Haiku for You

Haiku is a form of traditional Japanese poetry which combines form, content, and language in a meaningful, yet compact form. Readers should be able to understand and relate to what the poem is describing. Traditional Haiku reflects a reaction to something the poet has experienced.

Usually using simple words and grammar, Japanese Haiku are typically written as a single line. Most Haiku poets in North America write Haiku in three segments that follow a short-long-short pattern without a rigid structure. This style is called by some "free-form" Haiku.

Since the poems are complete in and of themselves, there is no reason to include a title with Haiku.

OEHS extends an offer to the Yale community to submit their Haiku for publication on our website.

Below is the first submission of Haiku by one of OEHS’ own, Ben Fontes.

Assessing your risk
We strive to keep you from harm;
Making science safe.