haiku
Definition
Noun: 1. A Japanese verse form: A very short poem that follows a specific structure, traditionally consisting of three unrhymed lines with a fixed number of syllables (5, 7, and 5 respectively). 2. A poem in this form: Any poem, regardless of the poet's origin, that adheres to or is inspired by the traditional Japanese haiku form, often capturing a single moment in nature.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- She wrote a beautiful haiku about the morning dew.
- The class studied the traditional structure of a haiku.
- Modern haiku sometimes deviate from the strict syllable count.
Advanced Usage
- As a literary genre: The term can refer to the entire tradition and body of work composed in this form.
- He has dedicated his life to the study of haiku.
- In a metaphorical sense: Sometimes used to describe anything that is very brief and evocative.
- His tweet was a perfect haiku of despair.
Variants and Related Words
- Haikai (noun): An earlier, often more humorous or playful form of linked verse from which haiku originated.
- Haikuist (noun): A writer of haiku (less common than "haiku poet").
Synonyms
- Epigram: A concise, clever, and often paradoxical statement or poem. (Note: While both are short, an epigram is typically witty or satirical, whereas a haiku focuses on imagery and nature.)
- Short poem: A general term for any brief poetic form.
Related Phrases
- Haiku moment: A term used to describe the brief, perceptive instant of awareness that a haiku often aims to capture and express.
- The sudden sight of the heron inspired a haiku moment.
Noun
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an epigrammatic Japanese verse form of three short lines
