Haiku Form Guide

(notes (date 2025-05-24) (category literature) (status rough) (confidence likely) (importance 6) (tags poetry methodology haiku))

Introduction

Haiku is a traditional form of Japanese poetry, It often captures a moment in nature or an emotion in a few short lines.

Form

Mora (On) Count
Lineation

Haiku has Three Phrases (printed as three lines):

Terminology

TermJapaneseDescription
On音 (on)Phonetic “beat” in Japanese; English haiku use syllables loosely.
Kigo季語 (kigo)A reference to a season or natural phenomenon anchoring the poem in time.
Kireji切れ字 (kireji)A “cut” or caesura that creates a juxtaposition or pause.
Saijiki歳時記 (saijiki)A compendium of kigo organized by season and sub-season.