National Haiku Poetry Day 2020

A haiku is simply a Japanese poem that contains three lines. The first line is five syllables, the second line is seven syllables, and the third line is five syllables. Embracing the 5-7-5 concept, a haiku possesses supreme meaning in the most simplest of forms. What is referred to as "cutting" (or kiru) is simply three qualities, which are represented per line. A haiku doesn't need to rhyme; however, it should make sense to those who read it. 

The first person to ever publish a Haiku was poet and American writer Ezra Pound from Hailey, Idaho in 1913. He published this in a poem referred to as "In a Station of the Metro" where Pound depicts his experiences in Paris through creative writing. Ever since this, Haiku has been a major thing for those who love poetry. 

One thing that I love about writing a haiku is the fact that I can garner inspiration from an experience, a memory, or even a person. Sometimes no source, nothing at all, as the writing speaks for itself. 

I published my first haiku on Yahoo! Voices back in 2007 called "Christmas Joyfully Shining" which I published during the holidays. 

Beautiful Christmas
The Trees, The Lights, The Magic
Joyfully Shining 

The abstract of writing a haiku should be your words, not the words of someone else. 

This particular haiku I wrote is inspired by a song I wrote called "Golpari" which is part English and part Persian and tells a story of a Persian goddess flying away. 

Fly, Fly, Fly Away 
Fly Away With Golpari
Fly High Golpari

Looking at the top line, you will notice that it is five syllables. The middle line is seven and the last line is five. So, 5-7-5. 

The Grass Is Greener 
On The Other Side--It Is
The Air Is Cleaner

You can continue the haiku and extend it to the traditional 17 lines, but it should be in the 5-7-5 syllable format and follow this rule. There are no exceptions to this rule, so adding or subtracting a syllable would not work. 

Think about what inspires you most and write something. Do you have a special haiku you want to share? Now it is your turn to do so. Happy National Haiku Poetry Day!