Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry comprised of three phrases.

Traditional haiku uses 17 syllables (5:7:5) but contemporary haiku in English often ignores this rule. A haiku is typically about nature, the earth and the natural world and are designed to be thought-provoking. These original haiku poems are by Anthony Rutledge and are mostly written in the contemporary free style format.

There are over 4,000 Haiku on this site in 15 different themes: Australian, Beach, Garden Sundial, In the Mirror,Kimono,Motherhood,Ships and Oceans,Spring,Windjammers and Miscellaneous.

CLICK ON YOUR FAVOURITE ZEN HAIKU CARD BELOW TO SHARE IT ON FACEBOOK

Haiku Logo

first light
turning me the shadow
in the shade.

Poem Image
Haiku Logo

living elderly–
the older songs
with all the words I know

Poem Image
Haiku Logo

loud and still
an axe man in the drying dew
about his business

Poem Image
Haiku Logo

living elderly–
a line of street lights
but the red fox his dodging way

Poem Image
Haiku Logo

feathered morning lawn
I bring in
the house cat

Poem Image
Haiku Logo

Autumn wind
closing Tennyson
on a maple leaf.

Poem Image
Haiku Logo

long drought
the farm’s debt
in our marriage

Poem Image
Haiku Logo

the Big Bang sent
a shooting star…
the beach I dream on

Poem Image
Haiku Logo

Morning jog
turning up a collar
to the touch of frost.

Poem Image
Haiku Logo

late afternoon
just one shadow measured
the garden sundial

Poem Image
Haiku Logo

Suddenly there
a magpie on the sundial
shading midday.

Poem Image
Haiku Logo

midnight moon–
far out of town
the rail line–shining

Poem Image
<