By Jim Rhodes

Every now and then I put my hand to writing Haikus. It’s a useful discipline for a writer to condense big thoughts into a very short and structured composition.

The Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry dating back some 300 years. A Haiku poem consists of 17 syllables written in three lines – the first consisting of 5 syllables, the second 7 and the third 5. Together, they give expression to a vivid impression, thought, theme or image. Often Haikus express human responses to nature in a strongly sensual way, capturing the essence of a moment in time.

The Haiku is in many ways an interactive art form. The nature of the Haiku is such that much meaning is hidden, to be filled in by the reader. Each word must pull a lot of weight, and the impact of the whole is greater than just the sum of its parts. An effective Haiku, engages all the human senses – sight, sound, touch, smell and taste. Mind you, working in an appeal to all five senses in 17 syllables is a challenge, so as a writer you just do the best you can.

The Haiku has become a popular art form in English, as well as other languages. Note, however, that Haikus composed in English differ greatly from the traditional Japanese, largely because Japanese words are more polysyllabic, so that a given line may contain only one or two words. Actually, the English language is more pliable and flexible with many more very short words, offering a lot more options for filling the 5-7-5 syllable format. Here are a few famous Japanese Haikus by the poet Basho, as translated into English:

Lightning -
Heron’s cry
Stabs the darkness

Waterjar cracks
I lie awake
This icy night

Ancient pond
Frog leaps
Splash!

 So, for what it’s worth, here is my own little seasonal Haiku composed as a tribute to the beginning of Autumn:

           The wind backs northwest
           Shadows sharpen suddenly
           Sweet September comes.