About haiku

"Haiku did NOT start as tanka! hokku was the opening verse of a renga which later Masaoka Shiki (1867-1902 …Issa’s pupil and the last of the 4 great masters) decided should be a ‘stand alone’ verse which he named haiku.Now known as modern haiku or gendai haiku.
Tanka originated from waka!

Without getting too involved in the 5,7,5 argument i must say that it is generally accepted that 12-14 English syllables is about the equivalent of Japanese onji/morae.
 
Haiku in English has only been around for about 100 years,it was Blythe who decided that to write haiku in English it should be 5,7,5 English syllables.
The Japanese couldn’t understand why there were so many words!

This is not to say 5,7,5 (17 syllables) in English is incorrect,just that it is wrong to think it must only be that…no-ones fault,it’s the way everyone was taught when English haiku became westernised…

Blythe tried to work a way around simulating Japanese haiku to fit into English and 5,7,5 English syllables is what he came up with.
Most of the 5,7,5 ‘supposed’ English haiku you see online now is not haiku just because it conforms to the syllable count… and so this myth carries on.

More importantly haiku should have kigo(seasonal word or reference),kireji(cutting word or symbol) and should show not tell…i.e. don’t explain the haiku like a painting or statement,use senses etc. to involve the reader in his/her interpretation of the haiku…a haiku is not complete until another reader has read and connected with it".

This is a hokku/haiku;
 ---------------------------
how fragile
our eggshell minds…
moon on water

Brendon Kent - member of the British Haiku Society
Haiku Reality Vol.12 No.20 Summer 2015