Practising Haikus

Haikus are a traditional Japanese form of poetry which follows two very strict rules: 1) the message must be vividly conveyed in only three lines, and 2) the three lines must be broken down into syllabic groups of five + seven + five respectively. I’ve been meaning to master the technique for a while, and here are my first - rather amateurish - attempts.

Silence

Silence is painful
During your present absence.
Yet Love will endure.

Waiting

Time is no one's friend
When the minutes bring no hope
Of love returning.

Disappointed

Why did I expect
You to be like no other
When you’re just a man?

And I Will Always Know

When you came to me
in the secret of the night.
I will not forget.

Emptiness

This heart will be lost,
filled with only emptiness
after you are gone.

My Little Life

Oh how tiresome
is this little life of mine,
longing and waiting.

Dreams

If dreams only knew
the risk of becoming real,
would they cease to be?

© Maria Orlandi, 2026