How to compose classical haiku
Here at Pure Haiku I only publish classical haiku in the English language which are constructed in the strict syllabic structure of 5-7-5.
First line = 5 syllables
Second line = 7 syllables
Third line = 5 syllables
Here is an example: –
The cool night frost melts
with the warm breath of bird song.
Winter dawn chorus.
© Elizabeth Leaper 2013
Line 1 the (1) cool (1) night (1) frost (1) melts (1) = 5 syllables
Line 2 with (1) the (1) warm (1) breath (1) of (1) bird (1) song (1) = 7 syllables
Line 3 Winter (2) dawn (1) chorus (2) = 5 syllables
Here some more examples of haiku that I like to publish on this site: –
Raindrop crystal ball
hangs on the curved petal’s rim
mirrors summers past.
© Jane Dougherty 2016
Teeth grow and hair sprouts
Muscles strengthen, Sinew twists
Man is wolf again.
© D.B. Mauldin 2015
supine astronaut
white rock forever preserved
moondust covers corpse
© Freya Pickard 2015
not a breath of wind
the world waits on tenterhooks
until the song ends
© F Franklin 2015
Please read About Page to find out why I only publish strict, classical haiku on this site.
I’ve started making some videos about my writing! Please check them out at The Essence of Thyme and Patreon
Please note that I will be offline most of the time between 4pm (BST) 1st July 2016 until midday (BST) 18th July 2016.
I love the D.B. Mauldin haiku, which to me seem both very strict composition-wise, but sort of thematically transgressive.
thank you for reading, Sigrun!