HAIKU (HIGH-koo)

A Japanese form of poetry, also known as hokku. It consists of

three unrhymed lines of five, seven and five syllables. The elusive

flavor of the form, however, lies more in its touch and tone than

in its syllabic structure. Deeply imbedded in Japanese culture and

strongly influenced by Zen Buddhism, haiku are very brief

descriptions of nature that convey some implicit insight or essence

of a moment. Traditionally, they contain either a direct or oblique

reference to a season:

The buds on the vine

explode in blossoms of pink--

an unseen dog barks.