Poetry and Quotations

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Are You Really Writing Haiku?

Haiku is originally a Japanese style poem, however it has changed into a favorite of many young adults. One problem though, most who claim they write haiku, generally don't. Haiku is a strict style of writing that consists of a 5 7 5 style, meaning 5 morae (loosely meaning syllables) in the first line, 7 in second and ending it with 5. Haiku is also written in a way related to nature.

Many who claim they write haiku are in fact writing a whole other style. One style which is generally confused as haiku is cinquain. Cinquain, although closely related to haiku, consists of five lines instead of three. Cinquain is also written about an object and/or person and not nature specifically.

In order to write a true haiku poem, it must consist of three lines with five morae in the first, seven in the second while the third and line consists of again five morae. The poem must also be somehow related to nature, while using few words and expressing great emotion.

An example of syllable haiku is:

"Darkness"

Blackened evening sky

Moon shifts across the darkness

Waiting for the sun

However, it is not a traditional haiku. Darkness alone only has 4 morae (da-rk-ne-ss).

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