Use your imagination! (Pic/S. Mushkatov/Sxc.hu)

A haiku is a 17 syllable poem used to portray an image to the reader. Initially created by the Japanese, haikus were written to describe only nature. However, after making a trip across the ocean to America, the haiku took on a new purpose. Now, it is used to bring to life almost any aspect of the world. For this reason, it’s an excellent (and fun) vehicle to use to write about your pet dog.

You don’t have to be a poet to write a haiku about your dog. You just need to follow a few steps and be up for a challenge. Here’s what to do:

1 - Pick a characteristic. Does your dog make you laugh because he wiggles his nose in a funny way? Select an aspect of his being to focus on and let this be the basis of your haiku. It can be anything that pleases you.

2 - Write what you see. On a piece of paper, write down at least seven sentences that describe your selected characteristic. If you are thinking about your dog’s nose, a sentence might look like - it always stays wet. Keep your sentences simple. The most powerful haikus are ones that are easy to understand by everyone.

3 - Add a bit of contrast. What is something that is unlike the focus of your haiku, but can still accurately describe it? By adding contrast to your haiku, you will drive home your point. In the case of your dog’s nose, it could be light. Light over water will cause it to glisten. Get it?

4 - Put together your haiku. Haikus are three lines with the first and last one being 5 syllables and the second one being 7. With what you’ve completed in the first three steps, you should be able to put your haiku together. Here’s an example:

My dog’s nose glistens
Like light dancing on the sea
It shimmers brightly

5 - Fine tune your poem. After you’ve written your haiku, go back and fine tune it. Look for misspelled words or think of new ones that might fit better. Edit your haiku and have fun with it.

See how easy it is to write a haiku about your dog? Pass this information on to a friend - especially a young one. It will add a little more flavor to your life and help you discover your creative side.

BOOMERANG

Like a boomerang
A dog runs back to his home
always, without fail

(Picture by Marcel Hol and Poem by Myself)