Definitions
These definitions are not the final word on these terms, nor is it meant to be exhaustive of each term’s nuances. Instead, this is a starting place to provide working definitions for those new to haiku.
Haiku: a short form of poetry that originated in Japan, traditionally consisting of three lines and a total of 17 syllables, sharing a moment of insight, and typically focused on nature or the seasons, with a strong emphasis on evoking a specific mood or feeling with simplicity and economy of language through a two-part structure of juxtaposing images.
The syllable count can vary in contemporary haiku written in English. In other words, they are not bound to the 5-7-5 pattern often taught in school.
Haiku are not titled.
The term Haiku is both singular and plural.
Kigo: a seasonal reference or word used in haiku to indicate a specific season or time of year.
Kigo can be a word, phrase, or image that evokes a particular season or associated activities, such as cherry blossoms in spring or snow in winter.
A kigo helps to establish a sense of time and place in haiku and is an important element in conveying the mood and atmosphere of the poem.
Kireji: a cutting word or phrase used in haiku (and tanka) to create a pause or break between different parts of the poem.
They are used to create a sense of contrast, comparison, or surprise and are often used in conjunction with kigo to create a specific mood or atmosphere.
Kireji can be a particle, verb ending, or another type of word or phrase that creates a clear separation between different poem elements.
Senryu: a form of Japanese poetry similar to haiku in structure, but focusing on human nature, social commentary, or satire, rather than nature or the seasons.
Like haiku, senryu often conveys a specific mood or feeling with simplicity and economy of language, but with a sharper edge of humor or irony.
Haiga: a visual art form that enhances the meaning of the haiku, often using imagery and symbolism related to the poem's themes or season in a juxtaposing manner.
The haiku and the visual are meant to be seen as a unified work of art, with each element informing and deepening the other.
Haibun: a form of Japanese prose-poetry that combines brief, descriptive prose with one or more haiku.
Haibun often takes the form of a personal essay or travelogue that captures a moment of insight or experience and includes a haiku that serves as a culmination or reflection of the prose.
The prose in haibun is typically written in a straightforward, unadorned style, while the haiku is meant to encapsulate the emotion or mood of the prose in a few short, evocative lines.
Renga: a form of Japanese collaborative poetry that consists of linked verses composed by two or more poets.
Renga typically begins with a hokku, which is a verse similar to a haiku, and then alternates between a longer verse known as a waki and a shorter verse known as a daisan. The waki and daisan follow a set syllable pattern and often incorporate seasonal and nature imagery, with each verse building on and responding to the one that came before it.
The goal of renga is to create a cohesive and harmonious whole from the contributions of multiple poets, with each verse offering a unique perspective and contributing to a larger narrative or theme.
Rengay: a contemporary form of collaborative poetry invented by Garry Gay in 1992, rengay is similar to renga in structure but consists of six linked verses composed by two or three poets.
Each verse in a rengay follows a set syllable pattern, and like renga, often incorporates seasonal and nature imagery. Rengay typically begins with a haiku-like verse, followed by two three-line verses, then three two-line verses, with each verse building on and responding to the one that came before it.
The goal of rengay is to create a collaborative poem that reflects the unique perspectives and styles of each poet involved.
Hokku: a term used to refer to the opening verse of a traditional Japanese linked-verse poem known as a renga. Hokku is similar in structure to haiku, consisting of three lines with a total of 17 syllables, but often includes a seasonal reference or kigo and a cutting word or kireji to create a sense of contrast or surprise.
Hokku was later developed into a standalone poetic form by Matsuo Bashō and others and is now known as “haiku,” a term coined by Masaoka Shiki, a Japanese poet, and critic, in the late 19th century, to distinguish hokku as a standalone poetic form separate from renga.
Tanka: a traditional form of Japanese poetry that consists of five lines with a total of 31 syllables arranged in a 5-7-5-7-7 pattern.
Tanka often incorporates nature and seasonal imagery and expresses emotions and feelings in a concise and lyrical manner.
Tanka poems are typically more contemplative and expansive than haiku and often explore themes of love, longing, and the transience of life.