You have got only three lines to say it. You have lesser characters than you have on twitter to write it down. To be precise, you shouldn’t be exceeding more than 17 syllables. The traditional number of syllables for the three lines is in this order respectively – five, seven & five. We talk here about the ancient form of Japanese poetry called Haiku.
The origins go back to 17th century Japan, where the form was then called hokku. There is usually a single image or the juxtaposition of two images which is supported by a kigo word, which usually implies the season or atmosphere, like ‘autumn night’ and ‘spring’. Let us now look into a translated haiku by the famous 17th century poet called Matsuo Basho. It goes: old pond . . . /a frog leaps into / the water’s sound. Here the kigo word is Frog that indicates the spring season in Japan.
The English haiku doesn’t follow the strict 17-syllable format; many contemporary haiku poets have redefined the genre, syllables can be limited to 10, or extend up to 20. The main element for the effectiveness of any haiku is the ‘show, not tell’ factor. As Basho as himself said that revealing 70 to 80 percent of the subject is good, but if you can show only 50 to 60 percent, then one is never tired of reading that haiku. Several writers see in haiku a pure artistry and talk about the ‘ah’ effect. If the haiku provides that elevation, that tinge of pleasure on reading it, its purpose is accomplished.
Many haiku exponents also see the art form as a philosophy of lingering in the moment, imbibing the present in totality and then presenting the same in a cusp of words. Haiku is now been written in several Indian languages too. Only time will tell what influence this diversification will have. Meanwhile, you could try a hand in a haiku, couldn’t you?
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