Haiku in the Air - A Virtual Haiku Writing Event

To celebrate National Poetry Month, the Seattle Japanese Garden will host a virtual haiku writing event, Haiku in the Air, for the month of April.

Haiku is a form of a traditional Japanese poetry that dates back hundreds of years ago. Haiku is a short poem about nature as well as observation of everyday objects and events.

Here is one of the most famous haiku, The Old Pond by Matsuo Basho:

古池や furuike ya

蛙飛び込む kawazu tobikomu

水の音 mizu no oto

the old pond

a frog jumps in

sound of water

While there are many interpretations of the meaning of this poem, the word ‘frog’ here is chosen as a kigo, a word that symbolizes or implies the season. Kigo is always included in haiku.

Each week, we will post a spring photograph from the garden on our Facebook page, Instagram, and Twitter. Join us by composing your original haiku to go with the photo and sharing with us!

Here’s how to participate:

1.       Notice the feelings the picture brings to you. Imagine or remember the smell, sound, and feel.

2.       Identify what brought you the feeling, and choose a word that refers to the season (kigo).

3.       Write in 3 simple lines (Traditionally 5-7-5 syllable pattern in Japanese) to express your feeling.

4.       Share your haiku in the comment section of each Haiku in the Air photo on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Use #seattlejapanesegarden

Invite your friends and family to take a moment to connect with the nature, try something new, and be a poet! Youth and teens are encouraged to participate.

If you are interested in learning more about haiku, visit Haiku Northwest, a great local haiku group!

Photo for Week 01:

Photo: Chie Iida (4/19/2019)