háku
Háku is a traditional form of Japanese poetry. It is characterized by its structure of three phrases composed of 17 syllables in a 5, 7, 5 pattern. Háku traditionally focus on nature and often include a kigo, a seasonal word. The practice of writing háku, or haiku as it is commonly known in English, dates back to the 17th century, with Matsuo Bashō being its most famous exponent.
The earliest form of háku was called hokku, which served as the opening stanza of a longer
Modern háku writers continue to explore a wide range of themes, though the connection to nature and