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Strengthen Your Thinking - Haiku - Creative Writing

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Hot morning sun cool air

Grass with scattered leaves

Red dragonfly on open book.

 

Suzanne Batty

Summer

 

Raspberry sauce, sticky drips

catching vanilla

chasing cream streaks

 

Lucy Whiteley

Summer

 

Jam jarred rainbow

sticklebacks, ladybirds match boxed

Small boys hunting bugs

 

Andy Brookes

Heart beating as I run

Sunglasses in September

One yellow sailing boat leaning.

 

Suzanne Batty

Summer

 

wafer softens lick lick

melts the pavement steaming hear

shadows grow longer

 

Lucy Whiteley

Summer

 

Duckweed floats on pools

Layered, scummy green – limpid

food for hungry ducks

 

Andy Brookes

Distant sea from a summit

Dogs drink from peaty pools

Crib Goch red against blue (blue!) sky.

 

Suzanne Batty

Summer

 

sweaty palms ice cream coins

cool the heat of excitement

giggles tinkle – a breeze

 

Lucy Whiteley

Summer

 

Picking of blackberries

Scent in air of warm sweet jam

Cooling in the jar

 

Andy Brookes

Soft moonless summer sky

Curtains and door open

Owl screeches; invisible feathers.

 

Suzanne Batty

Notice your surroundings in a new and inspirational way.
Focus on the present moment and the positive aspects of your life.
Feel connected to the world through your senses.

Haiku have rules about how they are written (length, syllable count, subject matter). This may seem restricting at first but, in fact, it can be liberating. It will help you to develop lateral thinking, practise decision making and find strong images to express yourself in a small number of words.

Wellbeing benefits:

Think clearly
Solve problems
Notice surroundings

Examples of how this activity can help me:

I want to keep my mind in the present and ‘enjoy the moment’ more.
I want to feel part of the world and more positive about my place within it. 

Length:

30-40 minutes.

Who can I do this activity with?

On my own or with others.

Where can I do this activity?

Online or print off and do anywhere. We recommend taking this activity outdoors to use it as inspiration.

How often can I do this activity?

Haikus are inspired by nature, weather and seasons, so do this activity weekly, monthly or each season!

What do I need?

  • Pencil/pen
  • Paper

Did you know?

Our brains have two halves, which specialise in different types of thinking. The right hand excels in lateral thinking, metaphors, intuition, emotion, and holistic perception, whilst the left hand brain likes order, lists, logic, and analysis. Artistic processes have been shown to fire up the whole brain and encourage the two sides to work together, building strong connections between the two.

"I enjoyed the free writing and the discipline of doing a Haiku. When I read my work I feel a sense of achievement."

Workshop participant

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