Instead, the subject is human nature and the desire to be loved, physically and emotionally. The subject matter of this poem deviates from traditional themes of the natural world. Sanchez’s poem is an example of contemporary haiku and how this poetic form crosses boundaries of time and place. Example 4: c’mon man hold me (Sonia Sanchez) This brings a spiritual element to the poem through remembrance and reverence in terms of Basho. Kizer implies that his presence and fame remain as the moon does each evening. With this interpretation, the use of “you” in line one signifies Basho. Kizer’s poem is also significant as a tribute to the poet Basho and a haiku in celebration of the person who enriched this poetic form. Kizer incorporates this image of nature in a clever manner, as the moon appears to have a spotlight shining on it while “onstage” in the sky. The moon is personified and “slips onstage” in the evening, just as the moon subtly appears in the night sky. As an independent poem, Kizer utilizes the moon as a subject matter which is common in haiku poetry. Kizer’s poem is both a haiku on its own and an homage to Matsuo Basho, a seventeenth century Japanese poet who refined the 17-syllable poetic form and established it as an artistic literary expression. This haiku is significant in its traditional presentation of nature themes, as well as the spiritual “communication” between heaven and earthly entities. This juxtaposition of lightning and the bird’s response evokes a feeling of connection between heaven and earth and their natural forces.

Instead, the subsequent sound that comes from the dark is the cry of a heron. Following this lightning, however, is not a clap of thunder as the reader may expect. First, the poet establishes the image of lightning in the sky. In his poem, Basho appeals to the senses of sight and sound in nature. Example 2: Lightning in the Sky (Matsuo Basho) As a result, this haiku is significant in its representation of the natural world and the way it is interpreted by humans. This perception allows the reader to witness this change in imagery and actuality, as the poet does. Additionally, in mistaking the butterflies for flowers and then realizing the actuality, the poet emphasizes the themes of balance, beauty, and relationships in nature. In the third line of the poem, the poet establishes that the flowers are actually bright butterflies, reinforcing the warmth and renewal of spring. In this poem, Moritake utilizes the phrase “flowers soaring to their boughs” as kigo, an indication of the spring season when plant life is blooming. This 5-7-5 pattern and structure means that a haiku poem, as a rule, consists of three lines and 17 total syllables. Overall, the common structure of most haiku poems is: Japanese haiku often feature kireji (a “cutting word”) that creates a pause or break in the rhythm of the poem, rather than a line break. In addition, Japanese haiku are written in one line, unlike the form with two line breaks that is featured in most English translations. On are not the same as syllables in English and are therefore counted differently, leading to translation discrepancies as to whether 17 English syllables effectively represent haiku. Japanese haiku feature 17 total sounds, or on, which some English translators argue is closer to 12 syllables rather than 17 total. When translating Japanese haiku to English or other languages, the balance between syllable count and meaning of words and phrases is complex. Moras are rhythmic sound units that are comparable to syllables.

This language is structured in a pattern of 5-7-5 moras. Traditionally, a haiku is a Japanese poem featuring three lines and consisting of simple, yet impactful, words and phrases. Common Examples of Poetic Images in Haiku Though the poem consists of a single image, presented with simple phrasing, it evokes humor and inspires thought and interpretation for the reader. This evokes a humorous response and sense of enforced coexistence between man and nature in shared space. The phrase “guest room” is clever in that it implies that both the guy and the fly are welcome temporarily and neither have ownership of the room. This haiku creates an image of a man and a fly in the same room.

Therefore, haiku poems are allusive and suggestive, calling upon the reader to interpret the meaning and significance of the words and phrases presented.įor example, here is a haiku written by Issa, a Japanese poet, and translated by Cid Corman:

Because of the haiku form’s brevity as well as fixed verse and syllabic pattern, it leaves little room for anything more than the presentation of a single and focused idea or feeling.

Basho Haiku Analysis