A Haiku Anthology

John is passionate about human and animal rights, social justice, equality, and the environment, and likes to convey that in his writing.

What is a Haiku Poem?

Basic Definition

A haiku is a three-line poem where the first line has five syllables, the second has seven, and the third has five. The style originated in Japan, and while anything can be the subject, most traditional haiku are about nature or natural wonders.

Here’s a haiku:

"If you can’t pronounce

the word haiku, remember

big HIGH, little coo."

The word haiku is a shortened version of the Japanese phrase haikai no ku, which translates as “light verse.”

(source: Vocabulary.com)

Pond Life

1. Turtle lifts its head

To inhale a breath of air

Then dives back under.

2. On the lily pond

Dragonflies skim the water

Bullfrogs call a mate.

3. Sacred lotus bloom

Sitting silent in the pond

Your beauty worshipped.

4. Green frog in a pond

Sitting on a lily pad

Croaking in delight.

5. No ugly duckling

But just a beautiful swan

Gliding gracefully.

6. A pond attracts life

Frogs, turtles, bugs, and flowers

Each one has its place.

Praying For Rain

7. Is climate change real?

Causes much heated debate

Or is that cool maybe?

8. The sun is shining

There's not a cloud in the sky

The drought is too long.

9. Fires out of control

Destroying homes and wildlife

Let's all pray for rain.

10. Rain, rain hear our call

The land is parched and dying

Resurrection time.

11. Look up at the clouds

Floating white in the blue sky

Will they form rain drops?

12. A fresh breeze blows in

Signalling a storm's approach

We should take cover.

13. Waking up to rain

Tap tapping on the window

Makes my day happy.

14. The weather is hot

But it’s raining outside

Humid but welcome.

15. It’s raining again

Thunder and lightning

Storm before the calm.

16. After the rain ends

A rainbow may soon appear

Where’s the connection?

Bodies of Water

17. A small stream trickles

But as it travels it grows

Into a river.

18. The river is wide

Flowing and meandering

Through hills and valleys.

19. The river rages

Destroying all in its path

Flood waters, beware!

20. The sea is so vast

Connecting the continents

Ships sail across it.

21. Mighty waterfall

Nothing is more beautiful

Or more powerful

22. Give praise to the lakes

Water sport recreation

Fishing and boating.

23. A bear sits watching

The rivulet flowing by

Fish for lunch today.

24. Salmon swim upstream

Against the flowing current

Spawn, then die, the quest.

25. Water, all around

We need it for survival

And to keep us clean.

© 2020 John Hansen

Comments

John Hansen (author) from Queensland Australia on June 28, 2020:

Thank you for taking the time to read these haiku, Anupam. I am glad you enjoyed the song too.

Anupam Mitu from MUMBAI on June 26, 2020:

Awesome collection of Haiku John. Loved the song shared.

John Hansen (author) from Queensland Australia on February 21, 2020:

Thank you Lawrence. Good to see you.

Lawrence Hebb from Hamilton, New Zealand on February 21, 2020:

John

Enjoyed the poetry.

John Hansen (author) from Queensland Australia on February 07, 2020:

Jason, thank you so much for your kind words. The haiku fever....haha...as long as it's not the Coronavirus.

Jason Nicolosi from AZ on February 07, 2020:

Sensational haiku poetry John. I really thought you did a superb job. I enjoyed each and every one. Great combination of nature and the elements. I think in catching haiku fever after that "AH...AHHH...HAIKU! Two thumbs up!

John Hansen (author) from Queensland Australia on February 02, 2020:

Hi Li-Jen. Yes, I agree that haiku does seem to suit my poetic style because of its simplicity. It promotes clarity too. Thank you for reading.

Li-Jen Hew on February 02, 2020:

Hi Jodah, I knew Haiku will suit the simple style you have used in your poems. Your poems make things simple by focusing on the present and seeing reality as it is. Thanks for sharing.

