About ‘one haiku per day’
Writing in a concise manner within strict constraints of form, is deceptively difficult.
Let me preface what follows by saying I am not a scholar of haiku nor Japanese culture or history. It’s just fun. So, this is what i understand and use as the basis for the haiku I write for this blog.
Traditionally, haiku comprises three lines in the following format:
Line 1 – 5 sounds
Line 2 – 7 sounds
Line 3 – 5 sounds
Syllables are a part of the English language, not Japanese as such, so when haiku is written in English we use syllables rather than the traditional sounds the Japanese would use. As I said, I don’t know Japanese language.
Haiku has spawned variants over the centuries with differing structures and I could have used any of those, or gone ‘freeform’ but I choose to existing within the old 5-7-5 form.
Also traditionally, haiku takes the general form of the first two lines working together and resolving in the third line, as a kind of conclusion or statement.
Now, I know there may be any number of errors in what I have just written and I’m sure that people with a far greater knowledge of the form may want to point out flaws in my explanation. To those people, please understand that this is, mostly, an exercise in fun and not a scholarly pursuit. I am not an authority, nor do I wish to be.
On to the fun.
Thanks for wading through the mud of my ramblings.
Marc.
P.S. If I happen to miss a day through the unforeseen, I will write 2 the next day. Promise!
Oops, broke my promise already but life gets in the way. I’ll do better!
Oh, and for a much better explanation of haiku than mine check out…
one haiku per day 
Leave a comment