Charles Henderson's Blog

Haiku Checklist

          These are not rules, a word I never like to use, but suggested implementations for haiku which when used correctly will embellish your finished poem.  They are not for every poem, they are simply for the poem which asks for them.  Only you the poet can know the answer to that.  If one does not know, then one risks looking foolish to attempt before they have investigated how.  This is simply a statement of fact.  Probably most haiku poets have looked foolish many times while trying to get experienced in writing the form.  I know I have.   

     1  Try to use season word in your poem.  Lists are on line and in books.

2  It is permissible to use more than one season word if you poem calls for it.  The poem will usually decide the dominant season.

3  Try to make the poem look haiku.  Being simplistic in nature if one patterns their poem other than the three line poem, a simple balanced form will emphasize their words.  Whereas, a flowery script and burger dots emphasize the poets personality.

4  One needs to know one’s capabilities or more succinctly put, one’s limitations when writing metaphor and simile into haiku.  As in any form it can lend great visual sparkle if done correctly and with taste.  If not it can ruin an otherwise perfectly good thought.  Because you see the connection does not mean others will.  You should know how to incorporate it into the poem so anyone can make the connection, otherwise leave to those who can.  ie: the frisby tilt of a seagull is a good example of a good metaphor.  It isn’t wordy, or boring, rather it is factual and accurate.

5  Learn the differences between concrete objective haiku and emotion driven subjective haiku.  Depending on the way your mind works you may find one easier to write than the other.  I have always thought objective was easier, and maybe incorrectly suggested that all should start with that, but it could be a personal thing.  There seems to be no difference in the form or subject matter.  I have always used the term traditional haiku to describe everything up to the modern era.  I was also wrong to do that.  Shiki started writing in the late 1800’s and his poetry is very subjective in nature.  I suppose the way haiku first started out, being objective in content, is the reason we say traditional is objective and contemporary is subjective.  Yet, I know many poets who do not write subjective haiku, only objective.  It is so much easier for most of us. So be sure to first learn the difference.

6  Look for the secrets of everything, from the most minute to the largest, insect, mountain, plant, person, organization, suggestion, idea, relationship and a vast expanse of others.  Anything and everything has a secret story to tell in the haiku language.  You just have to seek it out, embellish it, write it and let it bloom. 

7)   Websites that can and will help you out are:

         Haiku Northwest-FACEBOOK

         Haiku Society of America-FACEBOOK

         NaHaiWriMo (daily haiku writing prompts) -FACEBOOK

         https://sites.google.com/site/graceguts/

         Open Directory: Haiku and Related Forms (portal site)

         Haiku and Related Journals (portal site for places to publish your haiku     

         Haiku (on Wikipedia)

         Haiku in English (on Wikipedia)

         Haiku Society of America             

         The Haiku Foundation

         haiku directory