theTangentSpace

English-language haiku

Haiku is a short form of poetry originally from Japan.

About haiku

I blogged with some examples.

Not 5-7-5

Serious, contemporary English haiku does not generally follow the 5-7-5 syllable structure most of us learned at school. Japanese haiku have 17 on, but these are not the same as syllables — on are shorter than syllables. Early attempts to import haiku to English translated the 17 on to 17 English syllables, which is the version of haiku that remains in mainstream consciousness. Over the last 50 years or so the trend has been to not count syllables and just write a very brief poem, usually 8-14 syllables or so, to be closer to the brevity of the 17 on.

Common features of English language haiku

  • Usually three lines, sometimes one, rarely two or four;
  • Present tense;
  • Describes a single moment;
  • Simple direct language, and no flowery poetic techniques like rhyme;
  • More subtle poetic techniques like assonance or mild alliteration are welcome;
  • Minimal punctuation, no title;
  • Uses two images, usually a one-line fragment and two-line phrase;
  • Relationship between the images is ambiguous, incomplete, or absent — reader must interpret;
  • Generally about nature;
  • Features a hint as to what season the poem happens in;
  • Understated

Senryū

Senryū is another genre from Japan that has the same form as haiku (17 on), but rather than being a poem about nature, it is a humorous poem about human nature. In Japan these are considered very separate genres, but many western journals publish both, or even consider senryū to be simply a subset of haiku.

Linked forms

  • Haibun — one or more haiku with accompanying prose, such as a short story or memoir.
  • Haiga — a haiku with an accompanying graphic or photo.
  • Renku — a collaborative form consisting of several linked haiku by different poets.

Resources

Essays

Websites

  • Haiku deadlines — a regularly updated list of haiku journals and awards, and when their submission deadlines are.
  • The Haiku Foundation — a vast trove of information, articles, archived publications, and so. The only downside is it can be hard to find what ou are looking for.
  • Haiku commentary — blog with analysis and commentary of haiku.

Podcasts and video

  • Haiku Theory — the host summarises an essay and gives his thoughts.
  • Haiku Chronicles — various discussion on haiku and related formed.
  • Haiku Talk — in each episode Ben Gaa breaks down what makes a recently published haiku successful

Journals

  • Wales Haiku Journal — free haiku journal
  • The Heron's Nest — haiku journal and awards
  • tsuri-dōrō — free online journal of haiku and senryū. Each edition also includes an essay, which take the form of a curated selection of haiku related to a particular theme, with commentary. Poorly optimised for mobile, works best with the screen held in landscape.
  • Cold Moon Journal — online haiku journal that publishes new poems each week. Supports RSS.
  • Failed Haiku — senryū journal, ceased publication in August 2025.

Books