Haiku are short, non-rhyming poems with three basic rules:
They draw on things that can be seen, heard, or noticed in everyday life. The imagery usually relates to nature, the seasons and to human activity.
The lines are made of 5-7-5 sound structure using syllables called ‘mora’ or ‘on’.
They have a pause called a ‘Kireji’, or ‘cutting’ word, allowing the reader a thoughtful moment.
Not all haiku poets follow these rules.
The haiku next to specific works have been written by members of the Museum Collective. They are a group of young people who meet regularly at the museum and work on projects alongside museum staff. They were mentored by poet Subhadassi.
The traditional haiku in the gallery are translated from Japanese. This means that some of their structure will have been lost in translation.
