What is a haiku? history details, famous examples…
A haiku is a type of poem that originated in Japan. It is composed of three lines with a 5-7-5 syllable structure. Haiku often focus on nature or the seasons. The form was developed by Japanese poets in the 17th century. Famous examples of haiku include:
“An old silent pond/A frog jumps into the pond,/splash! Silence again” (Matsuo Bashō)
“Light of the moon/Moves west, flowers’ shadows/Creep eastward” (Kobayashi Issa)
“In the twilight rain/These brilliant-hued hibiscus -/A lovely sunset” (Yosa Buson)
10 famous historical haiku poems
- Matsuo Basho – “An old pond / A frog jumps in / The sound of water” (late 17th century) – 古池や蛙飛び込む水の音
- Yosa Buson – “Winter solitude – / in a world of one color / the sound of wind” (late 18th century) – 雪の降るや まだふるさとを 知らず火を見る
- Kobayashi Issa – “The world of dew / is the world of dew / and yet, and yet…” (early 19th century) – 世の中は露の世ならぬことを わが身ひとつの秋にぞ思ふ
- Takahama Kyoshi – “First snow / falling / on the half-finished bridge” (early 20th century) – 初雪や半ばの橋にも落ちにけり
- Masaoka Shiki – “The cicada’s cry / drills into / the rocks” (late 19th century) – 蝉の声を 聞くたびに 秋が来る
- Li Bai – “The bright moon / lifts from the mountains’ shadow / and stands alone in the sky” (8th century) – 明月出天山，苍茫云海间。
- Du Fu – “Amidst the flowers / a jug of wine, / I pour alone – / no friend with me.” (8th century) – 花间一壶酒，独酌无相亲。
- Onitsura – “Into the sea breeze / All the flowers / Of the wild cherry.” (18th century) – 潮風や花どもは一度に山の桜
- Sojo Henjo – “On a withered branch / A crow has alighted: / Nightfall in autumn.” (9th century) – 枯枝に かかるる鴉の はへの秋
- Kaga no Chiyo – “On the white sand / A pillow of moonlight / In every direction.” (18th century) – 白砂に 月の枕を かへて出る
Note: The translations are not necessarily literal and are subject to interpretation.
10 beautiful nature haiku examples
A splatter of stars
In the night sky above me
Starry dreams come true
A moonlit river
Reflecting a starlit sky
Twinkling beauty here
My heart’s afire
Dancing to the rhythm of life
Joyous and free now
A summer breeze blows
Bringing the sweet scent of flowers
A peaceful bliss here
An ancient forest
A symphony of life buzzing
Nature’s harmony
A rainbow of love
Colors of life intertwining
A beautiful view
A butterfly flits
Bringing a message of joy
A moment of bliss
Lightning strikes the sky
Illuminating the night world
Electricity alive
The sun rises high
Its golden light warms my soul
A new day begins
A gentle humming
The sound of the universe
Eternal harmony
100 more haiku poem examples
each of these is a single haiku, meant to be savored and pondered, like a daily meditation.
