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Haiku Day is April 17

What is a haiku (hahy-koo)?

A haiku is traditionally a nonrhyming three-line poem of Japanese origin that offers a way of looking at the physical world. The origins of haiku can be traced back to the ninth century.

The haiku consists of three lines with a five-seven-five syllable structure using sensory  language to gain inspiration. Matsuo Basho (1644-1694) is considered the greatest haiku poet of all time.

Here is simple Easter-themed haiku:

Easter Bunny Hops
Flower Eggs Jelly Beans Fun
Hidden Baskets Full

Clapping out each word’s syllables makes them easier to count when creating your poem.

Haikus can be a fun and fast alternative to writing a longer poem. Try your hand a writing a haiku today and share with family and friends.