Haiku is a traditional poetic form of Japan. It is said to be the world’s shortest form of poetry. A haiku has only 17 syllables. The sounds are arranged in a rhythm of five, seven, and five. This grouping is pleasant to the Japanese ear.

A formal haiku must have a seasonal word. For example, the word sakura, or cherry blossom, is often used as the seasonal word for spring. It is important for  a haiku poet to create a nice image of a season. In the 19th and 20th centuries, haiku influenced poets in the West, such as Yeats and Eliot.

This is the famous haiku poet by Basho, who lived in the 17th Century.