Life’s a mystery
We search for answers every day
Few are ever found
Love is shared freely
A warm embrace and tender kiss
A bond that can’t be broken
Inspired by nature
Beauty surrounds us everyday
Love the world around you
Passionate spirit
A fire burning from within
Never let it die out
Creative minds explore
Innovative ideas abound
The sky’s the limit
Life is a journey
A story only you can write
Make your own destiny
Love conquers all things
A force more powerful than fear
It will never fade away
Inspired by music
A universal language of love
It brings us together
Passionate dreams come true
Believe in yourself and strive
Unlock your full potential
Creativity flows
Unlock the hidden potential
Let the ideas take flight
Life is full of joy
Live in the moment and appreciate
Every day is a gift
Love is a blessing
A beautiful emotion that binds us
Forever and ever
Inspired by the stars
The universe is vast and fascinating
Explore the unknown
Passionate embrace
A moment of pure bliss
Love overflowing
Creative minds bloom
Unlock your inner artist
Let the ideas grow
Life is a blessing
Cherish the moments and never take them for granted
Treasure the precious gifts
Love is unconditional
It knows no boundaries and can never be broken
Always keep it alive
Inspired by the ocean
The vastness of the sea is breathtaking
An endless source of beauty
Passionate symphony
The sound of music fills the air
A melody of emotions
Creative minds explore
Dive into the unknown and discover
The beauty of life
Life is a journey
Explore the unknown and discover
Your own destiny
Love is a gift
A precious emotion that never fades
Celebrate it everyday
Inspired by art
A masterpiece of beauty and emotion
Let the colors flow
Passionate embrace
The warmth of a tender embrace
Love overflowing
Creative minds think
Unlock the hidden potential
Let the ideas soar
Life is a story
Your own unique tale to tell
Write it with joy
Love is an adventure
A journey to explore and cherish
Share it with someone special
Inspired by nature
The beauty of the world around us
Let it fill you with wonder
Passionate dreams come true
Believe in yourself and strive
Unlock your full potential
Creative minds paint
Let the colors come alive
And create a masterpiece
Life is a blessing
An opportunity to explore and learn
Make the most of it
Love is a miracle
A beautiful emotion that binds us
Forever and ever
Inspired by the stars
The vastness of the night sky is breathtaking
An endless source of beauty
Passionate embrace
A moment of pure bliss
Love overflowing
Creative minds create
Unlock your inner artist
Let the ideas take flight
Life is a journey
Take a chance and explore
Your own destiny awaits
Love is a song
A beautiful melody that never fades
Sing it proudly
Inspired by the sun
The warmth of the sunshine fills the air
An endless source of light
Passionate dreams come true
Believe in yourself and strive
Unlock your full potential
Creative minds explore
Dive into the unknown and discover
The beauty of life
Life is a gift
Cherish the moments and never take them for granted
Treasure the precious gifts
Love is a blessing
A force more powerful than fear
It will never fade away
Inspired by books
Read and explore new worlds
Unlock a wealth of knowledge
Passionate embrace
A beautiful emotion that binds us
Forever and ever
Creative minds think
Unlock the hidden potential
Let the ideas take shape
Life is an adventure
Take a chance and explore
Your own destiny awaits
Love is a treasure
A precious emotion that never fades
Celebrate it everyday
Inspired by music
A universal language of love
It brings us together
Passionate dreams come true
Believe in yourself and strive
Unlock your full potential
Creative minds dream
Unlock your inner artist
Let the ideas flow
Life is a mystery
We search for answers every day
Few are ever found
Love is a blessing
A warm embrace and tender kiss
A bond that can’t be broken
Inspired by nature
Beauty surrounds us everyday
Love the world around you
Passionate spirit
A fire burning from within
Never let it die out
Creative minds explore
Innovative ideas abound
The sky’s the limit
Life is a journey
A story only you can write
Make your own destiny
Love is shared freely
