avatarMai Yamamoto

Free AI web copilot to create summaries, insights and extended knowledge, download it at here

2290

Abstract

edium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*2Y30gP9ctumc0nxd)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="2592">As I wrote in the article above, you don’t have to be obsessed with the 5–7–5 rule. You can even create a Haiku poem with 2–3–2 syllables only.</p><p id="e692">Another critical rule in Japanese Haiku writing is the ‘seasonal word.’ You must have one ‘seasonal word’ in a Haiku poem, and it should have only one, not more than two.</p><p id="f689">The seasonal word represents the season of each Haiku poem, and it is quite strictly regulated which word corresponds to which season. This is because we have four distinct seasons in Japan, and admiring the seasons is considered culturally sophisticated. That’s why ancient maestros of Haiku poetry regularly put seasonal words in their Haiku poems.

I think we are lucky to have four beautiful seasons in Japan, but those seasonal words don’t always make sense to English speakers. So, when you write Haiku poetry in English, seasonal words are not mandatory. You can write a Haiku poem without a seasonal term, or you can put two seasonal words in one Haiku poem. I am super happy that I don’t have to memorise the complicated seasonal word system!</p><p id="3090">As I said, I am writing a Haiku or Tanka poem in English every day. I want my audience to enjoy my poems just like biscuits with their coffee. I am not a big fan of sweets, but I know lots of people love indulging themselves in cookies or chocolates for a break.</p><p id="03e3">They are short enough to glimpse during your coffee break. Still, you may have to use your brain to understand what it says, like a puzzle. Some of the Haiku and Tanka poems could also be inspiring and creative.</p><p id="d5e8"><b>If you are interested in my Haiku & Tanka pieces, please visit my publication ‘<a href="https://medium.com/etude-of-creativity">Etude of Creativity</a>,’ category ‘<a href="https://medium.com/etude-of-creativity/haiku-tanka-100/home">Haiku 100</a>.’</b></p><div id="8ec7" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/100-haiku-tanka-project-c1f77611aa4"> <div> <div> <h2>About 100 Haiku & Tanka Project</h2> <div><h3>the practice of writing H

Options

aiku poetry every day</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*zHGKel9YVzBM-ZqfACHWCQ.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="8fa8" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/stoic-haiku-vs-emotional-tanka-a6f91bc44b94"> <div> <div> <h2>Stoic Haiku VS Emotional Tanka</h2> <div><h3>Romance with Tanka Poetry</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*VuqIntiozCDMo1H3o-4NsA.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="0365"><i>Next Story:</i></p><div id="4a77" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/how-many-haiku-tanka-poems-can-you-create-a-day-9e92e487e2ff"> <div> <div> <h2>How many Haiku & Tanka Poems can you write in a Day?</h2> <div><h3>I am writing a Haiku or Tanka poem every day.</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*orOSs7HebnmU-LKyJmGgDQ.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="61b2"><i>Previous Story:</i></p><div id="fe48" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/are-metaphors-forbidden-in-haiku-poetry-8f0afde3b168"> <div> <div> <h2>Are Metaphors forbidden in Haiku Poetry?</h2> <div><h3>I have never heard about this rule in Japan...? Recently I started writing Haiku poems, ' 100 Haiku & Tanka project. '…</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*MTSU3eCN8aIAiKUD)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

I’m Japanese, but I feel more comfortable writing Haiku poetry in English rather than in Japanese.

Why is that?

Image by Mamoru Masumoto, on Pixabay

I write Haiku or Tanka poems every day now. It is my new project of Haiku & Tanka poetry. Both Haiku and Tanka are types of Japanese literature, which I learned at school. Although I had never tried to write Haiku or Tanka poems in Japanese before I started to in English, I love writing them so much now.

I have a feeling that I might be better at writing Haiku and Tanka poems in English rather than in Japanese. It is because Haiku poetry writing in English is more flexible than Japanese writing; at least, I think so.

The traditional Haiku written in Japanese demands a structure of 5–7–5 syllables, more precisely speaking, I should say ‘moras.’ Some English poets also follow this rule, and they write Haiku poems with 5–7–5 syllables in English. However, it is not always necessary to follow that rule when it comes to English Haiku writing.

As I wrote in the article above, you don’t have to be obsessed with the 5–7–5 rule. You can even create a Haiku poem with 2–3–2 syllables only.

Another critical rule in Japanese Haiku writing is the ‘seasonal word.’ You must have one ‘seasonal word’ in a Haiku poem, and it should have only one, not more than two.

The seasonal word represents the season of each Haiku poem, and it is quite strictly regulated which word corresponds to which season. This is because we have four distinct seasons in Japan, and admiring the seasons is considered culturally sophisticated. That’s why ancient maestros of Haiku poetry regularly put seasonal words in their Haiku poems. I think we are lucky to have four beautiful seasons in Japan, but those seasonal words don’t always make sense to English speakers. So, when you write Haiku poetry in English, seasonal words are not mandatory. You can write a Haiku poem without a seasonal term, or you can put two seasonal words in one Haiku poem. I am super happy that I don’t have to memorise the complicated seasonal word system!

As I said, I am writing a Haiku or Tanka poem in English every day. I want my audience to enjoy my poems just like biscuits with their coffee. I am not a big fan of sweets, but I know lots of people love indulging themselves in cookies or chocolates for a break.

They are short enough to glimpse during your coffee break. Still, you may have to use your brain to understand what it says, like a puzzle. Some of the Haiku and Tanka poems could also be inspiring and creative.

If you are interested in my Haiku & Tanka pieces, please visit my publication ‘Etude of Creativity,’ category ‘Haiku 100.’

Next Story:

Previous Story:

Haiku
Tanka
Haiku Tanka Tips
Poetry
Writing
Recommended from ReadMedium