突風の脅した壁にお湯の音

とっぷう の　おどした かべ に　おゆ の　おと


A strong gust
threatens the wall behind
whistling tea.

NACOS tips for writing English haiku

Haiku are sparse, but their purpose is usually to paint a vivid image. The reader is always meant to infer most of the image for him or herself, which means that each time the poem is read, a different image will emerge. The details you choose include will determine which parts of that image must remain constant no matter how the poem is read. So, be sure to include things that resonate well with each other while also causing a scene to spring up around them due to the mind’s associations.

In the case of the above poem, I thought wind and the whistle of a tea kettle resonated well with each other because of the interplay of sounds. In addition, hot tea is associated with cold weather and the comfort of the home. Coupled with the strong wind in the first line, the scene is one of people staying at home when the weather is nasty outside. Although this was my intention, I must also welcome different interpretations. Because the details I included are interesting and evocative unto themselves, the haiku works no matter what scene the reader ends up constructing for himself.




Frustrated by Michiko: Illustrated by Michiko