When people first learn to write haiku, they are usually taught the strict 5-7-5 rule. However, how to write a haiku in English is actually a bit more nuanced than directly copying Japanese rules.
Because the English and Japanese languages function very differently in terms of rhythm and sound, writing a beautiful English haiku requires understanding how to adapt the traditional form.
Here is a complete guide to writing a haiku in the English language.
The Difference Between Japanese Morae and English Syllables
In Japanese, haiku are counted in on or morae, which are phonetic sound units.
In English, we count syllables. A syllable is a single unbroken sound of a spoken or written word, usually containing a vowel.
The problem? English syllables are often much longer than Japanese morae.
For example, the English word "strengths" is one syllable, but it contains nine letters and a complex cluster of consonants. A Japanese word with that many letters would likely be three or four morae.
Because of this, a strict 5-7-5 haiku in English often ends up feeling much longer, bulkier, and less delicate than a traditional Japanese haiku.
The Modern English Approach
Because of the syllable vs. morae difference, many modern English haiku poets do not strictly follow the 5-7-5 rule. Instead, they follow a "short-long-short" structure, and aim for a poem that can be read in a single breath—often totaling 10 to 14 English syllables in total.
Strict 5-7-5 English Haiku (Valid, but sometimes wordy):
The red autumn leaves (5)
Falling gently to the ground (7)
Winter is coming (5)
Modern English Haiku (Shorter, capturing the essence):
autumn leaves (3)
drifting to the damp soil— (6)
winter chill (3)
When learning how to write a haiku in English, you are welcome to stick to 5-7-5. It is an excellent creative constraint. But know that if you drop a syllable here or there, you are actually maintaining the spirit of the Japanese form better than if you force extra English adjectives to pad the line.
3 Steps to Writing an English Haiku
How to Count Syllables in a Haiku
If you are writing in English, the easiest way to count syllables is "the clap test," or resting your hand under your chin to feel how many times your jaw drops.
- Dog: 1 syllable (1 clap)
- Ap-ple: 2 syllables (2 claps)
- Wa-ter-me-lon: 4 syllables (4 claps)
A common mistake is treating multi-syllable words as single words. Use a dictionary or a syllable-counting website if you aren't sure.
What is a Kigo in Haiku Poetry?
Traditional Japanese haiku deeply rely on kigo (season words), for which they have specific, historical dictionaries (called saijiki). In English, we don't have an official dictionary of season words, but the technique remains the same.
Use an English word that instantly grounds your reader in a specific time of year:
- Spring: Daffodil, thawing, robin, buds, spring breeze.
- Summer: Firefly, sunburn, thunderstorm, mosquito, heatwave.
- Autumn: Acorn, harvest moon, frost, falling leaves, pumpkin.
- Winter: Icicle, bare branches, snowdrift, breath-smoke, freezing.
What is Kireji in Haiku?
Japanese haiku use kireji (cutting words like "ya" or "kana") to create a sharp structural pause in the poem, juxtaposing two distinct images.
Since English doesn't have cutting words, we use punctuation. Dashes (—), colons (:), and ellipses (...) are excellent tools for creating that exact same haiku pause in English.
Old rusted tractor... (Pause!)
the sharp scent of turning earth
under a spring moon.
Japanese Haiku vs English Haiku
Understanding the difference between the two forms is essential for any poet writing in English.
- Syllables vs. Morae: Japanese haikus count 17 phonetic sounds (morae). English haikus count syllables, which are much longer. Therefore, a 5-7-5 English haiku often contains far more information than a Japanese one.
- Kigo (Season Words): Japanese poets have established dictionaries of seasonal references. English poets must rely on implied seasonal imagery appropriate for their region (like 'falling leaves' or 'daffodils').
- Kireji (Cutting Words): Japanese poets use specific "cutting words" to slice the poem into two juxtaposed images. English haiku writers simulate this using punctuation like em-dashes or ellipses.
- Subject Matter: While both traditionally focus on nature, English haiku (particularly modern iterations) frequently blur the lines with senryu (human-focused haiku), embracing urban scenes and emotional introspection.
Summary
Writing a haiku in English is a beautiful practice. Whether you strictly adhere to the 5-7-5 syllable count or opt for the modern "short-long-short" breath-length approach, remember that the true goal of a haiku is to capture a profound moment of awareness and share it with your reader.