Haiku Exercise 3 notes on writing a brief 3-line senryu:
the 'human nature' poem

Haiku exercises

Your first three haiku:

Notes:

Exercise 3: notes

Comparison of haiku and senryu:

Core attributes: Season word (kigo). Three phrases. Juxtaposed images.
Classical Haiku
(nature poem)
Required Classical Japanese: 1 vertical line of 5-7-5 morae.

Modern Western: short-long-short; maybe 2-3-2 stresses; many variations.
Usually written in 3 lines but may be written in 1 or 2.

Required
Senryu
(people poem)
Optional Same as above.
Western senryu are of variable but basically "breath-like" length.
Optional

Time line for haiku:

Haiku originated as solo verses that could be used in linked verse. Accordingly it is necessary to include information about linked verse in considering the development of haiku:

Writing and Enjoying Haiku: A Hands-On Guide (2003)
by Jane Reichhold, whose many skills include a keen sense for the writing and appreciation of haiku.
This book includes useful guidelines on writing haiku and related forms
.
In the Palm of Your Hand, Steve Kowit.
Highly recommended. Brimming with clear and practical exercises,
Kowit's book is the best 'How to' book to help you start writing poetry.
My favorite chapter is about Awful Poems, where Kowit leads us cheerily
through the frequent mistakes that appear in our poems, with exercises to correct them.
Buy Strand The Making of a Poem: A Norton Anthology of Poetic Forms,
Edited by Mark Strand and Eavan Boland.

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