HaiTweet: A New Form of Poetry
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HaiTweet: A New Form of Haiku
HaiTweet is a new form of poetry, a 140 character haiku for Twitter. Like haiku, a haitweet is a reflective short poem usually showing a shift in mood or in reference part way through the poem. And like haiku, the HaiTweet has a specific form, but the form of the HaiTweet is new -- exactly 140 characters with spaces, no more and no less.
This exact length of the HaTweet makes you think about what matters most in your poem as you edit it to fit. This new Twitter haiku starts with the symbol identifier or hashtag #HaiTweet. This hashtag is included in the 140 character-with-spaces count. HaiTweet is Twitter #micropoetry in a new form, but it doesn't have to be on Twitter to be enjoyed.
Read on for an illustrated collection of HaiTweets and to find out the difference in the Twitter micro poetry forms #haiku #twaiku and #haitweet.
This exact length of the HaTweet makes you think about what matters most in your poem as you edit it to fit. This new Twitter haiku starts with the symbol identifier or hashtag #HaiTweet. This hashtag is included in the 140 character-with-spaces count. HaiTweet is Twitter #micropoetry in a new form, but it doesn't have to be on Twitter to be enjoyed.
Read on for an illustrated collection of HaiTweets and to find out the difference in the Twitter micro poetry forms #haiku #twaiku and #haitweet.
Contents at a Glance
Newest High Tweet
#HaiTweet View of a garden beyond the computer:
squirrel chases rabbit, rabbit chases squirrel, both scare themselves.
More fun than typing
Image and poetry © E. Friedman 2012. This is the newest HaiTweet in this collection. Additional HaiTweet on Twitter. Search #haitweet
A New HaiTweet Poet
Here is the first #HaiTweet by poet Neil Anderson, who tweets as Vinylyze. I think he has made a superb start with this new poetry form:#Haitweet Hot soup for the cold hands of an old and grateful traveller.
He cradles the cup, eyes shut,
savouring the steam as it billows up
poetry © Neil Anderson 2012
Vinylyze describes himself on Twitter bio as "Wordsmith, facilitator, ailurophile, chess enthusiast and advocate of positivity"
Follow Neil on Twitter: @Vinylyze
Twitter Poetry: #Twaiku, #HaiTweet and #Haiku
HaiTweet is not the only form of haiku based poetry written for Twitter. People also write short haiku-like poems they are labelling as #twaiku or #haiku. Some just write short poems of general form under the hash tags #poetry or #micropoetry.#Twaiku often consist of three "lines" separated by a slash / . They may follow the Western pattern of 5 - 7- 5 syllables, although many do not. #Haiku are similar to #Twaiku and more often follow the traditional pattern. What sets #Haitweet apart from twaiku or other Twitter poetry is the length: not just a short haiku or twaiku, but exactly 140 characters, no more, no less. This structure guides the poet to think carefully about what parts of the poem are the most essential.
Like other haiku, the #HaiTweet uses images and experience from everyday life, finding something extra in ordinary things. It generally includes a juxtaposition of thoughts or feelings, a slight surprise twist most often in the end phrase.
Mist and fog
#HaiTweet Clouds mist rolling in over the hills from the ocean
Long tendrils of sweet moist air like a lovely breath
from someplace far away
© E. Friedman 11 July 2011
The Feel of Night
I wrote and tweeted this #HaiTweet in Aug 2011, and it led me to connect with another poet, Neil Anderson, who re-tweeted it in January 2012. So my night time walk led to someone a world away.#haitweet Late night logic temporarily suspended.
Enjoy a walk, crickets at work, cool night air,
no moon to disturb the darkness.
What joy
Follow me on Twitter @Ellen_Friedman
Early Morning
#HaiTweet Early morning, fingers cold for typing,no one about. Two hours alone.
The morning light is best when you see it coming gradually.
Tweeted this December 2011 and it was immediately retweeted by a friend at Netflix who also was up early working.
Image and poetry © E. Friedman 2011
How to Write a #HaiTweet
It's a fun exercise to write a haitweet. To get started, try this exercise:1. Get a rough idea, quickly write a short statement/ poem to express it.
2. Use the twitter message box or your word count tool to check the length including spaces (be sure to add #haitweet at the start).
3. Now adjust what you've written to get the right number of characters: This step makes you think about what is essential for the idea you want to express and how it sounds to read the poem out loud.
4. Once you are close, small changes like adding or deleting punctuation can get you those last few changes needed to have exactly 140 characters with spaces.
5. Last step: click on "send" and off goes your #HaiTweet to the world !
Distant Voices
than from people in the house across the street.
image and poetry © E. Friedman November 2011
Temporary Art
deadlines, texts to answer, problems arise.
Yet sunlight and shadows stream in, briefly painting your wall.
Poem and image by E.Friedman October 2011.
Where do you find HaiTweet poetry?
You can go to Twitter and search with the hashtag #HaiTweet for recent posts.
