What is a haiku?

• A. A four-line poem about love
• B. A traditional form of Japanese poetry with three lines and a 5-7-5 syllable pattern
• C. A long narrative poem
• D. A two-line witty verse

Answer: (B)

Haiku is a concise traditional form of Japanese poetry that captures a single moment in nature or everyday life with quiet precision. It is defined by three lines and a 5-7-5 syllable pattern, a compact structure that frames a small image or insight. In Japanese, the count is based on morae, but in teaching contexts we use 5-7-5 syllables to describe the rhythm in English. A hallmark of haiku is brevity and focus, inviting the reader to pause and sense the moment, often with a seasonal reference (kigo) and sometimes a cutting word (kireji) to signal a shift or pause. This matches the description of a traditional Japanese poetry form with three lines and a 5-7-5 syllable pattern, which is why it's the best choice. The other options describe poems with different lengths or purposes: four lines would be a different form, a long narrative poem is an epic or ballad, and a two-line witty verse resembles a couplet rather than a haiku.