Haiku

 Haiku is a traditional Japanese short poem. It has three lines. It has five syllables in the first and third lines. It has seven syllables in the second line.

Haiku Society of America defines Haiku as-"A Haiku is a short poem that uses imaginative language to convey the essence of an expression or the season intuitively linked to the human conditions."

Haiku today are written by authors worldwide. Haiku in English and other languages have different styles and traditions while still incorporating aspects of the traditional Haiku form. Haiku is a fairly new style of Japanese poetry, became popular in 17 th and 18 th century through such poets Basho, Buson , Issa and Sikki.

Haiku is so brief, it relies on simple phrases. Every word in the Haiku has to play a meaningful role, so Haiku poets choose their word carefully. Haiku presents a single, evanescent image using the five senses, trying to recreate sensual experience for the reader. Haiku often capture outdoor scenes, specially those featuring delicate moments that reflect the changing of the seasons. Images like falling leaves, blossoming of flowers and melting snow can offer inspiration to poets intrigued by both forms.

Haikus are written in present tense, attempt to capture fleeting moments in time, reminding readers about beauty and brevity of everyday life.

Some famous Haiku poets

Matsou Basho : Nature, the understanding of its beauty and acceptance of its force, is used by Basho to represent the beauty which he observes in the world. Basho communicates the abstract beauty  Yugen, which lies just behind the appearance of the world. The word Yugen may be understood as the inner beauty of a work of art or nature which is rarely apparent to the vulgar. And the apprehension of this beauty gives the beholder a momentary intimation, an illumination, of the deeper signifance of the universe about him.

         An old silent pond....

          A frog jumps into the pond,

          Splash! Silence again.

          

           Autumn moonlight.

            a worm digs in silently

            into the chestnut.

Kobayashi Issa (1713-1828) :

           O snail

            Climb mountain Fiji

           But slowly slowly!

            Everything I touch

             with tenderness, alas, 

              pricks like a bramble.

Masaoka Sikki  (1867-1902) : 

              I want to sleep

              Swat the flies

               Softly, please.

              After killing

               a spider, how lonely I feel

               in the cold of the night!

Yosa Buson (1716-1783) :

                The spring rain

                 Talking and passing.

                   The canola flowers

                    The moon in the east

                     The sun in the west

Benefits of writing Haiku: 

      

        Haiku depicts a moment of nature, involves deeply with the natural world and helps one to recover from pain and despair. It helps to organise the unorganised and disturbing patterns that are stored in our brains and offers calmness. Haiku aims to transcend from the ordinary to the magical and turns off the noise of obsessive and ruminating thoughts.

         "A good Haiku can work wonders on a tired soul." This is a complete tool that helps us connect with ourselves. This tool helps to find that forgotten place where hope still resides.

         Haiku can be a excellent way to practice mindfulness. It is a fabulous tool to learn to slow down and generate feelings of calm, peace and compassion