Hay(na)ku

The hay(na)ku is a 21st century poetic form invented by Eileen R. Tabios. It is a six-word tercet with the first line being one word, the second line being two words, and the third line being three words.

Since it was introduced, poets around the world have used the form. They have also created variations of the form, including the popular “chained hay(na)ku” which strings together more than one tercet as well as the reverse hay(na)ku where the word count is reversed.

https://eileenrtabios.com/haynaku/

Examples

Nothing

adds up.

Love isn't math.

by Dan Waber

Form

Is One

Then Two Three

by Tom Becket

hummingbird

joy paused

on flowering vines

by Art Durkee

… blueness

of sky—

I am breathing

by Eileen Tabios


These are written by second and third graders.

About Hay(na)ku

Only

six words --

and it's done.

Grossed Out

that

awful feeling

when your fingers


find

the old

gum Malaya forgot

Banana Slug

sticky

yellow banana

glistens then squirts

1. Flash

orange

lightning, soft

paws, ankle biter

2. Pirate Jenny

chubby

calico with

soft squishy belly

3. Lekvar

You!

Pet me!

DON'T PET ME!

4. Bobby

handsome

tuxie requires

a red bowtie

Now, it's your turn. Six words is all you need. Remember, you can string several hay(na)kus together or even reverse them (with the first line having three words and the last having just one).