When learning how to write poetry, seeing is often better than telling. If you have been asking yourself, "What is a haiku poem with examples?" you are in the right place.
Below, we will showcase three distinct types of modern English haiku, provide a complete haiku example with syllable breakdown, and offer an analysis of why each poem works.
1. The Traditional Nature Haiku
Haikus traditionally focus on a sharp observation of the natural world, captured in a single, fleeting moment.
Dewdrops on the web (5)
Shivering in morning wind (7)
Spider waits alone (5)
Syllable Breakdown
- Line 1 (5): Dew-drops (2) on (1) the (1) web (1) = 5
- Line 2 (7): Shi-ver-ing (3) in (1) mor-ning (2) wind (1) = 7
- Line 3 (5): Spi-der (2) waits (1) a-lone (2) = 5
The Analysis
- The Kigo (Season Word): "Morning wind" and "dewdrops" suggest a crisp, early spring or autumn morning.
- The Contrast: The poem sets up a contrast between the delicate, fragile movement of the web shivering in the wind, and the patient, predatory stillness of the spider waiting at its center.
- Objectivity: The poet does not say "The spider looks scary" or "The web is beautiful." The image is presented objectively.
2. The Senryu (Human-Focused Haiku)
While traditional haikus are about nature, a senryu uses the same 5-7-5 structure to describe human nature, often showcasing our flaws, humor, or everyday struggles.
Pushing the pull door (5)
Everyone looks up at me (7)
I pretend to text (5)
Syllable Breakdown
- Line 1 (5): Push-ing (2) the (1) pull (1) door (1) = 5
- Line 2 (7): Ev-ery-one (3) looks (1) up (1) at (1) me (1) = 7
- Line 3 (5): I (1) pre-tend (2) to (1) text (1) = 5
The Analysis
- The Subject: This is an extremely relatable, modern human experience.
- The Structure: The first line introduces an action (the mistake). The second line introduces the consequence (the embarrassment). The third line offers a humorous resolution.
- Note: There is no season word here, which is perfectly acceptable for a senryu.
3. The "Modern Breath" Haiku
Many modern English poets break away from the strict 5-7-5 rule. Because English syllables are physically longer to say than the Japanese phonetic sounds (morae) that established the 5-7-5 rule, modern poets write "short-long-short" poems that can be comfortably read in a single breath.
deep winter night (4)
the ticking of a pocket watch (8)
slows down (2)
Syllable Breakdown
- Total Syllables: 14 (instead of 17).
- Notice how stripping away the extra words makes the poem feel tighter and more austere, perfectly matching the winter subject.
The Analysis
- The Juxtaposition: This poem contrasts the immense, silent expanse of a "deep winter night" with the tiny, mechanical, localized sound of a pocket watch ticking.
- The Sensory Detail: By focusing on the auditory details (the ticking slowing down), the poem implies that the cold is so absolute it is physically freezing the gears of the watch.
Read More Examples
If you want to read more masterworks by Japanese poets, see our guide on learning how to analyze famous haikus. If you'd like to read examples categorized by season, visit our Seasonal Haiku Hub.