A beautiful emotion that binds us
Forever and ever
Inspired by the stars
The vastness of the night sky is breathtaking
An endless source of beauty
Passionate embrace
A moment of pure bliss
Love overflowing
Creative minds create
Let the colors come alive
And create a masterpiece
Life is full of joy
Live in the moment and appreciate
Every day is a gift
Love conquers all things
A force more powerful than fear
It will never fade away
Inspired by the ocean
The vastness of the sea is breathtaking
An endless source of beauty
Passionate symphony
The sound of music fills the air
A melody of emotions
Creative minds think
Unlock the hidden potential
Let the ideas soar
Life is a blessing
Cherish the moments and never take them for granted
Treasure the precious gifts
Love is unconditional
It knows no boundaries and can never be broken
Always keep it alive
Inspired by art
A masterpiece of beauty and emotion
Let the colors flow
Passionate dreams come true
Believe in yourself and strive
Unlock your full potential
Creative minds explore
Dive into the unknown and discover
The beauty of life
Life is a journey
Explore the unknown and discover
Your own destiny
Love is a gift
A precious emotion that never fades
Celebrate it everyday
Inspired by the sun
The warmth of the sunshine fills the air
An endless source of light
Passionate embrace
The warmth of a tender embrace
Love overflowing
Creative minds paint
Let the colors come alive
And create a masterpiece
Life is a story
Your own unique tale to tell
Write it with joy
Love is an adventure
A journey to explore and cherish
Share it with someone special
Inspired by nature
The beauty of the world around us
Let it fill you with wonder
Passionate dreams come true
Believe in yourself and strive
Unlock your full potential
Creative minds dream
Unlock your inner artist
Let the ideas flow
Life is a mystery
We search for answers every day
Few are ever found
Love is a blessing
A warm embrace and tender kiss
A bond that can’t be broken
Inspired by music
A universal language of love
It brings us together
Passionate embrace
A beautiful emotion that binds us
Forever and ever
Creative minds explore
Innovative ideas abound
The sky’s the limit
Life is a journey
A story only you can write
Make your own destiny
Love is shared freely
A beautiful emotion that binds us
Forever and ever
Inspired by the stars
The vastness of the night sky is breathtaking
An endless source of beauty
Passionate symphony
The sound of music fills the air
A melody of emotions
Creative minds think
Unlock the hidden potential
Let the ideas take shape
Life is a gift
Cherish the moments and never take them for granted
Treasure the precious gifts
Love conquers all things
A force more powerful than fear
It will never fade away
Inspired by books
Read and explore new worlds
Unlock a wealth of knowledge
Passionate embrace
A moment of pure bliss
Love overflowing
Creative minds create
Let the colors come alive
And create a masterpiece
Life is an adventure
Take a chance and explore
Your own destiny awaits
Love is a song
A beautiful melody that never fades
Sing it proudly
Inspired by the ocean
The vastness of the sea is breathtaking
An endless source of beauty
Passionate dreams come true
Believe in yourself and strive
Unlock your full potential
Creative minds dream
Unlock your inner artist
Let the ideas flow
70 Love haikus: romance poetry
PS: oops I tried making this with GPT-3 (AI writing tools) and it looks like it got stuck and repeated a bunch. I’ll redo it and make sure I have 110 unique haiku examples soon.
Heart beats faster
In your arms, I feel at home
Love, the sweetest bliss
Love is like a rose
Beautiful but delicate
Handle with care, please
Soft kiss on my lips
Your touch ignites a fire
Our love, forever
Your eyes, like the stars
They shine bright and guide my way
Forever in love
A gentle embrace
Our hearts beat as one rhythm
Forever in love
The warmth of your touch
Sends shivers down my spine
Love, a sweet escape
You are my sunshine
My light in the darkest times
I love you always
The moon and the stars
Witnessing our love story
Forever entwined
The scent of your skin
Fills my heart with pure delight
Love, a sweet perfume
Holding hands, we walk
