What is a Haiku?
A haiku is a short poem of Japanese origin, composed of three lines, that captures the essence of a moment. In just a few words, it evokes an image, a sensation, or an emotion tied to the present. It is said to follow the 5-7-5 syllable rhythm, though in Japanese the counting is more complex… For me, the essence lies in being present to the moment and attentive to what reaches our senses—making haiku a form of meditation.
I prefer spontaneous and creative haiku, rooted in the body and everyday life, yet also woven into my creative journaling process. This often means playful, surprising, even surreal haiku. When I write, I simply keep in mind the three-line rule, with the second line a little longer than the others.
Hunting for Haïku
This summer, I took part in a workshop called The Haiku Hunt in Waterville, in the Eastern Townships, as part of the Vacances-Arts-Nature program. The concept was exciting: to go on a nature walk in search of poetic images, capture moments with Polaroid photos, write haiku inspired by them, and then type them on old typewriters. The photos and words gathered would then take shape in an accordion book—a witness to the experience and a springboard for further creation.
The images you see here all come from those three days of haiku hunting! This little adventure deepened my affection for haiku and gave me the impulse to write this article.
Why I Love Writing Haiku in My Journal
I can’t recall exactly when I first discovered haiku, but I do remember the very first one I wrote:
Grey autumn sky
The pencil runs across the page
Cold coffee
From that moment, I was hooked. In just a few lines, I had captured a precise instant in my journal, and I felt more alive, more alert. This way of paying attention to details in my surroundings—of trying to capture something sensitive and a little surprising in just a few lines—seemed like a simple, unpretentious way to bring poetic language into my journal without overthinking.
I wasn’t playing with intellectual ideas; I was entering the present through my senses, my feelings. Haiku also allowed me to slow down, observe, and welcome the world in its simplicity. Sometimes it felt like opening a little window onto inner silence; other times, it helped me synthesize and distill the essence of heavier, longer pages.
For me, haiku is a wonderfully creative tool—whether to conclude a long process or to pair with nature-based work.
Three Creative Journaling Exercises for Writing Haiku
1. Poetic Collage
Cut out images or words from magazines that attract you, without thinking too much. Paste them onto a page, taking your time. On the next page, make a list of phrases inspired by your collage, in no particular order. Then, reread them and let yourself be drawn to three of the phrases. Combine them into a haiku. See this poem as a poetic echo to your collage, without analysis or reflective writing.
2. Drawn Haiku
In your journal, sketch a small everyday scene with your non-dominant hand: a cup, a window, a tree, a corner of the table. Half-close your eyes if needed, to perceive differently. The drawing doesn’t have to be realistic—what matters is sensing more deeply. Then, write around the drawing whatever comes to you. Pause, reread, and let the hidden haiku emerge from these words. You can add colors to the page to complete the experience.
Variation: move directly from contemplating your drawing to writing your haiku.
3. Word Fishing
Choose a page you’ve already written in your journal. Reread it and circle five to ten short phrases that resonate, that feel important. Copy them onto strips of paper and spread them out on the table. Move them around until you find a combination of three that form a haiku. Paste them into your journal, adding color or collage elements if you like. Keep the other strips for a future poem.
Simply Haiku
Haiku doesn’t need to be perfect. What matters is the impulse, the simplicity, the gesture of seizing a moment. Perhaps after trying these exercises, you’ll look at the little things in daily life differently… and a poem will quietly find its place in your journal, all on its own.
Anne-Marie
