Limitations

The traditional Japanese Haiku format has exceptionally stringent limitations.

It must 1) be a single stanza with a 5-7-5 syllable structure 2) include a seasonal reference and 3) contain a Kireji phoneme.

We’d think that these constraints really stifle what poets can express through this format.

But it’s precisely these limitations that elevate Haiku poems to the status of national treasure.

Limitations allow us to condense our energy into a format that bangs hard.

If stuck, add another constraint.