A writer inspired by nature and human nature

Write a Spring Haiku & Get the Kids Writing Too!

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Celebrating International Haiku Poetry Day!

JONQUILS Awaken HAIKU 2017 bas

As I wandered out into the garden with my trusty camera early this morning, much to my surprise, an icy blanket at the edge of the rock garden had melted and a family of opening jonquils greeted me with their smiles. Being the first blooms of the season, they simply made my day and inspired me to write “A Spring Concerto,” a haiku (Japanese-inspired, non-rhyming three-line: 5-7-5 syllable poem).

A Spring Concerto

Haiku by Bette A. Stevens

Jonquils awaken

Shaking their heads in wonder

A spring concerto 

I love designing posters to go with my poems and often use photos I have taken. As a former teacher (now retired) in grades four through eight, I know that kids of all ages love writing poetry and they enjoy illustrating their poems too. It’s simple and it’s so much fun to tell a story in the three short lines of Haiku. Of course, you can write as many stanzas as you wish. Today’s a perfect day for you to give it a try.

Get out your pen, get outdoors in nature, get inspired…and get the kids writing haiku too!

 

Check out Bette’s latest release—My Maine: Haiku through the Seasons (A collection of 150 haiku poems and 49 photos)—celebrating Maine, “The Way Life Should Be.”

~Bette A. Stevens, Maine author/illustrator

(Haiku: m)

haiku

noun hai·ku ˈhī-(ˌ)kü

plural

haiku

  1. :  an unrhymed verse form of Japanese origin having three lines containing usually five, seven, and five syllables respectively; also :  a poem in this form usually having a seasonal reference — compare tanka

See haiku defined for English-language learners

See haiku defined for kids

 

Discover more about how to write haiku and other poetry:

Find out more about International Haiku Poetry Day

[Explore Bette’s Blog]

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Written

on 04/17/2019

Comments on: "Write a Spring Haiku & Get the Kids Writing Too!" (52)

  1. 4 Reasons To Use Action Beats When Writing | Bette A. Stevens, Maine Author said:
    05/18/2019 at 5:08 pm

    […] Want to break up boring dialogue, show and not tell, stop info-dumping your setting, and sneak in character description? Check out K.M. Allen’s blog post! ~Bette A. Stevens 4writersandreaders […]

    Like

  2. Ultra said:
    05/11/2019 at 2:25 am

    I like to read haiku poems

    Like

  3. Teagan R. Geneviene said:
    05/04/2019 at 2:33 pm

    This is a beautiful springtime post and poem, Bette. Thanks for the sunshine it created. (I do love jonquils.) Hugs.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. kaylaannauthor said:
    05/03/2019 at 5:28 pm

    Beautiful salute to Spring!

    Like

  5. Anonymous said:
    04/20/2019 at 6:16 pm

    Happy Easter, Bette! 🙂

    Like

  6. AuthorJoePerroneJr said:
    04/20/2019 at 6:15 pm

    Moving is so hard,
    but where we go forever,
    brings peace, joy, and love.

    Like

    • Bette A. Stevens said:
      04/20/2019 at 6:17 pm

      Amen on our forever home! ♥ Wishing you and Becky a Blessed Easter and all to go smoothly with your move. Thanks so much for taking the time to drop over. xo

      Like

  7. mylilplace said:
    04/19/2019 at 5:12 pm

    Simply lovely, Bette!

    Like

  8. Jill Weatherholt said:
    04/19/2019 at 2:41 pm

    Your haiku is beautiful, Bette! Happy International Haiku Day! Who knew? ❤ Have a wonderful Easter.

    Like

  9. balroop2013 said:
    04/18/2019 at 10:29 pm

    Love your spring concerto Bette, in harmony with the beautiful flowers. Thanks for sharing.

    Like

  10. D.L Finn, Author said:
    04/18/2019 at 1:26 pm

    I love your Haiku and ise of pthe pucture with it. Beautiful. Im very excited for your new book!

    Like

  11. Hélène - Willow Poetry said:
    04/18/2019 at 10:54 am

    Sunny Jonquils, a beautiful sighting Betty. Thank you for this inspiring post.

    Like

  12. DutchIl said:
    04/18/2019 at 10:37 am

    Thank you for sharing!.. love your “spring concert” and looking forward to your book!… you and your family have a wonderful Easter holiday filled with love and happiness and hope the future is all that you wish for it to be!.. 🙂

    Until we meet again….

    May love and laughter light your days,
    and warm your heart and home.
    May good and faithful friends be yours,
    wherever you may roam.
    May peace and plenty bless your world
    with joy that long endures.
    May all life’s passing seasons
    bring the best to you and yours!
    (Irish Saying)

    Like

    • Bette A. Stevens said:
      04/18/2019 at 7:34 pm

      Dear Larry

      Thanks so much for your kind words and lovely wishes… It’s beginning to look a lot like spring here at the Farmstead. Wishing you and yours a blessed and bautiful Easter! ♥

      May health and happiness abound for you, my friend.

