2. A haiku is a three line poem consisting of 5–7–5 syllables for example: the/ ca/the/dral/ bell (5) is sha/king/ a / few/ snow/flakes (7) from/ the/ mor/ning/ air (5) -Virgilio
3. HISTORY Haiku evolved from tanka (short poems) 31 syllable poems structured 5-7-5-7-7 developed by court poets in the Heian period (794-1185). These tanka were externded into renga (linked verses). Renga were written in groups with a hokku (opening verse) of 17 syllables (5-7-5) which established a seasonal setting or mood around which the remainder of the poem was fashioned.