Our love, a never-ending
Journey, side by side
In your loving arms
My fears and doubts disappear
Love, a safe haven
Your smile, a beacon
Guiding me through life’s tough times
Love, my true north
Soft whispers at night
Your voice, a soothing lullaby
Love, a peaceful sleep
Our love, a story
Written in the stars above
Forever, we shine
Two hearts beat as one
Our love, a symphony
Music to my ears
In your loving eyes
I see the reflection of
Love, pure and divine
Roses on the bed
Candles flicker in the dark
Love, a night to remember
The touch of your hand
Sparks a fire deep within
Love, a sweet desire
Together we stand
Our love, a force to reckon
Forever, we thrive
The taste of your lips
A sweet and tender caress
Love, a delicious treat
In the morning light
I wake up next to my love
Feeling blessed and warm
A love so strong and true
No storm can ever break it
Our hearts, forever one
Your love, a blanket
Covering me with warmth and joy
A cozy embrace
Under the full moon
We dance, lost in each other
Love, a sweet escape
Your laughter, music
Filling my heart with pure joy
Love, a happy tune
A love that blossoms
Like a flower in the spring
Forever in bloom
In your loving arms
I feel safe and at peace
Love, my sanctuary
Our love, a treasure
More precious than gold or gems
Forever cherished
Love, a gentle breeze
Carrying us through life’s storms
Our hearts, forever free
Our love, a garden
Where we plant seeds of passion
And watch them bloom bright
Holding hands, we walk
Our love, a journey of bliss
Forever entwined
Your smile, a beacon
Guiding me through life’s tough times
Love, my true north
Your touch, a caress
Soothing my worries and fears
Love, a sweet balm
Two hearts intertwined
Love’s warm embrace never fades
Forever entwined
Your eyes like starlight
Brightening up my darkest days
Love’s shining beacon
A gentle touch, sweet
Our hearts beating in rhythm
Love’s sweet melody
With you by my side
I’m free to be who I am
Love’s true acceptance
A moment in time
Shared laughter, joy, and passion
Love’s perfect balance
Two souls, one heartbeat
A love that never fades out
Endless harmony
Our love like a rose
With thorns that prick and sting us
Yet, still we endure
Hearts beating as one
Our love never fades away
A timeless romance
In your warm embrace
I feel safe, loved, and at peace
Love’s sweet sanctuary
Soft whispers of love
Intertwined with tender caress
Endless serenade
Two hearts, one passion
Together we explore love
Endless adventure
Love, a wildflower
Sprouting up in the springtime
A blossoming love
Your love is the sun
Radiant, warm, and inviting
My heart is aglow
In love’s embrace we
Find solace from the chaos
Tranquil sanctuary
Two souls, one journey
Walking hand in hand through life
Love’s endless pathway
Your touch, like a flame
Igniting passion and love
A fiery romance
Love, a melody
Our hearts playing in harmony
A symphony of love
A love that endures
Through trials, heartaches, and joy
Unbreakable bond
Our love, a garden
Cultivated with patience
A blossoming joy
A love that lifts us
From the depths of loneliness
A lifeline of love
Two hearts beating strong
A love that knows no boundaries
Endless devotion
In love’s sweet embrace
We find the missing pieces
A perfect puzzle
Love, like a river
Flowing, growing, and changing
Endless beauty
A love that takes flight
Soaring to new heights of joy
Boundless freedom
With you, my love, I
Feel whole, complete, and at peace
A soulful journey.
Gentle springtime breeze,
Softly kissing rosy cheeks,
Love blooms in the air.
Two hearts beating fast,
Intertwined like morning mist,
Love knows no limits.
Sun and moon embrace,
As one heart, they dance and glow,
Love’s eternal flame.
Butterflies flutter,
As two souls become as one,
Love’s sweet melody.
Ocean waves crashing,
Tides of passion ebb and flow,
Love’s eternal sea.
Soft whispers of love,
Floating on the summer breeze,
Forever entwined.
Heartbeats in unison,
Two souls merging into one,
Love’s sweetest refrain.
Red roses blooming,
Passion’s flame ignites within,
Love’s sweetest fragrance.
Dappled sunlight streams,
Two hearts intertwined in love,
Forever entwined.
Love’s sweetest embrace,
A lifetime of memories,
Hearts beat as one.
