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Introducing Kids to Haiku

© Arden Davidson

Haiku is a simple, poetic art form that is fairly easy for kids to write, read and understand. This form of poetry originated in ancient Japan and is based on two simple guidelines: 1) The haiku poem is only three lines. 2) The first line contains 5 syllables, the second line has 7 syllables and the third line again has 5 syllables.

The focus of haiku poetry is usually nature. It's "voice" is almost always in present tense and the theme generally captures a small scene of something that is happening "now".

In regards to capitalization and punctuation in haiku, there are no hard and fast rules. In fact the lines don't even need to be complete sentences.

Because haiku poetry tends to be simple and understated, there is never one "right" interpretation...the idea is to think about each poem and discover and enjoy how the poem makes you feel.

There are several places around the internet that offer opportunities for kids to both read and submit original haiku.

One of these places is the haiku section of the Word Dance Fun Interactive Kids Page at www.worddance.com/magazine/haiku.html. Here is an example of what you can find at this site:

"In the early dawn The insects were gathering Food for their new born"

by Ernie Blais Grade 2

Another great haiku spot for kids to visit is at http://www.toonacat.com/kids/stories/poe.... This kid's haiku page includes gems like this:

a flash of lightning! a clap of thunder outside, we should stay indoors. -by Kelli, age 11

Haikus can also be based around certain themes, like holidays. You can read some Halloween Haikus at http://longwood.cs.ucf.edu/~MidLink/haik.... This popular sections of Midlink Magazine Online includes pictures with each of the haikus that are written by children.

Finally, Johnson County Library's website has a kids' haiku section at http://www.jcl.lib.ks.us/kids/jclhaiku.h..., in which visitors can read haiku poems written by Johnson County Kids and JCL Kids' Page Readers. Kids are also encouraged to write their own haiku poems and submit them for publication.