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
Afternoon breeze
stopping the sundial
a brush from the orange tree.
Sundial garden
the afternoon heat
making the cicadas shrill.
Sundial garden
the loudest sound
the twigs I snap.
Garden sundial
bees sharing
the blossom’s need for pollen.
Sundial garden
mushrooms rising
before the first light.
School children
into every parked car
their afternoon rush.
Garden sundial
a passing snow-ball
from the school boy.
Lightning flash
its time
recorded on the sundial.
Sundial garden
our cat’s litter
no two playing in the same way.
Sundial garden
the tiger moth gives up
to the spider’s venom.
so many minutes
on the sundial covered
red leaves
Sundial garden
the tom cats snarling
at midnight.
Design and illustrations by Cave Design - Maintained by Website Rescuers