As the leaves rustle
Love whispers sweetly to me
Nature’s symphony
Gazing at the stars
Hand in hand we find our way
Together we shine
A love like the moon
Softly lighting the night sky
Guiding us always
In your warm embrace
I find solace from the world
Love’s sheltering wings
The ocean’s rhythm
A love song that never ends
Tides of our passion
The gentlest touch
Electricity of love
Our hearts entwined as one
Like the cherry bloom
Our love blossoms in springtime
Beautiful and pure
In the misty dawn
We hold each other closely
Two souls intertwined
A love that transcends
Time, distance, and all obstacles
Forever entwined
Like the morning sun
Your love illuminates me
Bringing warmth and light
Japanese death poem haikus
Japanese death poem haikus, also known as jisei, were traditionally composed by monks and poets as a reflection on life and the inevitability of death. Here are some famous examples:
“Empty-handed I entered the world, barefoot I leave it. My coming, my going – two simple happenings that got entangled.” – Kozan Ichikyo (1360-1438)
Original Japanese characters: 空手入世 素足 帰るときの 同じ道
“Life is fleeting, like a dewdrop on a blade of grass. Life is a journey, like a bright path traced on the morning sky.” – Izumi Shikibu (974-1034)
Original Japanese characters: 世の中は つねにもがもな ながらえば こぬ人もおのれ もしらぬかな
“My body, like dewdrops on the morning grass, my life, like a flash of lightning in the summer sky.” – Yosa Buson (1716-1783)
Original Japanese characters: ほととぎす 鳴きつる方を ながむれば ただありあけの 月ぞ残れる
“Although I try to hold the single flower, its beauty disappears as it scatters in the wind.” – Nyoshin (1428-1502)
Original Japanese characters: 花一すじを 掴みしかども 風に散りぬ
“The wind blows hard, scattering cherry blossoms to the ground. Each petal seems to glow with life.” – Sokan (1573-1653)
Original Japanese characters: 風吹く 桜散りぬるを 見ればこころ しみじみと しみる哉
“No trace of my existence will remain on this earth, but my love for the mountains and rivers shall be long-lasting.” – Boncho (1640-1714)
Original Japanese characters: 身を捨てて 残るは友だち 花の香
“Fleeting dreams, like a river, a bubble, a flash of lightning. Watching them, I tremble with awe.” – Yamanoue no Okura (660-733)
Original Japanese characters: 夢のまた夢 人生の 忘れもの
“Spring passes, and summer comes, but my heart remains the same – filled with longing for the one I love.” – Lady Otomo no Sakanoue (8th century)
Original Japanese characters: あしびきの 山鳥の尾の しだり尾の ながながし夜を ひとりかも寝む
“On a withered branch, a crow is perched – autumn evening.” – Matsuo Basho (1644-1694)
Original Japanese characters: 古池や蛙飛びこむ水の音
“My body may die, but my soul is eternal. It will return to the universe, where it will live on forever.” – Kikaku (1661-1707)
Original Japanese characters: 朝顔に わたる蝶よ 我が命
17 Haiku poems about cats
Soft paws, gentle mews,
Whiskers tickle, curled up tight,
Feline friend at peace.
Eyes glowing like moons,
Graceful movements, silent hunt,
Cat prowls in the night.
Cats sunbathing still,
In their slumber, purring dreams,
Content with their life.
Lazy days on laps,
Soft fur beneath loving hands,
Purring contentment.
Kneading paws, soft meows,
Curled up in a cozy nook,
Cat’s life is simple.
Sly hunters at heart,
Pouncing on unsuspecting prey,
Cats play with their food.
Elegant and proud,
Lapping milk with dainty tongues,
Cats know they’re divine.
Whiskers in the breeze,
Pouncing on a falling leaf,
Playful kitten’s joy.
Sleeping in the sun,
Dreaming of catching bird wings,
Feline daydreaming.
Cats love to explore,
Jumping and hiding with glee,
Discovering new things.
Sleek shadows at night,
Watching from atop the fence,
Cats keep the world safe.
Cats with attitude,
Ignoring all commands given,
They own the household.
Stalking through the grass,
Crouched low, eyes focused ahead,
Hunting instinct strong.
Curled up in a ball,
Paws over nose, fast asleep,
Warm and cozy rest.
Grooming with long licks,
Tongue reaching every last inch,
Cat’s self-care routine.
Elegant and poised,
Purring in their owner’s lap,
Cats are royalty.
Watching from high perch,
Surveying their kingdom below,
Cats rule with their gaze.
Cats in cardboard boxes,
Squeezed in tight, purring content,
They make do with less.
Fluffy feline grace,
Lazing in the sunny spot,
Cat’s life is heaven.
I’m a philosophy dropout with a PhD in Literature. I covet a cabin full of cats, where I can write fantasy novels to pay for my cake addiction. Sometimes I live in castles.
