Poetry: Japanese

Haiku

What are Haiku poems?• Haiku poems are Japanese and contain only 3

lines

• The poems are used to paint a picture in the readers mind

• Each line has a certain number of syllables

History

• 17th century Japanese poetry• Has roots in Zen Buddhism• Famous poet: Matsuo Basho• Originally focused on nature

Structure• The first line of every haiku has 5 syllables

• The second contains 7 syllables

• The final line contains 5 syllables

• This forms a 5,7,5 pattern

I am first with five

Then seven in the middle

Five again to end

• Haikus are usually about nature

Examples

• Snow melts.Suddenly, the villageis full of children

• Green and speckled legsHops on logs and lily-padsSplash in cool water

• In a pouch I growOn a southern continentStrange creatures I know

NOW MAKE YOUR OWN!

• Pick an animal.• Pick a season (Summer, Autumn, Winter,

Spring)• Pick a weather element• Pick whatever you want!!!

If you want it to rhyme use: http://www.rhymezone.com/