The Modern Haiku Form

Someone Told Me

I have been told that since the origin of haiku comes from the Japanese culture and written in the Japanese language, not English, we may use other than the traditional 5-7-5 syllable form.

The Flow

Because the melody, rhythm and beat in Japanese flow sweetly like water rippling in a pond, the translation into the English language loses the sound. The tongue movements clanking and the ears listening may not catch the sound like the ringing of a bell.

Freedom Rings

Thus, many modern poets have become unbounded by the number of syllables. This has struck me as both wonderful and freeing, plus strange for one used to rules and adherence to a form that describes the making of a definition.

Bindings Like Japanese Feet Create Restrictions

I suppose those who do write in this unbounded less strict way for their haiku must be recognized and once known for their intention can be given a name, "modern haiku." When finding a way to accept what appears different and not familiar we can see how it fits within the overall label. So, calling an apple and an orange both fruits makes sense to me, but not giving each the name of the other.

How many lines is that?

In fact, many astute masters of the haiku form prefer to use fewer words and thus few syllables to create their three lines of poetry. Now, wouldn't it be strange if someone came along and said, I am writing haiku, but instead of three lines, it can be two lines or even one line, since it carries the 17 syllables all together in the number of lines? Ponder that conundrum for a moment. Do we now include them into the haiku form without the three lines?

My question poses
rules that make up the structure
of the poetry

Form that makes it so
inclusive elusive to
feel in your body.

Notes In Every Season

On another note, must the content adhere strictly to 'nature' and a 'season' as we have been told? I've read books of haiku that contain pure humorous ditties about life, ideas that make us laugh, or some other topic serious in nature. I ask again, do you feel that content reigns king in this form of poetry? Can we write whatever springs forth in the line and or syllable form and call it "haiku?"

References for the original author

For those who wish to submit an origin free form modern haiku that has never been published either in print or on the internet visit The Heron's Nest.

For those who want to see even more examples, please take a look at Basho's Haiku where some editors have compiles works of this Japanese artist.

Let's give it a new name, shall we?

After some consideration, I'm thinking that to differentiate the authentic and original Japanese style Haiku in its own language from those written in English, perhaps we could give the contemporary style form written in English a new name. It appears that the Japanese works, so mulit-layered with double entendre and inuendo embedded in its form a particular quality and richness that perhaps English can only approximate.

Research into the definition of Haiku

The last resource for those who want to read more about this new form of poetry that frees the bonds of syllables as chains and restrictions to create three lines of musical poetry, visit Jane Reichold and delve into a wonderful new world. You will learn much about how to construct your poetry, how to break the lines and create meaning with so few colorful and descriptive words. Play with them and see.

Humming like crickets
the furnace warms the night time
in our winter home

Even if I try
My lines like ribbons flow in
habitual breaks

* * *

Didn't the crocus know
February was much too
early to bloom?

This Hubpages expands on our concept of strict style and form for a haiku written in the English language. We may take "liberties!" Does that ring a bell?

About the Author

Debby Bruck, CHOM loves to write about various topics on Hubpages. Playing with poetry, discussing serious subjects about the environment, health and sometimes dabbling into politics. Spending too much time on Twitter and writing tons of blogs.

All rights reserved © copyright Debby Bruck 2012