ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Haikai

Haikai is a type of poetry that comes from Japan. It's like a short story, but it's written in just a few lines. Haikai writers use words and images to create a picture in your mind.

A haikai poem usually has three lines. The first line has 5 syllables, the second line has 7 syllables, and the third line has 5 syllables. This makes the poem very short and easy to remember.

Haikai poets often write about nature and the changing of the seasons. They use words that describe things like flowers, birds, mountains, and water. The words they choose are very important because they create a feeling or mood in the reader.

Haikai is like a game. The poet tries to create a surprising or funny connection between things. For example, they might write about a butterfly landing on a flower or a tree that looks like a person. This makes the reader think about the world in a new way.

Overall, haikai is a special kind of poetry that uses short lines, nature, and imagination to create new and interesting pictures in your mind.
Related topics others have asked about: