Write a spring haiku
Holly King-Mand is a writer, presenter and campaigner for literacy (the ability to read and write) who has inspired thousands of children to enjoy English classes. Holly loves creative writing and poetry and has put together this helpful guide on how to write a spring haiku.
A haiku usually focuses on a moment in time or a particular season, and it should have a sense of reflection. These three-lined poems developed in Japan over hundreds of years, but they are now popular around the world. They are often used as a way of expressing thoughts and feelings about something that has suddenly inspired you or popped into your head.
There are rules for writing a haiku, but the most important thing is that you get across a message or a feeling. They are short, so they are quick, easy and lots of fun to write. As spring is in the air, you can follow this guide to write your very own thoughtful, spring-inspired haiku.
Count your syllables
A traditional haiku has 17 syllables: five in the first and last lines and seven in the middle line. A syllable is a sound in a word and you can count them by saying it aloud. The word haiku has two: “hai–ku”. Poetry has three: “po-ettry”. Experiment with the rhythm and flow of your haiku by using words with different numbers of syllables.
Get inspiration
Head outside to get ideas. What do you notice as winter turns to spring? Maybe you’ve caught the scent of blossom on the breeze or seen colourful tulips blooming. Have you heard a bird chirp or spied a lamb skipping in a field? Reflect on what you’ve seen and how you feel, then try to express it. For example, “Lambs leap merrily” is five syllables; “I sense change is in the air” is seven. What could be your last line?
Explore spring with kigo
In Japanese, kigo means words that describe particular seasons.
List some spring words. Include adjectives (describing words) such as yellow, fresh and young; nouns (words that describe things) like egg, lamb or daffodil; and verbs (doing words), like growing, beginning or blooming. Try to avoid using different words with the same meaning (synonyms), like “beginning” and “start”.
Share the power of poetry
The power of poetry lies in sharing it. Try reading your haiku aloud to friends or family, or you could write it out and share it on a community notice board. You could even write a haiku anthology (a collection of poems). A haiku is designed to show the writer’s innermost thoughts, so this is your chance to share your views on the beauty of spring.