Write a haiku inspired by Hokusai’s print that captures its imagery and mood.

Around the same time artists in Japan were perfecting woodblock printing, poets were experimenting with a new form of poetry known as the haiku. 

Haikus are non-rhyming poems that uses phrases with 5, 7, and 5 syllables. Most haikus describe a season or qualities of a season. 

These poems are translated from Japanese so they do not reflect the 5-7-5 syllable system. The original Japanese poem would have 5-7-5 syllables.

As you read these haikus, picture what the poem is describing.

As you read, visualize the imagery mentioned and pay attention to the language used and the mood that's evoked in each haiku.  

Notice how each line uses a limited number of syllables and expresses something specific about a natural phenomenon or animal.  


Begin by writing down words and phrases that describe key details, visual elements, and the mood of the scene.

Next challenge yourself to use short sentences with 5, 7, and 5 syllables. Haiku rules or constraints require you carefully consider each word to express the qualities of this place and humans' interactions with natural phenomena.


Standards for Writing Haikus: Under the Great Wave, off Kanagawa

Common Core - English Language Arts