      Hugs,
      Bette

      Like

  13. Norah said:
    04/18/2019 at 7:27 am

    What a delight for your sight this morning, Bette, and now one for ours, enhanced by your beautiful haiku.
    I love your ideas for encouraging children to write poetry. To do so, they also need to just observe – both wonderful skills to encourage.

    Like

  14. robbiesinspiration said:
    04/17/2019 at 11:45 pm

    So beautiful, Bette. Looking forward to your book.

    Like

  15. Jacqui Murray said:
    04/17/2019 at 1:18 pm

    I didn’t know this was International Haiku Day. Good to find out. And I love the lined paper at the top of this post. If I was on my Surface Pro, I could pull the digital pen out and ink a Haiku right here. Pretty clever.

    Like

  16. Sandee said:
    04/17/2019 at 11:15 am

    You’re a wonderful wordsmith, Bette.

    I do agree about getting the kids into reading. It’s ever so important.

    Have a fabulous day, Bette. ♥

    Like

  17. D. Wallace Peach said:
    04/17/2019 at 9:52 am

    A beautiful haiku, Bette. I love the sense of surprise with each new bloom. 🙂

    Like

  18. harmonykent said:
    04/17/2019 at 9:24 am

    Lovely, Bette 😊

    Like

  19. Bette A. Stevens said:
    05/18/2017 at 4:04 pm

    Thanks for stopping by for a visit, Tina. Kids love to explore the world and express their findings with words and so do I… Happy Haiku Writing with the kids! 🙂 x0

    Like

  20. Bette A. Stevens said:
    04/25/2017 at 2:01 pm

    Thank you, Bernadette. Have a blessed and beautiful day! ❤

    Like

  21. Bette A. Stevens said:
    04/22/2017 at 10:39 am

    Thank you for joining the conversation and sharing your awesome memory with me…I’ll be thinking of you and Glass Menagerie each time those jonquils reappear! Blessings and love, Bette

    Liked by 1 person

    • Madelyn Griffith-Haynie, MCC, SCAC said:
      04/22/2017 at 11:08 am

      How dear of you to say that – your reply has touched me more than you can imagine.

      There are days when I miss my theatre career dearly – and it is strange that, outside of my friends in NYC, so few people who think of me as a brain-based coach know that side of me, after it was such a huge part of my life for over 3 decades. You have made my morning with this comment, Bette.
      xx,
      mgh

      Like

  22. Bette A. Stevens said:
    04/20/2017 at 3:49 pm

    Thank you, Sumith! Have a beautiful day, my friend. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  23. Bette A. Stevens said:
    04/19/2017 at 7:15 pm

    Thank you for your visit and kind words. Have a beautiful day, my friend! 🙂

    Like

  24. Bette A. Stevens said:
    04/19/2017 at 7:13 pm

    Hi, Gayl. Delighted that you stopped by to share about your passions. We certainly have much in common. I’ll be following your blog and look forward to learning more about you and journey. Blessings & love! 🙂 xo

    Liked by 1 person

  25. Bette A. Stevens said:
    04/18/2017 at 7:12 pm

    Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit, Shirley. Happy Spring, my awesome #RRBC friend! 🙂 xo

    Like

  26. Bette A. Stevens said:
    04/18/2017 at 3:58 pm

    Thanks so much! 🙂 xo

    Like

  27. Bette A. Stevens said:
    04/18/2017 at 2:39 pm

    Thank you, Robbie. Hope you’re enjoying a sensational spring week too! xo

    Like

  28. Bette A. Stevens said:
    04/18/2017 at 2:18 pm

    Thanks so much, my talented, thoughtful and beautiful friend! HUGS… ❤

    Liked by 1 person

  29. Bette A. Stevens said:
    04/18/2017 at 2:16 pm

    Dear Annika,

    Your lovely comments simply made my day!

    Blessings & love,

    Bette

    Liked by 1 person

  30. Bette A. Stevens said:
    04/18/2017 at 2:11 pm

    Thank you, Balroop. I love writing haiku! Blessings and love, my friend… ❤ xo

    Liked by 1 person

  31. Bette A. Stevens said:
    04/17/2017 at 8:23 pm

    Thank you, Annette. After reading your post today, I simply had to get this one out there. Congrats on your new book–you chose a perfect time for its debut. Happy International Haiku Day & Month to you too, dear friend! ❤ xo

    Like

  32. Bette A. Stevens said:
    04/17/2017 at 5:35 pm

    Thrilled to find spring’s first blooms here at The Farmstead. Somewhere, heaven only knows just where, our crocuses are hiding. Still have bits of ice and snow here and there. Have a sensational week enjoying the wonder of it all, Marilyn… That’s my plan! 🙂 ❤ xo

    Like

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