1. Types of Poetry

2. Haiku Haiku is a type of poetry from the Japanese culture
Haiku poems are typically about everyday things
The form of Haiku expresses a particular moment in time only three lines

3. Haiku (cont.)
The first line contains 5 syllables, the second line contains 7 syllables, and the third line contains 5 syllables
Haiku does not rhyme

4. Haiku’s must paint a mental picture in the reader’s mind
Haiku (cont.)
Haiku’s must paint a mental picture in the reader’s mind
The theme of a Haiku typically include nature, feelings, or experiences.

5. Now take a look at a few examples of Haiku.
Remember, because theses poems have been translated into English from their original Japanese, the syllable counts will vary. Your Haiku needs to follow the (17 syllable) three line poetic structure.

6. Get out of my road
and allow me to plant these
bamboos, Mr. Toad.
Miura Chora
How does Chora capture a moment in life? What moment is it that he is catching?
Read each word or phrase once at a time and picture it, like a snapshot in your mind. How does doing this help you unlock the ability to see, hear, taste, smell, or touch that single element in the original moment?

7. A dragonfly!
The distant hills
Reflected in his eyes.
Kobayashi Issa
How does Issa capture the beauty of small easily overlooked moment in nature?
Read each word or phrase once at a time. How does doing this help you unlock the ability to see, hear, taste, smell, or touch that single element in the original moment?

8. Visualizing…
Using the pictures on the following slides fill in the visualizing chart with the descriptions you feel best describe the picture you are viewing. When you finish, use the same chart to craft a vivid image on paper of what you saw in the form of a Haiku poem.

14. Haiku Homework Complete Haiku Questions
Write/compose your own Haiku using one picture description you wrote on the “Visualizing Chart” from the PowerPoint
Click on the link for You Tube ( and find/view a clip on Thelonius Monk. Write a detailed descriptive response about the “sound” of his music and how you think it might be a musical representation of Haiku poetry.