Haiku

Haiku is a short form of poetry originating in Japan. It consists of three lines, in the following pattern:

Five syllable line,
A seven syllable line,
And five syllables.

Traditionally, the last line of the haiku will contain a "link to the eternal" or a seasonal reference. In Japanese, this will usually be done with one word.

Good haiku will grab the reader or hearer's imagination and will cause them to reflect on far more than you'd think you could get in seventeen syllables.

I think Kenneth Yasuda described it best when he said:

When one happens to see a beautiful sunset or lovely flower, for instance, one is often so delighted that one merely stands still. That state of mind might be called "ah-ness", for the beholder can only give one breath-long exclamation of delight: "Ah!" The object has seized him and he is aware only of the shapes, the colors, the shadows.... The is here no time or place explicitly for reflection for judgements, or for the observer's feelings.... To render such a moment is the intent of all haiku, and the discipline of the form.

Haiku on the Web

Appliance Repair Haikus
Well, what kind of poetry would you expect to find on the website of the Samurai Appliance Repair Man?
Dhugal J. Lindsay's Haiku Page
An excellent collection of haiku resources and information. Includes an article with an excellent description of haiku.
The National Library of Poetry's Haiku Links
If you must go looking for the page of haiku dedicated to the canned substance of alleged meat, you can find a link here. Also a link to a random haiku generator...
The Shiki Internet Haiku Salon
All sorts of information about haiku and writing haiku. They also have a Java applet running the top placers in their haiku contest.

Haiku

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