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Visual 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 visual haiku uses spatial arrangement of words on the page to create a visual image that complements or embodies the poem’s seasonal or contemplative theme.

Detailed Definition
Visual haiku extends the traditional 5-7-5 syllabic form by incorporating spatial arrangement, color, or graphic design to enhance or reinterpret the poem’s seasonal reference (kigo) and cutting word (kireji), making visual layout integral to its meaning and impact.
Example
Example in poetry:
Visual haiku: Concrete poetry arranging words as falling rain; “snow” written in white ink on white paper; Visual haiku prioritize spatial arrangement over syllable count; Examples in Mary Ellen Solt’s flower poems
Additional Notes
Visual haiku: A haiku that relies heavily on spatial arrangement, typography, or layout to convey meaning; extends traditional kigo/kireji into visual dimension; overlaps with concrete poetry.
Also Known As
Concrete haiku Shape haiku Pictorial verse Calligraphic poem
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