John Hansen (author) from Queensland Australia on January 28, 2020:

Thank you Devika. Where I live we have had sufficient rain to keep any fires away for the present time. There have still been a few burning elsewhere but not many.

Devika Primić from Dubrovnik, Croatia on January 28, 2020:

Hi Jodah hope all is well with you and that fires are no longer a threat to you

John Hansen (author) from Queensland Australia on January 28, 2020:

Thank you, Nithya. I am happy that you enjoyed these haiku. Hopefully all fires are out soon.

Nithya Venkat from Dubai on January 28, 2020:

Beautifully expressed haiku. Enjoyed reading each one of them. I hope and pray for the raging fires in Australia to be put out totally.

John Hansen (author) from Queensland Australia on January 28, 2020:

Flourish, you wrote haiku long before I did then. I only wrote my first a couple of years back., so I am happy that these turned out ok.

John Hansen (author) from Queensland Australia on January 28, 2020:

Thank you so much Cheryl.

FlourishAnyway from USA on January 27, 2020:

I remember writing these in third grade. I loved them then and do now as well. You did a fabulous job.

Cheryl E Preston from Roanoke on January 27, 2020:

Beautiful expression of poetry

John Hansen (author) from Queensland Australia on January 27, 2020:

Hey Shauna, thanks for your continued support. It hasn’t rained for a few days now but it is overcast. Another heat wave is predicted for later in the week however which is a worry.

John Hansen (author) from Queensland Australia on January 27, 2020:

Thank you, manatita. I tend to be writing about the things most on my mind at the present time. “I’ve seen fire and I’ve seen rain, I’ve seen sunny days that I thought would never end....”

Shauna L Bowling from Central Florida on January 27, 2020:

Simply beautiful, John. I can tell each of these haiku came from your heart.

Are you still having rain?

manatita44 from london on January 27, 2020:

Rain and fires .. better if you had the flames turning into rain. Most needed!!

Some exquisite pieces here bro.

John Hansen (author) from Queensland Australia on January 27, 2020:

Liz, I guess practice makes perfect. I am getting better I think but will keep practicing. Thank you.

Liz Westwood from UK on January 27, 2020:

You have got the technique of composing a haiku down to a fine art in these beautiful verbal creations.

John Hansen (author) from Queensland Australia on January 26, 2020:

Thank you Peggy. It seems so much of my writing lately is focus on the fires and the desire for more rain. I appreciate your well wishes.

Peggy Woods from Houston, Texas on January 26, 2020:

This is a serious collection of haiku poems. I am so very happy for you and others in Australia that rains have finally come. Of course, the fires are not yet extinguished, so I pray for more rain and the end to the fires.

John Hansen (author) from Queensland Australia on January 26, 2020:

Hi Diana. Thank you very much. Yes, safe here fortunately but many others have suffered. Take care.

John Hansen (author) from Queensland Australia on January 26, 2020:

Thank-oo Clive.

Diana L Pierce from Potter County, Pa. on January 26, 2020:

These are beautiful words, as well as the pictures. I hope you are out of reach from the fires. I am praying for all involved.

Clive Williams from Jamaica on January 26, 2020:

hi-coo....nice HiCoos John

John Hansen (author) from Queensland Australia on January 26, 2020:

MizB, I am the same as you. I only discovered haiku at HubPages and at first it didn’t interest me. I thought I’d give it a go though and actually found it an interesting form to try and convey a scene or feeling in so few words. Thanks for your kind comment.

John Hansen (author) from Queensland Australia on January 26, 2020:

Hey Ruby, glad this inspired you to revisit writing haiku. Please do, I’d love to read it.

John Hansen (author) from Queensland Australia on January 26, 2020:

Thank you very much Alyssa. Unlike you, I only discovered haiku in the last few years. At first I thought it seemed too simple but I have become increasingly attracted to it. I found there is more to it than first appears.

Doris James MizBejabbers from Beautiful South on January 26, 2020:

This was a real treat, John. We didn't study haiku in high school or college, so my introduction to it was on this website. I didn't like it at first because most writers wrote so abstractly. But now I see that some poets can state a point with it.

