Purpose Haiku want to preserve a moment in

Purpose • Haiku want to preserve a moment in time and present the reader with a vivid sensory image AND sound, • Remember: imagerysight = smell, taste, and touch

Purpose achieved? • The last winter leaves Clinging to the black branches Explode into birds. • One moment in time (re)created? Yep. • Vivid, varied sensory imagery? – Touch: winter; clinging – Sight: black; explode – Sound: explode

Characteristics • Haiku are frequently about nature and the natural world (but hey, it’s your poem…write about what you want) • May contain references to times (of the year) to anchor the poem for the reader (i. e. – “Flowers blossoming” would indicate spring) • One line is “divided” from the other two, sometimes by punctuation, and may provide a reflection on the other two lines • The poet doesn’t state his or her feelings, but describes a setting so as to recreate that feeling in the reader.

Characteristics displayed? • The last winter leaves Clinging to the black branches Explode into birds. • Nature or the natural world? Yep. • Reference to time of year? You betcha. • Division of lines to provide reflection? • Not so much. : / • Poet recreates a scene to recreate a feeling rather than stating what the reader should feel? And how.

Form • Three lines • 17 syllables – First line = 5 syllables – Second line = 7 syllables – Third line = 5 syllables • NO rhyming (but (modern) Americans sometimes like to make it rhyme, because, you know, ‘Merica (don’t do this (but you can if you want to, because, you know, poetry)))

Example • Temple Bells Die Out - Poem by Matsuo Basho • Temple bells die out. The fragrant blossoms remain. A perfect evening!

Analyze this! (That is, the previous example) • One moment in time (re)created? • Vivid, varied sensory imagery? – _____: • Nature or the natural world? • Reference to time of year? day? – _____________ references ______________ • Division of lines to provide reflection? – If so, where do you draw the division and why? • Poet recreates a scene to recreate a feeling rather than stating what the reader should feel?

You try it. • One moment in time (re)created? • Vivid, varied sensory imagery? Insert a haiku here: – _____: • Nature or the natural world? • Reference to time of year? day? – _____________ references ______________ • Division of lines to provide reflection? – If so, where do you draw the division and why? • Poet recreates a scene to recreate a feeling rather than stating what the reader should feel?