HAIKU

5-7-5 TRAD

5-7-5

Haiku are Japanese poems, unto themselves complete.

What is that supposed to mean, "unto themselves complete"?

It means, they are unlike their poem ancestors which descended from Renga. Renga, in the historical record of poems, are "linked" poems in a communal chain of poems written by various contributing poets. Hokku were the opening, three-line stanzas (5-7-5) of Renga which eventually evolved into the contemporary poems we know today as Haiku. If another poet were to link a follow up stanza they would link a two-line stanza (7-7) known as waki. These two alternating stanzas could go on for as long as the poets desired to add to them. 

Traditional Haiku are typically characterized by 17 syllables broken into 3 lines (a 5-7-5 line syllable count). Haiku tend to concentrate on nature and seasons while juxtaposing 2 ideas to form an image. Haiku do not usually rhyme. 

In full transparency, counter to "trad" Haiku, my Haiku sometimes do rhyme, have concentrations that span beyond nature and seasons, and also use multiple ideas to form an image. In short, the only thing "trad" about my Haiku are that they are sanctioned by the syllable counts.

Find, see, and comment on my Haiku on RUMBLE_HAIKU 5-7-5 TRAD

Purchase Haiku buttons, magnets, and stickers in my ZAZZLE_HAIKU store. 

Haiku tees can be found here, shop now: 

HAIKU KITSCH