What exactly is a Haiku?

Question

I want to specially know the syllable structure.

Answer 1

There have been many changes in Haiku over the years. We were taught in school that the classic form is 17 syllables long, written as 5 - 7 - 5 beats per line. This is no longer the case. Modern Haiku, written in English, can be much shorter.

I write for the market - literary mags mostly. Most accept any form, as long as the poem is in the Haiku tradition. Senryu are also popular. These involve human nature as opposed to just nature itself.

Sorry, I can't post one of mine here. They are copyrighted, also I need to protect my anonymity. But do look up Haiku magazines in any search engine and you'll see what is being published these days.

Meanwhile, try not to restrict your Haiku to 5 - 7 - 5. Think Japanese. A Haiku should be just an ah-length long, i.e., spoken in one breath.

Hope this helps a little. Good luck!

Answer 2

Haiku originated as a form of Japanese poetry. In English, a haiku is a three-line poem, usually with 5 syllables in the first line, 7 in the second, and 5 in the third. Because of differences between the two languages, this is similar but not identical to the way a haiku is written in Japanese.

Traditionally, a haiku is about the natural world and seeks to capture a single moment of experience. Some contemporary haiku are written on subjects other than nature.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haiku

Answer 3

5-A haiku simply
7-is a seven syllable
5-line 'tween two of five.


Anyways, a haiku like the one up above demonstrates, is a 3 line long poem or fit, that is 17 syllables long total and traditionally has no metrical restrictions. The first line is 5 syllables, the second is 7 syllables and the third is 5 syllables.
the verses are also typically unrhymed, and written much like prose, but often very proverbial and or aesthetically descriptive in nature.

Answer 4

a Haiku is a poem from Japan it has seventeen syllables five on the first line then on the 2nd line there is 7 syllables then on the third line 5 syllables a haiku is not easy despite being a poem the lines do not rhyme usally they are about nature.

Answer 5

I'll paste an answer from a previous question, because the person had such a complete answer.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...
http://www.ahapoetry.com/shelgame.htm
The second website looks interesting. I like the idea of trying to express something in such a tight structure. It's like a puzzle and really tests your ability to come up with just the right word.

Answer 6

Traditional Hai'ku have MANY rules. During their high point, they were expected to be about a facet of nature. They had to have two sections. Two lines for naming the subject and showing an attribute, and a third line akimbo, contradicting or redirecting the storyline.

*****
Monitor lizard
Green speckled forest dragon
New Gucci handbag

*****
Tah Da!

Answer 7

it has 3 verses
1st 5 syllables
and 7 ...
and third 5...

ex: my name is the
i really love basketball
i am very cool