50+ Haiku Writing Prompts for Beginners (And Experts)

The biggest hurdle for any poet staring at a blank page is the paradox of choice. Because a haiku is so short, you feel immense pressure to pick the "perfect" subject.

One of the most common questions beginners ask is: "Can a haiku be about anything?" The answer is yes! While traditional haikus strictly focus on nature and the changing seasons (using a kigo), modern English haiku (and its sister form, senryu) embraces everyday humanness, urban environments, and internal emotions.

If you are stuck, here are over 50 haiku writing prompts for beginners, divided by category, to spark your imagination.

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Traditional Nature Haiku Prompts

These prompts focus on observing the natural world and finding a tiny, specific detail.

1. Write a haiku about the sound of rain hitting a specific object (a tin roof, a leaf, a puddle).
2. Describe the exact moment a season changes (the first frost, the first bud).
3. Write about an insect climbing a blade of grass.
4. Capture the moment the sun dips below the horizon.
5. Focus on the shadow cast by a bare winter tree.
6. Write about the smell of dirt after a long drought.
7. Describe a bird returning to an empty nest.
8. Capture a frog resting on a lily pad.
9. Write about the physical sensation of a sudden, cold breeze.
10. Describe the movement of fog rolling over a hill.

Urban & City Haiku Prompts

You don't need to live in a forest to write a haiku. Let's find poetry in the concrete jungle.

11. Write a haiku about a neon sign flickering against a dark sky.
12. Describe the rattling vibration of an approaching subway train.
13. Capture the moment a traffic light turns from red to green at 2:00 AM.
14. Write about steam rising from a street grate in winter.
15. Focus on an abandoned coffee cup sitting on a park bench.
16. Describe the reflection of skyscrapers in a puddle of muddy water.
17. Write about the sound of sirens fading into the distance.
18. Capture a pigeon searching for crumbs on the sidewalk.
19. Describe the glow of smartphone screens on a dark commuter bus.
20. Write a haiku about an umbrella flipping inside out in a gust of wind.

Senryu (Human-Focused) Prompts

Senryu focuses on human nature, often with a touch of irony or humor.

21. Write a 5-7-5 poem about waking up from a nap and not knowing what year it is.
22. Describe the feeling of remembering an embarrassing moment from high school.
23. Write a haiku about the tension right before sneezing.
24. Capture the disappointment of biting into a mealy apple.
25. Describe the internal monologue of waiting in a slow grocery line.
26. Write about the relief of taking off tight shoes after a long day.
27. Capture the awkward silence in an elevator.
28. Write a haiku about trying to remember someone's name mid-conversation.
29. Focus on the sound of a zipper getting stuck in winter fabric.
30. Dedescribe the triumph of parallel parking perfectly on the first try.

"Micro-Moment" Prompts

Haikus are about capturing a split second in time. Use these prompts to zoom in.

31. The exact moment a drop of water falls from a faucet.
32. The spark right before a match catches fire.
33. The silence immediately following a thunderclap.
34. The feeling of static electricity when pulling off a sweater.
35. The taste of salt on your lips at the beach.
36. The weight of a book settling into your lap.
37. The snap of a twig stepping through the woods.
38. The exact moment your dog falls asleep with a sigh.
39. The warmth of a coffee mug against freezing hands.
40. The first sting of a papercut.

Abstract & Challenge Prompts

For advanced writers looking to push the boundaries of the form.

41. Write a haiku using only one noun and zero adjectives.
42. Write a haiku that heavily implies the color red without using the word "red."
43. Write a poem contrasting the concept of 'eternity' with something that lasts only one second.
44. Write a haiku that ends mid-sentence to invoke a sense of longing.
45. Describe a memory from your childhood from the perspective of an inanimate object in the room.
46. Choose a very long word (4 or 5 syllables) and build a 5-7-5 structure around it.
47. Write a haiku that contains a pun or a double-meaning in the final line.
48. Write a 5-7-5 poem describing how silence sounds in an empty house.
49. Contrast a modern piece of technology with an ancient element of nature.
50. Write a haiku that answers the question: "Why do we write poetry?"

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How to Use These Prompts

When you sit down with these prompts, remember to embrace constraints. Write down your initial thoughts quickly, then spend time whittling them down to fit the 5-7-5 structure (or a modern short-long-short form). Eliminate unnecessary words and let the imagery speak for itself.