How to Write Haiku

by Kyle D. Craig

Know the difference between the sound of rain hitting a window and the sound of rain dripping from a window awning. Familiarize yourself with the cries of cicadas and the complex lives of tree frogs. Length and width are not what count; ladybugs, crickets, and butterflies should suffice. Make the wind a friend. Let it whisper to you about its love of autumn, the silly games it plays with leaves, or how it likes to race along the bends of dry riverbeds. Study shadows of spring or snowflakes falling upon fence posts in winter. Cherry blossoms are a safe bet, as is morning birdsong or white egrets. And speaking of birds and their words, they should warble, trill, or croon. Scents emanating from kitchens should waft. Pick foods like persimmons, lentils, and butternut squash. When it comes to objects, candles make a nice choice. And if you don’t develop a close relationship with the moon, it may be better to not even begin at all.

writing session

forming a partnership

with silence

First published in Presence #54, February 2016.