Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry comprised of three phrases.

Traditional haiku uses 17 syllables (5:7:5) but contemporary haiku in English often ignores this rule. A haiku is typically about nature, the earth and the natural world and are designed to be thought-provoking. These original haiku poems are by Anthony Rutledge and are mostly written in the contemporary free style format.

There are over 4,000 Haiku on this site in 15 different themes: Australian, Beach, Garden Sundial, In the Mirror,Kimono,Motherhood,Ships and Oceans,Spring,Windjammers and Miscellaneous.

CLICK ON YOUR FAVOURITE ZEN HAIKU CARD BELOW TO SHARE IT ON FACEBOOK

Haiku Logo

Homing pigeons
the eagle’s shape
out of the blue.

Poem Image
Haiku Logo

No hint of surf
only the feel of quicksand
between the child’s toes.

Poem Image
Haiku Logo

Mangrove mud
letting the tide return
in small sun flashes.

Poem Image
Haiku Logo

Kitchen lights on – –
the spider’s moth
fights harder.

Poem Image
Haiku Logo

Tender giantess
at the rear of whales
the calf’s mother.

Poem Image
Haiku Logo

Swimming back
the full moon
a pathway to the beach.

Poem Image
Haiku Logo

Sand bar
the king tide
rises over itself.

Poem Image
Haiku Logo

One finished,
shoe-shine man in his mirror
polishing the other.

Poem Image
Haiku Logo

open tent
the breathing from trees
taken by the wind

Poem Image
Haiku Logo

gentle autumn Sun
the sounds a breeze gets
stirring a leaf pile

Poem Image
Haiku Logo

fallen Gum
still the earth
to compost

Poem Image
Haiku Logo

Sundial garden
just genes sprouting
the tomatoes out.

Poem Image
<