which Soraya may well correct, is that 1) the last line should dominate the haiku, and 2) it should contain some element of surprise.

~~~~~
Eisel Write with Flair!
Senior Editor, The RPG Nexxus
Co-Editor, Roleplaying Tips.com

OK, here's the official line on haiku and the critical nature of the fabled last line: The idea is to express a single image or two so well in your first two lines so that the reader "sees" them in his/her mind. Then, in the last line, you add another image that demands a leap or twist so the two previous images are seen in a new relationship (maybe even your metaphor, if you are lucky). An additional twist is to have images plus leap which reveal some deep philosophical truth or ideal without having to speak of it.

So, while the initial idea of a three line, 17 syllable poem seems quite simple, it's really very complex and demanding if you do it right.

I hope that makes sense...

Soraya

ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º

"I see!" said the blind man.

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Quoted from Wiki:

Haiku is one of the most important modes of Japanese poetry, a late 19th century revision by Masaoka Shiki of the older hokku (発句), the opening verse of a linked verse form, haikai no renga . A traditional hokku consists of a pattern of approximately 5, 7, and 5 morae, phonetic units which only partially correspond to the syllables of languages such as English. It also contains a special season word (the kigo) descriptive of the season in which the renga is set. Hokku often combine two (or rarely, three) different elements into a unified sensory impression, with a major grammatical break (kire) usually at the end of either the first five or second seven morae. These elements of the older hokku are considered by many to be essential to haiku as well, although not always included by modern writers of Japanese "free-form haiku" and of non-Japanese haiku. Senryu is a similar poetry form that emphasizes humor instead of seasons.

So...Pretty much a repeat of what everyone else put in :-P,
`Rem

--
If you can't blame Effie, you can always blame me.

Is 'hire' one syllable or two? Yep, dumb question for the writing folks

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FREE REVIEWS of your website ... by folks who've created some of the best RPG sites
available. All you need to do is run over to the Reviews Forum and ask.

And remember your Nomex undies.

I believe it is two: "Hi-re"

--
If you can't blame Effie, you can always blame me.

From dictionary.com: hire ( P ) Pronunciation Key (hr)

hi - er refers to higher

~~~~~
Eisel Write with Flair!
Senior Editor, The RPG Nexxus
Co-Editor, Roleplaying Tips.com

While purists will quibble over syllable counts, American English is so far from traditional Japanese haiku (which are written in a single vertical line and syllables are counted very differently the we could ours) that you can be excused for a slip in count once in a while in an otherwise exceptional haiku.

Something else that may help as you work on your haiku: The Spirit of Haiku is to hold all things with reverence and the Way of Haiku is to live in the moment...

Soraya

ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º