Write a Haiku

Simple Instructions for Kids Who Write

Sep 18, 2006 Elizabeth Yetter

Learning to write a haiku is fun and easy!

What is a haiku? The haiku originated in Japan and is a verse (poem) written in three lines. The haiku does not rhyme. Instead, the haiku sets a mood or portrays a feeling or scenery.

The entire haiku is composed in 17 syllables. The first line contains five syllables, the second line has seven syllables, and the third and final line has five syllables. 5-7-5.

Here is an example:

Old tomcat sitting (5 syllables)

Watching autumn leaves blow by (7 syllables)

Wishing they were mice (5 syllables)

To begin writing your own haiku, choose a subject. For example, choose your favorite animal or even your favorite food.

Next, write your subject at the top of your paper. Think about your subject. My subject was my eldest cat, an old tomcat. To write a haiku about him, I thought about what he likes to do. I then counted out the syllables for each line of my haiku.

One of my favorite uses for the haiku is to write about a holiday or season, such as autumn, and then use the haiku on note cards to friends and family. Write out a simple haiku for thank-you cards and get well cards.

There are also many other ways to use your haikus. You can write a number of haikus and make them into your own book. For example, Halloween (Samhain) is a favorite autumn celebration in the United States. To make your own haiku book about Halloween, write out a list of words related to this holiday: ghosts, goblins, autumn leaves, masks, and black cats. Choose your favorite words from your list and write a haiku for each word. Write your haikus in your book and illustrate it.

The copyright of the article Write a Haiku in Children’s Books is owned by Elizabeth Yetter. Permission to republish Write a Haiku in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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37 Comments

Comments

Jun 5, 2008 2:14 AM

Guest :

i have learnt how to write a Haiku. Thanks
This is an awsome website.
Jennifer :)

Sep 22, 2008 6:00 PM

Guest :

I have also learnt how to write a Haiku. It was awesome. Thanks.

Oct 16, 2008 1:49 PM

Guest :

Thanks- I homeschool my kids and this was a great, concise and creative way to help us make a lesson on haikus!

Oct 17, 2008 6:40 AM

Guest :

Haiku's rock man!!!!!

Magz xxxxxx

Oct 17, 2008 6:41 AM

Guest :

i love japan!!!!!!and especially haikus!!!they are legendary!!!!

Oct 17, 2008 6:41 AM

Guest :

i loooooooovvvvvvveeeeee haikus they r class!!!!!

bu bye now x x x x x x

Oct 19, 2008 12:08 PM

Guest :

you've opened my eyes

thanks

rich :)

Oct 19, 2008 12:17 PM

Guest :

thanks

Oct 22, 2008 5:47 PM

Guest :

Thanks you really helped me!! :D

xoxo

Oct 30, 2008 9:19 AM

Guest :

I think your page has helped me to finally understand how to write a Haiku. Thank You!!!!!!!

Nov 3, 2008 5:39 PM

Guest :

Thanks!

Nov 12, 2008 5:33 PM

Guest :

Hi,
I just wanted to say that I really enjoy haiku's because they let you use your imagination. This site was helpful with letting you know how many syllables were needed in each line, and that is what I needed help with.

Thanks a bunch!

Dec 31, 2008 8:58 AM

Guest :

Hello! This website was very helpful to me too! I learned how to properly construct a Haiku. This is a very straight forward website, and I look forward to using it in the future! Thanks!

Jan 3, 2009 11:40 AM

Guest :

thanks alot !
i have a project about poetry and i had no idea how to write a haiku but now i do and hopefully ill get an A !

PS. THANKS (:

Jan 13, 2009 10:33 AM

Guest :

i cant write a haiku for homework without my pc or internet or this website its brill!!!(beth johnston)

Jan 15, 2009 4:36 PM

Guest :

thanks this was really helpful...i had to cut out random words and write a poem...the haiku would be good for this and this helped greatly thanks

Signed,
Coroneous Bulhinger

Jan 16, 2009 11:01 AM

Guest :

Your website is great
I'll thank you in a haiku
Thank you very much

Jan 22, 2009 4:09 PM

Guest :

this really helps thank you

Jan 27, 2009 10:18 AM

Guest :

YAY. Thank you. I'm slow when it comes to Poetry...

-Caro

Feb 3, 2009 12:48 PM

Guest :

Hey, i already knew how to write Haikus, but I still think this is a good site.
-Guest

Feb 7, 2009 7:40 AM

Guest :

it was the best haiku ive ever herd and it helped me alote


(diako)

Feb 9, 2009 12:44 PM

Guest :

Thanks yall my name is Joe and i learned hoew to write hauikus frm dis site thanks!!!!!

Feb 10, 2009 6:16 AM

Guest :

This really helped alot!
Tiny Tim *****
*****
*****
*********
() ()
>

Feb 12, 2009 4:44 PM

Guest :

thank u <3 u
xoxo it helped me
with my school creative
writing


grace m xoxo

Feb 24, 2009 4:00 PM

Guest :

:0
this site is the best!
you guys do a GREAT job
:)

Feb 25, 2009 12:41 PM

Guest :

Here is a haiku for all you Haiku Lovers:

I lay on the beach,
All the clouds in the sky, Wow,
So I stare and stare.

Mar 6, 2009 9:11 AM

Guest :

Wow this just really helped me.
Thanks tori

Mar 9, 2009 3:38 PM

Guest :

thanks, I have a hard poetry homework but now its done!

Mar 18, 2009 10:50 AM

Guest :

AWWWSSOOOMMMEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ANDY

Mar 19, 2009 1:07 PM

Guest :

I thought this website was great!!!It helps a lot!!

Mar 19, 2009 7:46 PM

Guest :

this place help me on a poroject and i suck at poetry

Mar 22, 2009 8:55 AM

Guest :

An example of a haiku i made:
TITLE:Autumn

Many orange leaves
Blown by the cold autumn breeze
before winter snow

Mar 22, 2009 9:01 AM

Guest :

I also already know to write haiku (haiku is both plural and singular).But this site is great for people who don't.
Here's an example of a haiku:
TITLE:Stars
Stars up in the sky
shining brightly through the night
a beautiful sight.

Mar 24, 2009 11:16 PM

Guest :

thank you so much. this site is great

Apr 5, 2009 5:51 PM

Guest :

thank you this helped me with a project i am working on
bye
lov ya
kalli

Apr 7, 2009 12:50 PM

Guest :

ive learned how to write all types of haiku popems in the future i plan to write poetry books in da future!

May 19, 2009 6:29 PM

Guest :

thanx i have this really hard project and now i could understand it way better and this is why i got an A+ which rocks thanx u r awesome :)

37 Comments