Crows
Beckon me
Every single morning.
Copyright © 2026 by Crystal David John
"The Hay(na)ku is a 21st century poetic form designed by Eileen R. Tabios, a Filipino-American poet, fiction writer, artist. The form, which Tabios first called Filipino Haiku, is described by Eileen in an interesting history of hay(na)ku. Inspired by Tabios’ Counting Journal, lately I’ve been writing a hay(na)ku each day in my planner after the day, a quick, tiny and fun way to recap a memorable event or emotion." - - Denise Krebs
Traditionally, Hay(na)ku have:
3 lines
A total of 6 words – 1 in the first, 2 in the second, and 3 in the third
No syllable, rhythm, or meter constraints.
You can also write reverse hay(na)kus.
in the fifties I was an odd kind of beatnik.
I did not have a goatee; I was not Maynard G. Krebs
I was a hippie in the seventies, but not promiscuous.
But love, sweet love, I surely did believe in that.
And I was not crazy happy about the Vietnam War.
In the eighties, I heard my kind referred to as Bohemians.
We did things our way, not our parents; okay by me.
Now I a non-conformist, but most are who truly grow up.
Grow away, grow their own set of rules and values, right?
I will soon be old enough to be called eccentric.
Oh, I am there now?
Thank you my sweet.
Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.