when can a Haiku poem have commas or punctuation?

Answer 1

Haiku are supposed to have no title and no punctuation. They should be a single image of nature and have a sense of bigness with smallness. It is more difficult to write a good haiku than most people think it is. Every word must have a purpose.

Anything that breaks these rules may be a good poem, but it is not a a haiku.
______________________________________________
The other joker who said to look at e e cummings probably doesn't know that e e cummings wrote free verse, NOT haiku.

Answer 2

The second answerer is more accurate. It is unfortunate, but a lot of Americans write what they think are haiku. In most cases they are not writing haiku at all, and Americans tend to obsess over the 5-7-5 rule, which in English is not an accurate translation of the form from Japanese. There are some really good essays on haiku here:

http://www.thehaikupoet.com/

I recommend the essay by Keiko Imaoka.

Answer 3

Hey guys, I'm wondering if you can answer if this is a good, or at least proper haiku, do you think I am writing in proper form or not, I have always liked writing haikus, but have not really studied it.
My Haiku: Watching in the dark
Silently waits for its prey
It sees then swoops down

Answer 4

You have the format done right 3 lines Syllables are: 5 for first line 7 for second 5 for third You don't need any commas or periods as there are enough pauses with each line. I like it! I would try to make each line flow more, because right now it seems like each line is a separate poem to me.

Answer 5

Whenever you want it to. That is the beauty of poetry. Read e. e. cummings for a great example.

Answer 6

Like this:

Haikus are easy;
the best can touch you deeply -
hippopotamus.