Selected Haiku Poems by Kids
Haiku is a traditional Japanese short form of poetry. It is a three -line poetry, following a 5-7-5 syllable pattern. Haiku poetry traditionally discusses abstract subjects or those from the natural world, including seasons, months, animals, and even the smallest elements of nature, down to a blade of grass or a drop of dew. Writing haiku poetry is fun for kids because it is a tool to play with languages. It is also useful as a form of expressive arts to support a child’s social emotional development.
The rules for writing a haiku poem are as follows:
- There are only three lines, totaling 17 syllables.
- The first line is 5 syllables.
- The second line is 7 syllables.
- The third line is 5 syllables like the first.
- Punctuation and capitalization are up to the poet, and need not follow the rigid rules used in structuring sentences.
- A haiku does not have to rhyme, in fact usually it does not rhyme at all.
- It can include the repetition of words or sounds.
JAL Foundation holds around the world haiku competition every two years. The winning poems are published in a book called The Chronicle of the Age of the Earth. Here are some winning entries in English, accompanied by Japanese translations, from the World Children’s Haiku Contests:
A spring in my step
Pirouette like pink petals
Falling from a tree
私のステップに春
木からまい散る
ピンクの花びらのようなピルエット
By Maya Williamson, winner from the 2020 haiku contest under the theme Sports.
It is marvelous
I was eating ice cream. Oh!
I was just dreaming
わあ、すごい
アイスをたべたよ
夢だった
By Ronin Knutson, winner from the 2013 haiku contest under the theme Dreams.
Rooster crowing
Over the hills & mountains
An exquisite sound
雄鳥が鳴く
丘や山の向こうで
すばらしい声だ
By Christopher Oki, winner from the 2016 haiku contest under the theme Morning.
Hand in hand walking
Down the cherry lane arches
Sharing sweets with love
手に手を取って歩く
桜のアーチの下にある小径を
好きな人とお菓子を分け合いながら
By Eileen Kim, winner from the 2011 haiku contest under the theme Festivals.
Japanese haiku poems can also be used to learn Japanese for kids. Here are some winning entries originally written in Japanese, accompanied by English translations:
はっけよい
おすもうじょうず
あかがにさん
Cheer up, cheer up
Little red crabs
Good sumo wreslers
By Hakariya Miu, winner from the 2018 haiku contest under the theme Living Things.
スコールで
時間が止まる
いっせいに
Squall
stops the time
at once.
By Nakamura Yuzuki, winner from the 2022 haiku contest under the theme Town.
