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What is a haiku?  

A haiku is a short poem that describes, in only three lines, "what is happening in this place at this time" (Basho). It contains a word related to the season, and uses two images to give the reader a sense of wonder or aha! moment.

Most traditional Japanese haiku were written in 17 on (sound units), but when you write haiku in English you don't have to count syllables.

Instead, try to write your haiku following a "short-long-short" pattern, meaning: the first line is short, the second line is longer, and the third line is short. Example:

toy store
a client returns
a boomerang

-- Jessica Tremblay

 

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