A haiku is a short Japanese poetic form traditionally consisting of seventeen syllables arranged in three lines of five, seven, and five. It typically captures a moment of perception, often involving nature and a seasonal reference.

The classic haiku presents an image or juxtaposition rather than a statement or argument. A cutting word or turn separates two parts of the poem, inviting the reader to complete the connection. Bashō, Buson, and Issa are among the most celebrated practitioners. When adapted into English, the syllable count is sometimes relaxed, but the spirit of brevity, concreteness, and present-moment attention remains.

Haiku is not merely a small poem; it aims for a specific kind of resonance—the sense that a fleeting observation has opened onto something larger. Modern haiku in various languages continue the tradition while exploring urban subjects and free-form variations. The discipline of extreme compression forces precision of image and diction.

Seventeen syllables, three lines, and a moment held still for the reader’s contemplation—that is the traditional haiku.