep inside. Such writing is important.
There are many different ways to organize the lines of a poem. A good form with which you can
begin writing poetry is a three-line form somewhat like Tennyson's and yet different. It is called
the haiku. Haiku is a Japanese verse form that is fun to write. Below is an example of haiku
written by a seventh grade student.
THE SPOTTED FAWN
The spots on a fawn,
Dots of white on a brown back,
Snowflakes on a deer.
-Bethany Raines
Notice the special features of haiku listed below. Most traditional haiku written today have these
eight features.
Characteristics of Haiku:
1. Haiku has only three lines.
2. Haiku does not rhyme.
3. The subject of the poem is usually something in nature.
4. The whole haiku has a total of 17 syllables.
5. The first line has 5 syllables.
6. The second line has 7 syllables.
7. The third line has 5 syllables.
8. The haiku creates one clear image, or word picture.
Look at two more examples of haiku. Study them to see how many of the eight characteristics of
haiku they contain.
HAIKU 1
HAIKU 2
Canadian geese,
a long, ragged V, honking,
in the sky above.
The angry storm tore
The white shawl off the dogwood,
Leaving its arms bare.
- Teddie Raines
- Teddie Raines
Notice that Haiku #1 is not a complete sentence. Haiku #2 is a complete sentence. Both are good
haiku. Your haiku can be written either way. Also notice that in Haiku #1, only the first word in
the haiku is capitalized. In Haiku #2, the first word in each line is capitalized. It does not matter
whether or not your haiku is a complete sentence. Also, you may capitalize whichever way you
choose.
Before you write your haiku, compare Example A and Haiku #2 below. Which is the most
effective as a poem? Haiku #2 is, of course. Example A has the form of a haiku, but it is not real
poetry. In Example A, the three lines have a total of 17 syllables, and the lines contain 5-7-5
syllables. Also, even though the lines in Example A have the same meaning as Haiku #2, they
simply report what has happened as if they were part of a newspaper account.
EXAMPLE A
HAIKU 2
A very strong storm
blew the dogwood petals off
and left the tree bare.
The angry storm tore
The white shawl off the dogwood,
Leaving its arms bare.
On the other hand, Haiku #2 uses personification and imagery to create a clear word picture of
this event in nature. The storm is given human features such as the emotion of anger, the
dogwood has "arms," and the white flowers of the dogwood are portrayed as a white shawl.
Haiku #2 takes an ordinary event in nature and states it in a fresh, new way.
Whenever you write a haiku, you can use these Steps for Writing Haiku to guide you.
Steps for Writing Haiku:
1. Select something in nature that appeals to you. Narrow your subject down to a single specific
idea about your subject.
Example: Subject: inchworm
Specific idea: the way an inchworm moves
2. Write the subject down in noun form, possibly with an adjective or two. **
Example: an inchworm
3. Count the syllables to see if you have enough to meet the five-syllable requirement for your
first line.
Example: /an/ inch/worm/
1 2
3 (Since your first line needs to be five syllables, you are two syllables short.)
4. If necessary, add another adjective or a verb that has the number of syllables you still need for
the first line.
Example: /a/ /lit/tle/ inch/worm/
1 2 3 4
5
(Now you have the five syllables for your first line.)
5. For the second line, think of something special about your subject. You might want to use a
verb or two to tell the action or a few words to describe what is special about the subject. Try to
use imagery or personification to create a vivid mental picture. Remember, you need 7 syllables,
and your words should not rhyme with the first line. Add extra modifiers as needed to achieve
the desired 7 syllables.
Example: /arch/ing /and/ /stretch/ing/ /a/long/
1
2 3
4
5 6 7
6. For the last line, try to give your haiku an effective conclusion by adding an unusual ending to
the specific idea you have developed. Remember, you need 5 syllables and your words should
not rhyme.
Example: /the/ /miles/ /of/ /my/ /arm/
1
2
3 4
5
7. Check your completed haiku to be sure it has all 8 characteristics of a haiku.
A little inchworm,
Arching and stretching along
The miles of my arm.
8. Decide how you want to capitalize the lines of your haiku. Put a period at the end of the last
line and commas where they are needed.
9. If you wish, give your haiku a title.
**Remember this: Your haiku does not always have to start with a noun phrase. It can begin with
a participle, an adjective, an adverb, or whatever YOU choose. Just make sure to choose words
that tell about the single specific idea you are trying to portray. You can be as creative as you
like.
Assignment
Use the Characteristics of Haiku and the Steps for Writing Haiku in this lesson to write two or
three haiku. Write one haiku by beginning with a noun phrase like the example haiku about the
inchworm in the Steps for Writing Haiku. Then write one or two more haiku by beginning them
with participles, adjectives, adverbs, or verbs. Then select your best one to share with the class.
Choose one haiku to illustrate. You will give oral presentations of your haiku.