Haiku

From Fresh Dictionary

English

Etymology

Japanese 俳句 (haiku)

Noun

haiku (plural haiku or haikus)

1. A Japanese poem of a specific form, consisting of three lines, the first and last of which are five syllables, and the second of which is seven syllables that usually includes a kigo ("season word") and a kireji ("cutting word" or linguistic break); any translation thereof.
   • For show and tell, Lisa recited from memory Basho's famous haiku about the old pond and the frog.
2. A three-line poem in any language, with five syllables in the first and last lines and seven syllables in the second, usually with an emphasis on the season or a naturalistic theme.
3. A short poem in the style of a translation of a Japanese haiku.

A senryū is a short humorous poem that is similar to the haiku.

ku:haiku