“Haiku” is a traditional form of Japanese poetry. Because of its short form, Haiku is an ideal poetic style for kids of all ages. Haikus are usually written about things that are recognizable to the reader. Animals and seasons are examples of recognizable topics children might enjoy exploring.
Haiku poems consist of 3 lines. The first and last lines of a Haiku have 5 syllables and the middle line has 7 syllables. The lines rarely rhyme.
While the standard form of haiku is 5-7-5, some writers in the west like to shorten the poem even more to a 3-5-3 form. Experiment with both, and see which proves to be the most successful to you. Here are some examples of haikus:
Summer
Sand in my swimsuit
Sunburn on my nose and back
Vacations are hard
Happiness
I got an A-plus
So Dad bought me an ice cream
My life is perfect
Hope
Little children laugh
Please give up your bombs and wars
We should live in peace
Funny Haikus
Poetry doesn’t always have to be serious or difficult to understand, as funny haiku poems will show you. Children can be introduced to this form of poetry and begin to write their own funny haikus. Some humorous examples that children can learn from and be inspired by:
I love my pillow.
My alarm clock is beeping.
No, no, no, no, no.
Let’s have a contest
Who can burp the loudest? You
Or me? Ready, go!
Don’t be surprised if the kids don’t want to stop writing haikus once they start. So, show them some easy Haiku examples and set them loose.
Can you write your own haiku? Give it a try and send it to The Virtual Kids Gallery -> send your art section!
P.S. Before you leave, have a look to this short video that explains in a nice way all about haiku poetry.
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