Every word counts in Haiku - Poetry Workshop

Instructor, May-June, 2003 by Liza Charlesworth

beautiful haiku--like tender drops of nature in a tiny box

A mere 17 syllables in length, haiku is one of the world's smallest works of art. But don't be misled by its miniature size. This deceptively simple verse is packed with emotional power and comes from a long history. Haiku, in its most ancient form, dates back to seventh-century Japan, where it was written--and chanted--to mark ocean voyages, praise emperors, and celebrate harvests.

Writing haiku is not as simple as it looks. It requires meticulous craftsmanship on the part of the poet--whether he or she is seven years old or 70!

Teaching Haiku

This poetry workshop includes two reproducible pages: "Three Haiku," page 33, and "How to Write Haiku," page 35. Before sharing "Three Haiku," ask: Is bigger always better? Invite children to offer their opinions, guiding them to understand that beautiful things come in all shapes and sizes. Some are big, like a mountain or the Statue of Liberty, and some are quite small, like a four-leaf clover or a haiku.

Read the three poems aloud with the children, pausing to savor each gem-like word. Ask kids: What do these three works have in common? Answer: They are each a "moving snapshot" of nature. It's as if each poet pointed a camera at a scene, then--CLICK!--preserved that fleeting moment forever. Ask the children: When you listen to the poems, what do you see in your mind?

Separate the class into groups and ask each group to draw or act out one of the three haiku. What color are "translucent fishes?" How do you move like a firefly: "that way, this way, that way, this?"

Clap the syllables

Bring the class together to play poetry detectives by clapping out each syllable--or beat--of Raizan's verse. You'll find its first line is 5, its second line is 7, and its third line is 5 again. Does Issa's work follow the same pattern? (Yes.) What about Wakyu's? It almost does, but the second line is only 6 syllables. Explain that this poet used "artistic license" to break the rules, which enabled him to make his piece even stronger. After all, every word counts when it comes to haiku!

Listen to the Sounds

Mine these poems for examples of vivid verbs and apt adjectives. What language is the most memorable? Explain that onomatopoeia is when words sound like their meaning. Build elaboration skills by inventing a list of thoughtful replacements for "plunk-plash"--the sound a single frog makes when it jumps in the water. What sound does a diver make when he or she enters the water? A hippo? A house cat? Record the new versions on an overhead as you compose them together. Read your haiku chorally.

Writing Original Haiku

Get students warmed up to write their own haiku with an Itty Bitty Workout. Here's how: Give pairs of students three minutes to write teeny, unpolished poems on small items available in your classroom:

* a paper clip * a foil star * a penny * a Lego

Invite volunteers to share their pieces to inspire classmates. Applaud all efforts--silly or serious!

After the creative juices are flowing, pass our the "How to Write Haiku" reproducible. Have children try to write haiku about a particular moment or feeling, rather than about an object. You can opt to have kids write in 5-7-5 form or use an open syllable count. Challenge children to take their time, think deeply, and write a carefully-crafted haiku. Have kids recopy their poems onto gem-shaped cut-outs and publish them on a bulletin board entitled "Our Haiku Gems."