Glossary

Below are definitions of haiku and related forms in my own words.

Haiku: Brief, "one breath" short-form poetry originating in Japanese culture. Haiku are often grounded in nature and the seasons, and can be written in English in three-lines, two-lines or one-line. Though, in my view, haiku do not have to be about nature, but can be written about any environment, including places in a city or other human-made structures. Haiku are written to capture a moment. The three-line haiku in English is the most common, and often have a fragment/phrase structure, with one line standing on it's own (fragment), followed by two lines forming a second image (phrase). This juxtaposition between two images allows for an interesting comparison and additional resonance, and meaning. The word haiku has singular and plural usage (i.e. a haiku, or "I write haiku." or "I wrote many haiku.").

Hokku: The starting verse of renga or renku, featuring a two-part structure with a kireji.

Kigo: A seasonal reference found in nature. A kigo can be a direct seasonal word in English (e.g. Winter), but it can also be a word that associates to a season (e.g. snow). Because of this, kigo differs from place to place, depending on where you live.

Kireji: A line cut, break, or pause in the poem. In haiku in English, the kireji often takes the form of an ellipsis (...) or (. . .), a dash ( - ), an em-dash (–), or a long dash (—) or there may be a natural (invisible) pause at the end of a line.

Tanka: 5-line short-form poetry originating in China (uta), then became waka (Japanese song) and then tanka in Japan. The word "tanka" literally means "short song." Tanka are grounded in concrete imagery, but have a turn or twist in the poem. This twist often has a lyrical quality. Tanka can express (and be driven by) strong emotions. The third line in tanka can act as a pivot (i.e. the words in the third line apply to the first two lines, and the last two lines simultaneously). Other times, the first three lines are like a haiku, and the last two lines are longer. Thus, tanka can act very similar to a haiku with an added emotional response to it. In this way, the last two lines in tanka can link-and-shift with the first three lines. In other words, the last two lines somehow connect to the first three lines, but also shifts away to a new subject.

Tan renga: The shortest form of renga. The word "tan" means "short." Tan renga is a collaborative poem. The first person writes a three-line haiku (followed by a space) and the second person writes a two-line poem that links-and-shifts from the three-line haiku.

Renga/Renku: Collaborative linked-verse poetry originated in Japan using a link-and-shift technique. The word "renku" is more commonly used. Renku don't have a theme. The link-and-shift technique means the haiku connects with the previous haiku by association, mood, imagery, etc. but also shifts away to a different subject. The collaboration continues in this pattern. There are many forms of renku with specific rules. I recommend John Carley's book Renku Reckoner for more information and examples.

Rengay: Rengay was invented by Garry Gay in the United States in 1992. Rengay is a themed haiku-sequence containing six haiku that can be written solo, with two people, three people, or six people. Rengay are much more relaxed in that the haiku don't have to link-and-shift, but all haiku are written on the same theme. For more info, please see Michael Dylan Welch's GraceGuts website under Resources.

Haibun: Prose with haiku. The haiku can be at the beginning and/or at the end of a paragraph, and/or in-between paragraphs for longer haibun. The haiku in haibun should connect with the prose, but in more subtle and indirect ways, providing mini side-stories to the prose, adding an extra dimension and resonance.

Tanka Story or Tanka Prose: Prose with tanka. Like with haibun, the tanka can be at the beginning and/or at the end of a paragraph, and/or in-between paragraphs. The tanka should connect with the prose, but in more subtle and indirect ways, providing mini side-stories to the prose, adding an extra dimension and resonance.

Haiga: Art with haiku. Effective haiga include haiku that juxtapose with the art in interesting, more subtle/indirect ways.

Shahai: Photography with haiku. Like with haiga, effective shahai include haiku that juxtapose with the photograph in interesting, more subtle/indirect ways.