Ruby Jean Richert from Southern Illinois on January 26, 2020:

This was a real treat. I loved your haiku anthology. I used to write haiku poetry. You inspired me to write another one.

Alyssa from Ohio on January 26, 2020:

I love Haiku poetry. It was always my favorite writing assignment in school. As always, your poetry is beautiful. Thank you for sharing this collection!

John Hansen (author) from Queensland Australia on January 26, 2020:

Hey Eric, glad you like this collection of haiku. Cheers.

John Hansen (author) from Queensland Australia on January 26, 2020:

I am sure you could write haiku just as well if not better Genna. I thank you though, and glad you got the “rainbow connection.”

John Hansen (author) from Queensland Australia on January 26, 2020:

How could you tell Linda? Yes, you got it. My muse was in control. Thank you.

Eric Dierker from Spring Valley, CA. U.S.A. on January 26, 2020:

I am no evaluator of Haiku but I know what I like and I like this one. thanks.

Genna East from Massachusetts, USA on January 26, 2020:

Hi John...

I wish I could write Haiku so well. It's very challenging, but I love your flow of words...

One of my favs:

"After the rain ends

A rainbow may soon appear

Where’s the connection?"

Linda Lum from Washington State, USA on January 26, 2020:

I sense that your land has been crying for rain, for relief, and your Muse guided your words. Well done.

John Hansen (author) from Queensland Australia on January 26, 2020:

Thank you Ann. i guess I was just in a haiku kind of mood lol.

Ann Carr from SW England on January 26, 2020:

What a great selection, John!

In like them all but number 23 conjured up a good image!

Haikus are great for playing with words and they do certainly lend themselves to the subject of nature.

Have done a few myself but I have to be in the mood.

Thanks for the entertaining read.

Ann

John Hansen (author) from Queensland Australia on January 26, 2020:

Hey Lorna. It is great that these haiku managed to capture flow of water. Thank you so much for that generous comment.

Lorna Lamon on January 26, 2020:

Great examples of this style John and I particularly enjoyed "Bodies of Water" where you managed to create flow (not easy) in my mind. I like to capture images within poetry and your work achieved this for me. Excellent my friend.

John Hansen (author) from Queensland Australia on January 26, 2020:

Yes, Bill, haiku is a good place to start. Thanks for reading and for the compliment

Bill Holland from Olympia, WA on January 26, 2020:

If I were to ever try poetry, I would begin with a haiku. It seems doable, even to me. It seems to flow from you like water in a stream....that's a compliment, by the way. :)

John Hansen (author) from Queensland Australia on January 26, 2020:

Hi Devika, I'm so glad you enjoyed these haiku and especially number 13.

John Hansen (author) from Queensland Australia on January 26, 2020:

Thank you for checking these poems out MG. I hope you know a bit more about haiku now.

John Hansen (author) from Queensland Australia on January 26, 2020:

Hello Pamela. Once I started writing the haiku I couldn't stop. It almost became addictive the 5-7-5 syllable structure. I appreciate your kind comment.

Devika Primić from Dubrovnik, Croatia on January 26, 2020:

Hi Jodah my favorite is no.13. Your Haiku is easy to understand and just superb!

MG Singh emge from Singapore on January 26, 2020:

Nice poem. Didn't know much about Haiku poetry earlier

Pamela Oglesby from Sunny Florida on January 26, 2020:

You sure wrote an impressive list of Haiku poetry. I enjoyed reading each one. Thanks for sharing such beautiful poetry.

John Hansen (author) from Queensland Australia on January 26, 2020:

Hi Tiyasha. Thank you for checking these haiku out. I appreciate your generous comment.

Tiyasha Maitra from Gurgaon on January 26, 2020:

Lovely, simply awesome. Picturesque, perfect symmetry and breaths of fresh air. My personal favourite, the salmon one. Thanks for sharing.