But Twitter tweets are ephemeral. If you want to find older HaiTweets, go to Google or your own search engine and enter HaiTweet as a search term. This will give you older HaiTweet poetry if it has been entered in a collection, such as the one here.
And bookmark this HaiTweet lens page to come back often to see the collection of poems as they are added.
But Twitter tweets are ephemeral. If you want to find older HaiTweets, go to Google or your own search engine and enter HaiTweet as a search term. This will give you older HaiTweet poetry if it has been entered in a collection, such as the one here.
And bookmark this HaiTweet lens page to come back often to see the collection of poems as they are added.
Night Tweet
#HaiTweet Late night or very early morning
The world of people seems far away. Dark sky with moon cool still air,
a world of cats and stars
poem and image © Ellen Friedman June 2011
What's Important
#HaiTweet Heard the wind in the trees just now,
even and strong, coming in waves. Thoughts buried in computer,
I could easily have missed it
I wrote this poem as my reminder to stay in touch with what is important in life.
by E.Friedman 24 June 2011 in California
Rabbit on a Lawn
munching grass, but alert for danger.
Cares not a bit about a plunging stock market
image and poem © Ellen Friedman 2011
Write one yourself...
Why not try to compose your own #HaiTweet? You can write it directly in the Twitter message box, which will give you a running count of the spaces and characters. Don't worry - you can write, delete and write again before you tweet. The challenge is to work with your poem until it is exactly 140 characters including spaces, no more, no less.
Remember to start with #HaiTweet, so that this hashtag is counted in the 140 characters.
Or if you prefer to write offline, just check your poem with the word count option under "tools" in a word processor. Be sure to use the version "with spaces" to get the 140 characters needed for a HaiTweet.
And post a comment here to let us know you've given it a try!
Remember to start with #HaiTweet, so that this hashtag is counted in the 140 characters.
Or if you prefer to write offline, just check your poem with the word count option under "tools" in a word processor. Be sure to use the version "with spaces" to get the 140 characters needed for a HaiTweet.
And post a comment here to let us know you've given it a try!
Longing for Mountains
Fortunately since I wrote this haitweet, I have had one day in the Alps... but far away now, I still wish for more.#HaiTweet Alps in bloom wildflowers on mountain meadows
rock outcropping & impossibly blue sky.
Why has it been years since I've been there?
#Haitweet by E. Friedman May 2011. Image is from the Bavarian Alps.
View from Venice
The poem was drawn from my experience in Italy in June.#HaiTweet Water, tourists, sun and bridge
Boats glide by in narrow passages and all around a swirl of orange.
Venice hides beneath the masks.
by E.Friedman © 14 June 2011 written in Venice.
Framed in Venice
The newest Five Photos project is now ready for you to join in. Visit, view, vote - your input becomes part of the project.
The current image collection is "Asian Themes". And there's still time to vote in the previous projects "Framed in Venice" and "Nutmeg" at the same link.
The current image collection is "Asian Themes". And there's still time to vote in the previous projects "Framed in Venice" and "Nutmeg" at the same link.
Do You Haiku?
Haiku is a beautiful form of poetry. It was originally a Japanese poetry form, hence the name. In the West, the Haiku has taken on a somewhat more defined shape with traditionally three lines, each with a particular number of syllables. The #HaiTweet is a modern adaptation in a digital world. The main difference is that the constraint is 140 characters rather than a certain number of syllables.
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Twitter Trends
- Twitter Trends
- #HaiTweet is sometimes featured on a German Twitter Trends site.
#HaiTweet in Europe
#HaiTweet Overnight European train sleeper car
Visions of Cary Grant, North by Northwest elegance.
Real life: wow that compartment is small!
by E.Friedman, written on train between Vienna and Venice, 13 June 2011.
An Early #HaiTweet
I wrote this HaiTweet inspired by the many tweets sent out to the world on Twitter every day:#HaiTweet A picture used to be worth a thousand words.
That is 6000 characters.
A picture now is worth forty-two tweets plus a couplet or so
by E.Friedman, written and tweeted 7 May 2011; edited 28 May 2011 to contain exactly 140 characters with the #HaiTweet hashtag.
One For Fun
I wrote this #HaiTweet in honor of Nutmeg the Dog who lives with two people I like. By the way, Nutmeg has her own twitter account.#HaiTweet Nutmeg fur big serious brown eyes patient but alert
Ah, the leash! Walking with purpose now towards the bookstore
Dog treat awaits
by E. Friedman, written 27 May 2011 and tweeted 28 May 2011.
Nutmeg is also the subject of the 3rd Five Photos project:
CLICK HERE Nutmeg Spice Dog
#HaiTweet Tone
#HaiTweet form of haiku often has a little "twist" in the meaning as you reach the last line. Some are serious or contemplative while others are for fun, like the #HaiTweet about Nutmeg the dog.
Which tone do you prefer in a #HaiTweet, serious or playful?
I prefer a serious tone.
cmadden says:
Both.
I enjoy a playful tone.
