Haiku
The Japanese People invented a beautiful kind of poetry called haiku. The word “Haiku” means “game-verse.” The form is sometimes called Hokku or haikai, but these names are not correct. Haiku is a longer verse form called the tanka. These are very short poems and they do not have rhyming words. They often contain deep meanings, suggesting more than what is said. Their imagery paints pictures with words. They have three lines with a total of only 17 syllables, arranged in a pattern of 5-7-5. Usually there are 5 syllables in the first line, 7 syllables in the second line and 5 syllables in the last line. Haiku poetry usually describes something found in nature. Here is an example of haiku:
Layers
of color
Curving across sunny clouds
After the rain ends.
What do you think this describes? That is right, a rainbow. What are some of the clues that tells you this?
| NAME_______________________________________________
Directions:
Print out. Can you guess the answer?
|
| 1. | Blowing,
drifting snow Piling high above our boots Walking is hard. a. tornado  b.
blizzardc.
earthquake |
| 2. | A
zoo animal a.
Zebra |
| 3. | Growing,
giving life a.
River |
| 4. | Big
hot ball of fire a.
Match |
| 5. | Tumbling
and roaring a.
Mountain |
| 6. | Friendly,
welcome pet a.
Dog |
| 7. | Leaves
changing color a.
Summer |
| 8. | Sunny,
hot and dry a.
Desert |
| 9. | Beautiful
flower a.
tulip |
| 9. | Fuzzy,
wuzzy worm a.
snake |
Activities.
1. Illustrate one or more of the previous haiku poems.
Use the Haiku Poem print-out. Illustrate and copy the poem.
2. Write original haiku for these and other topics: mountain,
ocean, cat, river, apple, spring, mushroom, volcano, kangaroo, whale,
etc.
Click here to open the blank page. Hit the print button in the browser and write your own Haiku!