| Writing Prompt |
Include a seasonal reference. [1] A reference to the season or changing of the seasons, referred to in Japanese as kigo, is an essential element of haiku. The reference may be obvious, as in using a word like "spring" or "autumn" to indicate the season, or it might be subtler. For example, mentioning wisteria, which flower during the summer, can subtly indicate the season. Note the kigo in this poem by Fukuda Chiyo-ni:
morning glory!
the well bucket-entangled,
I ask for water
A subject shift is optional. Distill a poignant experience. Haiku traditionally focuses on details of one's environment that relate to the human condition. |
