The Ancient Art of Haiku Writing

You may be familiar with haiku as a type of poem, but did you know that it is also a form of meditation? The act of focusing on the present moment and distilling your thoughts into a few short words can be very therapeutic. And anyone can do it! In this blog post, I will explore the history and practice of haiku writing.

Haiku History

Haiku originated in Japan and date back to the 9th century. The first haiku were actually tanka, a longer form of poem that was often used to describe nature or express emotions. Tanka were divided into two parts: the first five lines (which were called the “upper verse”) and the last seven lines (the “lower verse”). Over time, the upper verse became its own distinct poem known as haiku.

The word “haiku” comes from the Japanese words “hai,” which means “to breathe,” and “ku,” which means “moment.” This reflects the Buddhist belief that all things are transient and that life is like an exhale and inhale. Haiku are meant to capturing a single moment in time, which is why they are often about nature or everyday objects.

How to Write a Haiku

Now that you have learned a little bit about the history of haiku, let’s talk about how to write one. As I mentioned earlier, haiku are written in three lines with a 5–7–5 syllable count. There is no set rule for rhyming or meter, but many haiku follow a traditional Japanese pattern known as hokku-bunrei-teikei. This means that the first line (hokku) mentions an object, the second line (bunrei) describes an action, and the third line (teikei) offers an emotion or reaction.

Here’s an example:

The sound of rain

Falling on leaves outside my window

Soothes my restless mind

One of the great things about haiku is that there are no wrong answers. Just like with any form of meditation or self-expression, the point is to simply be present in the moment and see what comes up for you. If you’re stuck, try thinking about something that you experienced recently that left a lasting impression on you. It could be anything – the smell of fresh-cut grass, watching snowflakes fall, or hearing your child laugh. Once you have your subject, see if you can boil it down to its essence using just 17 syllables.

I hope this blog post has inspired you to give haiku writing a try! As mentioned earlier, there are no wrong answers when it comes to this simple yet powerful form of self-expression. Just allow yourself to be present in the moment and see what comes up for you.

Also pick up a copy of my latest book Haikuable on Amazon if you’re interested reading some of my pieces.