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Expanded haiku

Form
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A haiku variant that exceeds the traditional 5-7-5 syllable structure while retaining its spirit or focus

Explore this topic in depth (1)

Haiku — Haiku is a compact poetic form rooted in Japanese culture, often shaped by an image of the natural world, a seasonal reference, and a meaningful pause or turn. This guide explains how haiku works, how to read it attentively, and how to begin writing your own.

Detailed Definition
Expanded haiku is a contemporary adaptation of the traditional Japanese form that retains its focus on nature and seasonal reference (kigo) but extends beyond the 5-7-5 syllable structure to allow greater thematic range, enjambment, or personal reflection; it honors haiku’s essence of immediacy while embracing modernist openness and linguistic flexibility.
Example
Example in poetry:
Modern expanded haiku: “Cicadas at dusk— / the neighbor’s empty porch swing / still swaying” (7-8-7); “Snow covers the mailbox / unread letters buried for weeks / winter’s quiet judgment” (8-9-8); “Grandfather’s watch stops / at 3:17 a.m.— / hospital corridor hums” (7-9-7); traditional 5-7-5 expanded to include narrative or emotional context beyond image.
Additional Notes
Expanded haiku adapts the traditional 5-7-5 syllabic form by loosening structure while retaining seasonal reference (kigo) and momentary insight; popular in contemporary English-language haiku practice.
Also Known As
Free haiku open-form haiku contemporary haiku liberated haiku Amplified Japanese verse Exaggerated haiku
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