A Haiku is a Japanese poem.
Haiku (俳句, haikai verse?) is a form of Japanese poetry, consisting of 17 morae (or on), in three metrical phrases of 3,5 and 7 morae respectively[1]. Haiku typically contains a kigo, or seasonal reference, and a kireji or verbal caesura. In Japanese, haiku are traditionally printed in a single vertical line, while haiku in English usually appear in three lines, to parallel the three metrical phrases of Japanese haiku[2]. Previously called hokku, haiku was given its current name by the Japanese writer Masaoka Shiki at the end of the 19th century.


In the 1600s, two masters arose who elevated haikai and gave it a new popularity. They were Matsuo Bashō (1644–1694) and Ueshima Onitsura (1661-1738).

famous exmples are:

-furuike ya
(古池 や)
(fu/ru/i/ke ya): 5
kawazu tobikomu
(蛙 飛込む)
(ka/wa/zu to/bi/ko/mu): 7
mizu no oto
(水 の 音)
(mi/zu no o/to): 5
Roughly translated:[7]
old pond
a frog jumps
the sound of water
Another example of classic hokku by Matsuo Bashō:[8]
富士の風や扇にのせて江戸土産
fuji no kaze ya oogi ni nosete Edo miyage
the wind of Mt. Fuji
I've brought on my fan!
a gift from Edo
And yet another Bashō classic:
初しぐれ猿も小蓑をほしげ也
hatsu shigure saru mo komino wo hoshige nari
the first cold shower
even the monkey seems to want
a little coat of straw
(At that time, Japanese rain-gear consisted of a large, round cap and a shaggy straw cloak.)

-Nicolle-