The Art of Haiku 俳句: Exploring the Japanese Poetry Form in Modern Culture
An old silent pond
A frog jumps into the pond—
Splash! Silence again.
The Old Pond by Matsuo Bashō
Poetry comes in many forms but one of my personal favorites has to be the Haiku, an ancient Japanese form that has been celebrated for centuries.
One of the deep joys that can be found in reading haiku is the ways in which language and imagery are wrapped up so eloquently in a compact yet meaningful form. Most haiku consist of three phrases characterized by three essential qualities:
Kiru or ‘cutting’: This is where two images or ideas contained in the poem are juxtaposed with a kireji - ‘cutting word’ - between them.
17 On or ‘syllables’: Traditionally the form sticks to a maximum of 17 syllables, split into three phrases of 5, 7, and 5.
Kigo or ‘seasonal reference’: Most haiku traditionally involves some nature or seasonal references.
Looking at the example above, a very well-known and popular haiku by the Japanese haiku master, Matsuo Bashō, provides us with a clear idea of how the 5, 7, 5 rule works:
An Old Silent Pond
1 2 3 4 5
A frog jumps into the pond
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Splash! Silence again.
1 2 3 4 5
Over the years, haikus have been adopted by the West and continued to be popular in Japan. Gendai-Haiku (現代俳句), meaning modern haiku, have increasingly varied from the traditional 17 on and steered away from nature or the seasons as a core subject. You can find haiku written by prominent Western writers including Jack Kerouac, J.D. Salinger, Ezra Pound, and Allen Ginsburg.
Gendai-Haiku (現代俳句)
After a literary love affair exploring all things haiku in 2018, starting with the work of Momoko Kuroda, a celebrated haiku poet, I began to be introduced to other modern poets.
It’s been interesting to see how much the form has been adapted and how creatively some poets use some of the core components of haiku to deliver beautiful little snapshots of writing. It’s these snapshots that ensnare the mind and remind us that sometimes, simplicity is the best and often most thought-provoking approach.
Gendai-haiku not only move away from the 17 on, but many modern poets using this form have also switched up the 5, 7, 5 rule as they shrink the number of syllables they use. I’ve seen some poets use 3, 5, 3 and even 2, 3, 2 to craft eloquent poetic forms, like haiku, but somewhat different altogether.
It’s no surprise that haiku have found a well-established fan base on platforms like Instagram. Instagram is about grabbing our attention, sharing a moment of connection with as much brevity as possible. Often, these moments can seem irrelevant, trivial even, but there’s a beauty to be found in them no matter how fleeting.
Much like a haiku. A poem in one breathe, capturing a personal moment of beauty.
Three Gendai-Haiku Poetry Books Worth Reading
I Wait For The Moon, by Momoko Kuroda. Translated by Abigail Friedman.
I wait for fireflies / I wait as if for someone / who will never return
Momoka Kuroda is one of Japan’s most well-known haiku poets. Although she might not spring to mind as a ‘modern haiku’ poet, her work spans decades and in so doing, there is a beautiful evolution in the way she has approached her chosen art form. Described as a remarkable haiku spirit and a powerfully independent Japanese woman, Kuroda has never shied away from using her work as a way to comment on central issues including postwar identity, politics, and gender. In this collection, 100 of her poems, starting from earliest to most recent, are shared and contemplated by the translator and fellow haiku ‘apprentice’, Abigail Friedman.
Morning Haiku, by Sonia Sanchez
You sniff
dog-like around
language
An equally powerful poet, Sanchez’s collection of haiku challenge and manipulate the form with exciting results. She steers away from the standard 5, 7, 5 form and uses it instead to celebrate music, art, activism, the gift of love, and to mourn death. Intimate, profound and lyrical, Sanchez’s short collection sings to her heritage of courage and resilience and will leave you heartbroken and uplifted in one sitting.
On Haiku, by Hiroaki Sato
Rather than a collection of work by one poet, On Haiku, explores the various styles and genres of haiku as they have developed on both sides of the Pacific. It’s a wonderfully accessible and informative book, detailing the origins and work of classical haiku masters including Basho and Issa, to the haikus of modern American writers. Sato explores how the focus has transformed from nature and the seasons to being more observational on specific objects or framed around political acts. It’s an excellent introductory book, with plentiful examples of brilliant haiku work by both traditional and Western Haiku writers.
Three Gendai-Haiku Poets Worth Following
Tyler Knott Gregson
Gregson has a few poetry books under his belt, but he’s pretty well known on Instagram for his Daily Haiku sharing. Most of his work focuses on capturing little moments of love, affection, and life with his wife.
@tylerknott on Instagram
Amy Kay
Another popular poet to be found on Instagram, Kay shares her own haiku but also shares regular prompts, tips, and ideas around how to write your own haiku poems too. Her work tends to focus more on personal experiences, feminism, and cultural commentary.
@amykaypoetry on Instagram
Human/Kind Journal
Human/Kind Journal seeks to bring together various creative art forms that might not find a home elsewhere. They’re huge advocates for modern haiku and dedicate a large portion of their online and print journal to sharing the work of modern haiku poets. They’re well worth a follow if you want to uncover new writers and poets using this form.
@humankindjrnl on Instagram
About Elaine Mead
Elaine is a freelance writer and editor from London, currently residing in Tasmania. She is passionately interested in the ways in which we can learn from our experiences to become more authentic versions of ourselves, and believes in the power of words to connect. She's also obsessed with showing you photos of her Dachshund puppy. You can find her on Instagram @cestelaine
