Are haikus supposed to be titled?

Question

I noticed that the ones I have read were untitled, but I title the ones that I have written. Any insight on the matter anyone?

Answer 1

Putting a title on things tends to be a Western European and American habit, not one from the Asia. However, since you are most likely from one of those areas, you may or may not use a title.

By the way, the haiku contains several key elements besides just the 5-7-5 syllable pattern. First, it normally, in one way or another, at least in traditional haiku creation although definitely not in the modern haiku, somehow indicates the season. It mentions a flower, or snow, or blossoms, etc. that all indicate the season of the year. Second, in a haiku, traditionally, the first two lines to together creating a sort of couplet or bond that illustrates a scene, and the third line twists it to explain the first two lines in a different light.

These are two elements of the haiku that are often forgotten but they take the haiku from an ordinary three-line poem to an art form.

Answer 2

You may title a haiku or not.

Traditionally, haiku were written in chains. A haiku master would write one and give it to a colleague or a student and the colleague or student would write one and send it back. The Japanese traditionally did not title them because they were not seen as literary works for posterity, but as subtle art forms. The 5 7 5 pattern was not as important as two things: keeping it to 17 Japanese syllables and making sure the topic or question turns towards or answers it in a seasonal image of nature.

The American tradition of haiku has adopted it and often titles it. Although many American haikus keep to the 5 7 5 pattern, some of the best one's do not keep to the syllabics rule and function solely on the question and image answer. Hear Ferlinghetti's American Haiku on "In Their Own Words: A Century of Recorded Poetry"

Also, see Robert Hass' translations in "The Haiku Anthology" or Hayden Carruth's "The Clay HIll Anthology."

Answer 3

that is extremely a undeniable present. No, Santa isn't portion of nature, yet of the season we have fun; no longer the explanation, of direction. i admire Bruce's C&C of the guy haiku's. i like the full, yet my well known is purely too darned troublesome to %. out. isn't zephyr your haiku and scifaiku call? i'm effective it quite is. that is not an arcane be conscious, purely infrequently used, whether it quite is honestly maximum appropriate in the haiku. thank you and would you have the main superb Christmas of all. .

Answer 4

No. You don't put titles on haikus. I know . I write them. It is western style poetry that is supposed to have titles.

Answer 5

they good be i don't see why not.