It's pronounced Hi Koo

Haiku is the Japanese form of poetry that is three lines long. The first line is 5 syllables, the second line is 7 syllables, and the third line is 5 syllables. It is a very disciplined form of writing that expects the writer to say a great deal in very few words. Haiku almost always has something to do with nature. Its strict structure is designed to challenge the writer to find the most perfect way to reach the reader's heart.

When reading Haiku, one is to read the poem once, then pause, and then read it again. The listener should be able to build a picture in her/his mind and see what the writer means.

Examples:

branches of willow
hangling low in the moonlight
weeping silently

****

cars and trucks roar past
marigolds bloom quietly
uninterrupted