10-17-2012, 05:37 PM
Thanks jm 
Traditional haiku had of 17 on (also known as morae), in three phrases of 5, 7 and 5 on respectively. Although haiku are often stated to have 17 syllables, this is inaccurate as syllables and on are not the same.
the western world adopted the 17 syllables more as a guideline. it was said the traditional haiku should be completed in one normal breath. the traditional haiku was called a Hokku and was part of a carry on or continuous poem called a renku or renga. now as haiku it's a stand alone poem.
a tradional hokku or haiku by matsuo basho
old pond . . .
a frog leaps in
water’s sound
Traditional haiku had of 17 on (also known as morae), in three phrases of 5, 7 and 5 on respectively. Although haiku are often stated to have 17 syllables, this is inaccurate as syllables and on are not the same.
the western world adopted the 17 syllables more as a guideline. it was said the traditional haiku should be completed in one normal breath. the traditional haiku was called a Hokku and was part of a carry on or continuous poem called a renku or renga. now as haiku it's a stand alone poem.
a tradional hokku or haiku by matsuo basho
old pond . . .
a frog leaps in
water’s sound