Haiku

Most people know what a Haiku is. It is a 17 syllable, originally Japanese, poem consisting of three lines. The first line has 5 syllables, the second line 7 syllables and the third line again 5 syllables. The Haiku does not rhyme.

The website grammar.yourdictionary.com describes the subject for a Haiku as follows:

“Haiku poetry traditionally discusses abstract subjects or those from the natural world, including seasons, months, animals, and even the smallest elements of nature, down to a blade of grass or a drop of dew.”

Britannica.com states:

“Originally, the haiku form was restricted in subject matter to an objective description of nature suggestive of one of the seasons, evoking a definite, though unstated, emotional response.”

So strictly speaking my “Haikus” aren’t really Haikus. They are mostly about feelings, moods, love and other personal stuff. In that regard they are maybe more like a Senryu?

Senryu

A Senryu has the same form as a Haiku. So 17 syllables in total, three lines consisting of 5, 7, 5 syllables. The big difference between a Haiku and a Senryu is the topic and tone.

On the website Masterclass.com I read this about subject matter and style of the Senryu:

“Haikus frequently explore nature and the natural world as a topic. Senryus, by contrast, are often concerned with human nature, focusing on the foibles of human nature.”

“While haikus are often stark and ascetic, senryu poems can be puckishly funny. Some are clever, some are a bit cynical, and some are tongue-in-cheek. Although humor is not necessarily embedded in the definition of senryu, the form is, as a general rule, lighter and funnier than your standard haiku.”

Haiga

So what is a Haiga?

On the website Failed Haiku I found this fitting description.

“A haiga is an image created as an artistic backdrop for a haiku/senryu, and often other Japanese forms of poetry. You can create an image in any number of ways, but the most common three are:

1. Traditional Haiga,  as in ink, ink wash, watercolor, oils, or tempera.

2. Photographic based haiga has become the most popular method recently.

3. Mixed Media, which can be any combination of traditional and photographic techniques, and/or computer generated images and text.”

If you want to know more about Haikus, Senryus and Haigas, consider visiting the links I mentioned above.