Haiku-a-Day Prompts and Examples for National Poetry Month, Today: Live
What Are Writing Prompts?
Writing prompts are useful tools to spark your creativity and get you writing. You can use them everyday or simply when you have writer's block. Each day, you will find a new word as a writing prompt. Today's prompt is "stunning." You can also see the previous words I've used as prompts below:
Haiku #1
with fervor, he cries
tears that singe his forlorn face
leaving trails of ash
Explanation of Haiku #1
“Singe” is a powerful word. When writing poetry, it is better to use a power word. Rather than using “burn,” I selected to use “singe” to illustrate the strength of the man’s depression. Depression is noted by the fact that the man is crying. “Trails of ash” indicates the depressed mood in the man, showing the color grey as a representation of the depression. The nature element of this haiku is that of human nature.
Haiku #2
poetic pale moon
floating by the orange sun
light and dark dancing
Explanation of Haiku #2
"Poetic" is a graceful word. When the sun and moon cross at sunrise and sunset, I envision this grace. Looking toward the sun and moon, watching day rise and night fall, is a reminder of "out with the old, in with the new." The entire movement between the great star and its nightly sidekick is a dance celebrating the new.
Haiku #3
there’s a little boy
with a palm tree branch
thrashing it with its bough
Explanation of Haiku #3
Child's play. That's what this haiku is about. A young boy beats a palm tree with its own branch. Here, I am giving an example of irony. The tree is basically beating itself. The boy is playing, but with aggression. The metaphor? The boy is the tree.
Haiku #4
the moon, unaware
she admired his mystery
hid behind the clouds
Explanation of Haiku #4
Unaware of its brilliance, the moon is shy in this haiku. This is an example of personification, meaning giving human attributes to inhuman things. I imagined a girl admiring the moon. The moon and the girl are connected, the girl wanting to see it, but the moon thinks it is not beautiful enough.
Haiku #5
Haiku #5
moon beams fireflies
fluttering by the bare tree
swallowing the moon
Explanation of Haiku #5
Here, the moon illuminates the fireflies, which are flying around a tree. The light and beauty of the fireflies is so outstanding that they are more beautiful than the moon. There is a kind relationship between the moon and the fireflies where the moon is giving up its light in order for the fireflies to shine.
Haiku #6
ice burning water
miracles swim in ice castles
chaos is a friend
Explanation of Haiku #6
The first line is simply a contrast of words. In the second line, "miracles" is personified by describing them as ice castles. And, the last line is another contrast of words and a contrast to the beginning of the haiku. The entire poem is about society's chaos, but the contrast is that it is something familiar and well-known.
Haiku #7
stunning flamingo
mascot of the everglades
pink is perfection
Explanation of Haiku #7
This is a very simple haiku using nature as a theme. The flamingos are a major nature attraction in the everglades. It's beauty represents the beauty of the everglades, which should be protected. The haiku was written to show how important it is to protect the everglades.
Haiku #8
the sparrow says why
he flies round merry-go-rounds
to see horses live
Explanation of Haiku #8
The merry-go-round represents life spinning in circles. The horses are objects that come to life with color, offering hope for a positive life. The sparrow adds the nature element to the haiku. As the sparrow flies circles around the merry-go-round, he brings life to the merry-go-round. The haiku is about life spinning in chaos, yet turning into beauty.
How to Write a Haiku
Haiku Themes
Comments
anonymous on March 09, 2020:
Flower covered brick
Decked in royalty, golden
Power behind walls
anonymous on May 03, 2018:
i would love some feedback on this-i used the "castles" prompt.
ivy covered brick
draped in purple, gold and rich
power placed on head
RTalloni on April 03, 2017:
Now, I'll always think of the dance you describe at dawn and dusk. :)
Poetic justice–
Creation's wild fall effecting
Incredible joy.
Kimbally Torres (author) from Ft. Lauderdale, FL on April 02, 2017:
I will post the prompt every day by 10am EST. Today's prompt was "melody." It's in another article.
Gina Welds from Tampa, Florida on April 02, 2017:
Can you give us an idea of when you will post the prompt? Don't want to miss it.
Bella Allred on April 02, 2017:
This is wonderful! I love the idea, and I'm looking forward to the prompts the rest of this month!
Kimbally Torres (author) from Ft. Lauderdale, FL on April 02, 2017:
Thank you. Happy writing!
Kimbally Torres (author) from Ft. Lauderdale, FL on April 02, 2017:
Beautiful! I love the imagery. I can almost see the dry, brown fields.
Audrey Howitt from California on April 01, 2017:
This was lovely--Happy Poetry Month
RTalloni on April 01, 2017:
Singed by sunny rays,
Thirsty fields under clear skies
Long for rainy days.
Kimbally Torres (author) from Ft. Lauderdale, FL on April 01, 2017:
Hi Gina! Today's prompt is "singe." You can find the prompts at the top of the article. Thanks for your interest!
Gina Welds from Tampa, Florida on April 01, 2017:
I'm doing a Haiku challenge this month, also. I did not see your prompt, but I will try to continue tomorrow, as I have already posted for today.
Kimbally Torres (author) from Ft. Lauderdale, FL on April 01, 2017:
Thank you, Jamie. After you write your haiku, please place it in the comments. I can't wait to see it!
Jamie Lee Hamann from Reno NV on April 01, 2017:
I love writing haiku! What a great idea for poetry month. Thank you for the prompt. Jamie
