Want to try composing haiku to share on the Asahi Haikuist Network?

The Asahi Haikuist Network accepts all forms of short poems from readers who wish to share their inner feelings and observations of life with others. A haikuist is someone who enjoys reading and writing haiku and doesn't have to be a serious poet and needn't be versed in the intricate rules of traditional Japanese haiku poetry.

Networked haikuists often comment that they enjoy reading poems with very few words that can convey images which will linger in their minds for a long time afterwards. Most readers prefer poems that refer to nature and social events, but it is not necessary to place an exacting seasonal word in the poem. Haiku written in English with terms that can be understood around the world, and also translations of haiku written in Japanese and other languages are very welcome. Most of the haiku submitted are written on three short lines, and some of them have a 5-7-5 syllable structure, but a few are composed on one or two lines in less than 17 syllables. Currently the majority of haiku selected for the column are presented in 11 short syllables in a 3-5-3 format, but this may change as our networked haikuists explore new avenues together.

(David McMurray)

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Readers are invited to send haiku for the month of December, club announcements and haiku books to David McMurray at Asahi Haikuist Network, International Herald Tribune Asahi Shimbun, 5-3-2 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-8011, or fax: 03-5541-8539.