サラサラと常に変わらぬ木々や川

サラサラ と　つねに かわらぬ　きぎ や かわ


trickling stream
rustling leaves
all this time unchanged


空の下思案に暮れる岩の蟻

そら の した　しあん に くれる　いわ の あり


a speckled rock
under brilliant sky
ponderous ant


帰宅中車道の音も心地よい

きたく ちゅう　しゃどう の おと も　ここち よい


returning home
busy traffic noise
seems unhurried


NACOS tips for writing English haiku

Haiku can be either read or written as a form of meditation. Traditionally, they are not about abstract ideas, but are observations of the world around oneself. The poet removes himself from the poem but may hint at what he is feeling or thinking. This may result in the poet’s intentions being misunderstood, but whatever the reader gets from the reading is more important. Often, unique and profound thoughts emerge.

Often, English haiku are written as complete sentences, beginning with a capital letter and ending with a period. I thought that the set of three haiku above would be better presented outside of such constraints for reasons of continuity, meaning and aesthetics. Also, note that the first poem is written with the long line at the end. Such haiku do exist in the traditional Japanese canon.




Frustrated by Michiko: Illustrated by Michiko