HAIKU A three-line poem of images that describes what the poet is experiencing.

Subject Matter Haiku often focus on images from nature, using imagery to describe them. evening breeze... water laps the legs of the blue heron --Buson

Often haiku refer to a season, called a kigo harvest moon... smoke goes on creeping over the water --Ransetsu redly the sun relentless but the autumn wind --Basho

But some haiku do not take their images only from nature. Passport check: My shadow waits Across the border --Swede

Famous haiku poets Basho Matsuo ( ) Known as the first great poet of haiku Believed the poem should capture the spontaneous feeling that comes from the object itself. Believed even the smallest or ordinary things had deep value. Often exaggerated humor, depression, joy, or imagination

More on Basho Was born into a long line of Samurai warriors. Wandered the earth teaching and creating poetry. Often his poem contain two separate images that often contrast each other: the stillness soaking into stones cicadas cry

Haiku often contain a startling or unexpected image: Spring departs Birds cry Fishes eyes are filled with tears red flipped out chicken lung in a cold white sink

Create your own haiku… Your Assignment: Create a haiku centered around Things Fall Apart, using one or more of the kigo we discussed. Your lines should be one or two syllables close to Illustrate using (modified) Haiga (watercolor) Create an extra one if you would like!