Haiku Journaling: See the Ordinary, Differently

What is Haiku?

As you probably know, haiku is a traditional type of short form Japanese poetry. Like all forms of poetry, it has “rules.” It is essential to understand that the rules of any poetic form are not meant to constrain the mind but to guide the mind.

If you write a haiku with sixteen or eighteen syllables, is that wrong? Are you breaking the rules? Not at all. It’s called free verse poetry. In poetry, form and function are old friends who play chess in the park every afternoon.

Just like meditation is not an exercise in meticulously counting the breaths you take, writing a haiku is not about wrestling with syllable counts. It’s the heart that is beating, not the beats.

Take a deep breath. Now another. Now another. Now exhale a smile.

You just breathed a haiku.

A haiku is a microcosm of a moment. It is focusing in the present and enjoying the numinous interconnectedness of everything.

Let’s approach writing a haiku as a peaceful movement of ideas in three easy steps.

‍— Brent Hagen

‍

The Three-Step Haiku Drill

1. Sit & Notice

Park yourself—park bench, subway seat, desk chair. Breathe. Give the room five unhurried minutes to introduce itself. When something tugs at your eyes, name it: a chipped mug, a restless crow, a neon exit sign.

Example object: cracked coffee cup

‍

2. Trace the Connections

Ask how that object links to the rest of the scene—and to you. Does the cracked cup echo your deadlines? Does its steam braid with city noise? Write a single line that spells out one connection, no more.

Line two: steam curls like slow thoughts

‍

3. Flip the Lens

Force a fresh angle: imagine the object from a sparrow’s view, from three years in the future, from the moon. What unseen meaning snaps into focus? Capture it in as few words as possible.

Line three: Monday lasts longer

‍

First Draft, Done

cracked coffee cup
steam curls like slow thoughts—
Monday lasts longer

You just wrote a haiku before your coffee cooled.

‍

Common Roadblocks, Solved

“I’m not poetic.” Neither is asphalt, yet it glitters after rain.

“I keep counting syllables.” Breathe instead; edit later if you care.

“My haiku are awful.” Good. Bad poems are compost for better ones.

‍

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to count syllables?

Not unless you love math. Focus on three short lines.

Will haiku journaling cure my anxiety?

It helps manage stress; it’s not a standalone medical treatment.

How many haiku should I write per day?

One solid poem beats ten rushed ones. Aim for a daily single, then stop; extra spark? Write another, but don’t turn it into homework.

Updated on: Jun 1, 2025