These are terms used for various styles or attitudes when writing haiku.
shasei - Shasei is the principle of "sketching from life" in a haiku. The idea is that a haiku should describe a scene rather than be about your thoughts about the scene. Haiku should also be written while directly looking at a scene and not from memory.
karumi - "Lightness", as opposed to heavy-handedness. A light tone suggests talking about very ordinary things and presenting them in ordinary ways. This presents a very personal and comfortable poetry.
renso - The loose association of disparate images. A common approach to writing haiku is to mention 2 separate images and then in the 3rd line link them together in a surprising or unusual way.
hosomi - "Slenderness". This principle advocates the use of short, simple, and plain language. Modest and unpretentious.
kanjaku - "Supreme quietness". Tranquility and meditation are often sought as a mood for haiku.
wabi - Austere beauty. Beauty in loneliness and misery, in poverty and simplicity. Wabi and Sabi reflect an important mindset and value system in the writing of traditional haiku.
sabi - Quiet elegance. Elegant loneliness, simplicity, or deprivation. Elegance in antiquity and simplicity.
Haiku captures the heart of Japanese seasons From Barbara Burr, Fukiko Kyota and Yasuyo Miki, Himeji, Japan
http://writeonline.sac.sa.edu.au/Archives/June_02/haiku.htm
The change of seasons in Japan is dramatic and swift. Suddenly winter is over and the cherry blossoms appear. Then, just as suddenly, these symbols of Spring are gone again. It is not surprising that Japanese people like to capture the special elements of the seasons in painting or poetry. Since the natural world transforms itself swiftly and since inspiration is fleeting, the changes must be caught in words which are quick, short and precise. Japanese haiku does just that. Haiku is probably the shortest poetic form in the world.
Each haiku consists of just three lines of 5, 7 and 5 syllables. A haiku must also contain a special word which evokes the season. Sometimes the simpler the word, the more effective it is for capturing the elusive. But don't be deceived by its simplicity. Finding the right words and then arranging them within the strict form of the haiku may not be so easy. The words need to be arranged in such a way that the images last as long as possible in the mind of the reader. According to a famous haiku poet, Masaoka Shiki (1867 - 1902), "Haiku is a sketch with simple, plain words."
Just as artists take their brushes, paints and palette to capture the beauty of nature in a painting, groups of haiku writers often travel to special places to seek inspiration for their writing. Haiku classes are very popular in Japan, particularly for people with lots of leisure time. What may seem to be a bus full of tourists may really be a bus full of poets, on a day trip to a beautiful spot in the country. As an art teacher helps students with their brush strokes, the master haiku poet helps each person to find the right word to get the get the effect they want.
Haiku competitions are offered all over Japan. A famous tea company offers prizes and uses the best haiku to advertise their product. Many newspapers also offer prizes, not just for haiku in Japanese but also in English.
Writing haiku in English is a novel idea for many Japanese and of course English translations of Japanese haiku, haiku in English, haiku in other languages, and traditional Japanese haiku, are not all the same. The interpretation of haiku depends on the readers. When it comes to international haiku, we need to understand the background culture of the poet. When written in other languages, the rigid rules of form and specific words of haiku are often relaxed.
The best haiku is clearly written, without metaphor, personification and other literary devices.. It can be easily understood from the direct words, but these words often contain a stronger message that has to be searched for. They are often parables for life. This is what makes them last.
Famous haiku are passed down from generation to generation. Here is a famous haiku by one of Japan's best known haiku masters, Matsui Bashö (1644-1694). It's not as easy as it looks.
furuike ya
kawazu tobikomu
mizu no oto
Listen! a frog
Jumping into the silence
Of an ancient pond
It is about the momentary action and lingering sound that reminded the poet of the wonder of a moment and eternity.
thank you, edgar allen
Softly the wind sings
Listen to the leaves talking
Morning will come soon
:-)
thanks..it helps to understand the "definitions/ideas" behind the form.