Haiku is a Japanese form of poetry consisting of three lines of, respectively, five, seven and five syllables. Originally known as hokku, the three line poem began as the first stanza of a longer traditional poetry form called renga (linked stanzas). The traditional stand-alone haiku usually refers in some way to one of the seasons, and also contains a moment of transition or epiphany known as kiregi. The kiregi is indicated by a dash or other punctuation, and brings together two disparate things or images. It leaves the reader startled into a new understanding of the particular poetic moment - rather like the punchline of a joke.
There are some blogs devoted solely to haiku, in which each post consists of a haiku summing up what the writer wishes to remark on. Other haiku blogs focus more on the history of haiku and its place in Japanese culture and literature.
Haiku are so wonderfully succinct that they can be used to write humorous blog posts, such as this review of several movies and this commentary on an old menswear ad.
by Lidian
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