Haiku and Cinquain

1. Haiku and Cinquain Academic Writing II - Narrative, Poetry and Drama

2. Overview

3. Haiku • Originally a Japanese form, the Haiku was the opening three lines to a longer form of 13th century Japanese poetry called renga. • The haiku form later broke off and became its own distinct form of poetry around the 16th century. • The subject matter of the haiku is very specific. • It often focuses on images from nature, emphasizing simplicity, intensity, and directness of expression. • The haiku form was adapted to English and has impacted several poets, including Ezra Pound. In talking about haiku, Pound stated: "The image itself is speech. The image is the word beyond formulated language."

4. Haiku • The haiku is traditionally 3 lines of 17 syllables divided: • 1st Line – 5 syllables • 2nd Line – 7 syllables • 3rd line – 5 syllables • The fixed 5/7/5 traditional form has been broken to include 6/5/6 forms as well as other deviations from the standard. • Regardless of the deviations in form, the philosophy of haiku has been preserved. The haiku should: • focus on a brief moment in time; • use provocative, colorful images; • be able to be read in one breath; • give a sense of sudden enlightenment and illumination.

5. Haiku Examples An old pond! A frog jumps in– the sound of water. MENstrual, MENopause, MENacingMENtalMENses, MEN are the problem. Cold water showers Scare off the student body My not so freshmen. Her boat glides over The waters of my soul; her paddle stirs my heart.

6. Haiku Form and Structure • Three lines • No rhyme scheme is employed or expected • 17 syllables total (5/7/5 is traditional, 6/5/6 non-traditional) • Should: • focus on a brief moment in time; • use provocative, colorful images/natural images; • be able to be read in one breath; • give a sense of sudden enlightenment and illumination.

7. Cinquain • The cinquain, also known as a quintain or quintet, is a poem or stanza composed of five lines. • The most common cinquains in English follow a rhyme scheme of  • ababb, • abaab or  • abccb. • These are not the only options however – students can come up with their own rhyme scheme as they see fit (for example aabab, aabbb, or aabba) so long as the poem consists of 5 lines and there are at least two rhyming variant rhymes. • There is no specific or fixed topic for quintains; anything can be written about.

8. Cinquain • Alternatively, there are some who limit the structure into one of three forms. • The first pattern limits the words: 1/2/3/4/1 • The second pattern limits the syllables: 2/4/6/8/2 • The third pattern has a more exacting standard: • One Noun • Two Adjectives • Three –ing words • A phrase • An alternative word for the initial noun (not necessarily a synonym)

9. Cinquain Form and Structure Traditional Non-Traditional Are still five line poems. Do NOT have a rhyme scheme. Instead, they substitute alternative formatting in one of three patterns. The first pattern limits the words: 1/2/3/4/1 The second pattern limits the syllables: 2/4/6/8/2 The third pattern has a more exacting standard: One Noun Two Adjectives Three –ing words A phrase An alternative word for the initial noun (not necessarily a synonym) • Are five lines • Contain a rhyme scheme • ababb • abaab • abccb • Other variations allowed. • Do not have a fixed meter. • Are not restricted in topic.

10. Cinquain Examples Traditional Cinquains Fixed Format Cinquains Dinosaurs (1W) Lived once, (2W)) Long ago, but (3W) Only dust and dreams (4W) Remain (1W) Baseball (2S) Bat cracks against (4S) The pitch, sending it out (6S) Over the back fence, I did it! (8S) Homerun (2S) Spaghetti (1 noun) Messy, spicy (2 adj) Slurping, sliding, falling (3-ingV) Between my plate and mouth (phrase) Delicious (1 word) Golden leaves twinkle in autumn sunshine, Amber ivy cords against buildings entwine, The verdant grass has learned the worth, of darkly fertile chocolate earth, And everyone is filled with mirth.