Introduction
Haiku is a traditional form of Japanese poetry, It often captures a moment in nature or an emotion in a few short lines.
Form
Mora (On) Count
- Traditional Japanese: 17 on in a 5-7-5 pattern
- On does not equal English syllables (moras are rhytmic units); English haiku typically bend this count.
Lineation
Haiku has Three Phrases (printed as three lines):
- 5 on (phrase 1)
- 7 on (phrase 2)
- 5 on (phrase 3)
Terminology
| Term | Japanese | Description |
|---|---|---|
| On | 音 (on) | Phonetic “beat” in Japanese; English haiku use syllables loosely. |
| Kigo | 季語 (kigo) | A reference to a season or natural phenomenon anchoring the poem in time. |
| Kireji | 切れ字 (kireji) | A “cut” or caesura that creates a juxtaposition or pause. |
| Saijiki | 歳時記 (saijiki) | A compendium of kigo organized by season and sub-season. |
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Citation
Cited as:
Yotam, Kris. (May 2025). Haiku Form Guide. krisyotam.com. https://krisyotam.com/notes/verse/haiku-form-guide
Or
@article{yotam2025haiku-form-guide,
title = "Haiku Form Guide",
author = "Yotam, Kris",
journal = "krisyotam.com",
year = "2025",
month = "May",
url = "https://krisyotam.com/notes/verse/haiku-form-guide"
}