Haiku is a traditional form of Japanese poetry that has long been famous for its unique style. Most haiku poems consist of three lines, typically following a 5, 7, and 5 syllable pattern. One distinctive feature of haiku is that they do not follow any rhyme scheme, which is exactly what sets them apart from other poetry forms.
Traditionally, haikus were mostly written about nature, but over time, the themes have expanded to include seasons, inner reflections, fleeting moments, and the passage of time. People across the world — not just in Japan — now enjoy reading and writing haikus.
In this blog, we've brought you a curated list of 25 famous haiku poems, from Matsuo Bashō to Kobayashi Issa, and from Yosa Buson to Masaoka Shiki. We've handpicked these poems so you don't have to look anywhere else — you can enjoy all the best haiku poems right here in one place.
1. "On Haiku" – Matsuo Bashō
An old silent pond...
A frog jumps into the pond—
Splash! Silence again.The master shows the way—
just seventeen syllables
hold the moon, the wind.
2. "Haiku for Bashō" – Yosa Buson
Lightning flickers—
across the darkened rice fields,
a heron's slow flight.Bashō walks ahead,
his shadow merging with mine—
autumn evening.
3. "The Art of Haiku" – Kobayashi Issa
Don't worry, spiders,
I keep house casually—
just like you do.Tiny snail, inch by inch,
climbing Mount Fuji—
but slow, slow!
4. "Haiku Mind" – Natsume Sōseki
Over the wintry
forest, winds howl in rage
with no leaves to blow.The lamp once out,
cool stars enter
the window frame.
5. "Seventeen Syllables" – Richard Wright
Whitecaps on the bay:
A broken signboard banging
In the April wind.In the falling snow
A laughing boy holds out his palms
Until they are white.
6. "Haiku Lessons" – Jack Kerouac
The low yellow
moon above the
quiet lamplit house.Snow in my shoe—
Abandoned
Sparrow's nest.
7. "After the Haiku" – Ezra Pound
The apparition of these faces in the crowd;
Petals on a wet, black bough.In a Station of the Metro—
just three lines, but worlds unfold.
8. "Haiku Sky" – Gary Snyder
After weeks of watching the roof leak
I fixed it tonight
by moving a single board.Pine tree tops
bend in the wind—
no sound.
9. "Bashō's Ghost" – Allen Ginsberg
The old pond—
a frog jumps in,
Kerplunk!Bashō laughs in the mist—
his straw hat floating
downriver.
10. "Modern Haiku" – Sonia Sanchez
love between us is
speech and breath. loving you is
a long river running.Your breath keeps
the rhythm of my heart—
haiku love.
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11. "Haiku for Spring" – Amy Lowell
A single fir tree,
black against the sunset—
sudden crow's cry.Petals drift like snow—
the cherry tree remembers
last year's butterflies.
12. "Winter Haiku" – Robert Frost
Dust of snow
from a hemlock tree
has given my heart
a change of mood.The way a crow
shook down on me
seventeen syllables
of grace.
13. "Urban Haiku" – Langston Hughes
Morning sun wakes me—
the subway's distant thunder
under my pillow.Neon lights flicker—
a cat's shadow stretches
across the alley.
14. "Haiku for Travelers" – Bashō
No one travels
along this way but I,
this autumn evening.The cicada's cry
drills into the rocks—
mountain silence.
15. "Haiku of the Sea" – Issa
The sea darkens—
the voices of wild ducks
are faintly white.Tiny crab,
you walk sideways
through my dreams.
16. "Haiku for Lovers" – Buson
Pressing my lips to
the cold windowpane—
your name in frost.Plum blossoms fall—
the moon watches silently
through the broken fence.
17. "Haiku of Solitude" – Ryōkan
The thief left it behind—
the moon at my window.One robe, one bowl—
even the moon
envies my poverty.
18. "Haiku for Rain" – Shiki
The rain has ended—
snail trails glisten
on the temple steps.Summer shower—
a frog leaps into
the sound of water.
19. "Haiku of the Wind" – Santōka
Wind in the pines—
who needs poetry
when the world sings?Walking alone,
my shadow drinks sake
with the moon.
20. "Haiku for Autumn" – Chiyo-ni
Morning glory!
The well bucket entangled,
I ask for water.Autumn moon—
the tide of memories
washes my hut.
21. "Haiku for Winter" – Sōseki
Winter solitude—
in a world of one color
the sound of wind.Snow melts—
the village floods
with children's laughter.
22. "Haiku of the Moon" – Buson
Moonlit plum blossoms—
a nightingale's song
pierces the fog.The moon afloat—
my shadow crosses
ten thousand miles.
23. "Haiku for the Road" – Bashō
The journey begins—
not a single soul knows
where the wind will blow.Worn-out sandals—
the path keeps going
into mist.
24. "Haiku of the Heart" – Issa
This dewdrop world—
is a dewdrop world,
and yet, and yet...Don't hit the fly—
he wrings his hands,
he wrings his feet.
25. "The Last Haiku" – Unknown
The candle flickers—
one last breath of light
before the dawn.Seventeen syllables—
enough to hold
a universe.
🌟 Final Thoughts
These 25 magical poems about haiku reveal how much beauty can bloom in just a few lines. From the legendary Matsuo Bashō's timeless frog pond to modern interpretations by Jack Kerouac and Gary Snyder, these verses demonstrate the power of simplicity and mindful observation.
The art of haiku lies not just in its seventeen syllable structure, but in its ability to capture fleeting moments and profound truths about nature, life, and the human experience. These three-line poems invite us to slow down, observe the world around us, and find beauty in the smallest details.
Whether describing autumn leaves, morning dew, or urban landscapes, each haiku serves as a meditation on the present moment. They remind us that poetry doesn't need to be complex to be powerful — sometimes the most profound insights come in the briefest expressions.
Which haiku speaks most deeply to your heart? Try writing your own—the world is waiting in seventeen syllables! ❤️
Want to explore more inspiring poetry? Check out our AI Poem Generator to create your own verses of nature and mindfulness.
