What is a haiku?

Haiku developed from the opening verse of longer Japanese linked poems and became a form in its own right. Traditional Japanese haiku count morae, sound units, in a 5–7–5 pattern, and include a seasonal word, or kigo, and often a cutting word that creates a pause. Matsuo Bashō, who lived from 1644 to 1694, is the most famous haiku poet; his poem about a frog jumping into an old pond is widely known. In English, haiku are often written as 5–7–5 syllables, though many poets use freer forms. The name haiku was popularised by poet Masaoka Shiki in the late 1800s.