SilmarwenLinwelin says:
I prefer playful tones!
singlemaltdram says:
always prefer humor!
mumsgather says:
Interesting. I didn't know there was such a thing.
grandma_deal says:
Life is rough. I like Playful Tones interspersed as much as possible for a distraction,
kiwinana71 says:
This is the first time I have seen this form of poetry, and I like it. Thanks
Speed of Life
the tides or sunset or moonrise.
It does change the likelihood that we will notice them.
Poem by E. Friedman 3 September 2011. Image © T. Dunning 2011
140 Characters Makes a #HaiTweet
This #HaiTweet salutes the form of the new poetry itself. I had fun writing this one:
#HaiTweet Loss of character, not to be confused with
daily loss of characters, so carefully selected to equal exactly
the all important 140.
by E. Friedman, written and tweeted 7 May 2011. This is the first haitweet that was originally written as 140 characters. It was edited 28 May 2011 to include the #HaiTweet hashtag in the 140 character form.
Today's HaiTweet
Just go to www.twitter and enter #HaiTweet in the search line for the latest posts from all haitweet poets.To get the latest #HaiTweet poetry I've written, follow me on Twitter
Just CLICK HERE ----> Ellen_Friedman
#HaiTweet Moon
A big event: June 15, 2011
Tthis one from my recent days in Venice:#HaiTweet Full moon over Grand Canal
reflection swirls in dark water, velvet contrast with day green.
Then half moon: eclipse is a surprise
by E. Friedman, written for the lunar eclipse June 15, 2011. Tweeted 23 June 2011.
More on the Moon
For more on the moon, see the Five Photos project Night Moon and also learn more about the special lunar eclipse that took place 15 June, 2011
Featured Guest Haiku Poet
Haiku in English has its own characteristics in part because the shape of language is part of the shape of the poem. There is more than one style, just as the #HaiTweet is a new form of haiku poetry.
The lens featured here includes a good explanation of English Haiku and some lovely original poems by the author, Elsie Hagley. I recommend it - I think you'll enjoy what you find there.
The lens featured here includes a good explanation of English Haiku and some lovely original poems by the author, Elsie Hagley. I recommend it - I think you'll enjoy what you find there.
Haiku and Bonsai
Two beautiful but different art forms that originated in Japan are the poetry of haiku and the artistic gardening of bonsai plants. Visit this lens if you are a bonsai gardener or especially if you just enjoy the beautiful inspiration of amazing bonsai plants.
Please let us hear what you think of #HaiTweet
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garyr_h
Nov 1, 2011 @ 11:11 pm | delete
- Yeah, I've been thinking about something like this for a long time. I wouldn't exactly call it a "new form of haiku" since haiku is actually already a subgroup of other types of poetry and haiku is suppose to be something *very* specific...but yeah. :)
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SilmarwenLinwelin Oct 27, 2011 @ 12:26 am | delete
- It sounds interesting!
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RenaissanceWoman2010
Oct 17, 2011 @ 2:42 pm | delete
- Stopping back by to sprinkle some angel dust on your fabulous HaiTweet poetry. :-)
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haikuwedding
Oct 5, 2011 @ 12:31 pm | delete
- This is truly an outstanding lens which introduces me to haitweet! Your poems are great reads and I've lensrolling this to my new haiku lens. Thanks and thumb up-
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singlemaltdram
Aug 12, 2011 @ 11:01 pm | delete
- Great lens! really like your original stuff. I'd love to contribute a HaiTweet but I'm unaccustomed to the form, here's a haiku though:
chirping or tweeting
a familiar melody
ancient bird new plume
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WordCustard
Jul 16, 2011 @ 1:50 am | delete
- Beautiful. I love your creativity and the way you blend the poetry of haiku with your images. I must try this.
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grandma_deal
Jul 2, 2011 @ 2:43 pm | delete
- #HaiTweet I love your #HaiTweet. And so happy to see that you featured my lens. You are appreciated. And talented. And smart. And clever. By (140 - I think. I'll have to check it out on Twitter. Yep - 140. Not poetic though. but fun.)
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efriedman
Jul 2, 2011 @ 4:17 pm | delete
- Thanks and so happy to see that you are joining in. Fun!
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kiwinana71
Jun 30, 2011 @ 3:40 pm | delete
- Does the #HaiTweet, hashtag need to be part in the 140 character form or can it be left out?
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efriedman
Jun 30, 2011 @ 4:19 pm | delete
- The #HaiTweet is part of the 140. That way, it all fits into a tweet, and someone can search on twitter (or even Google) and see the #haitweets. On twitter the hashtag search brings up recent haitweets; on Google you find various older ones that are cached. I think.
So glad you are considering writing a haitweet! Do let us know if you do!
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kiwinana71
Jun 29, 2011 @ 4:22 pm | delete
- Thanks for introducing me to this form of poetry, I enjoyed your lens very much. Will try doing some HaiTweet poetry myself.
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efriedman
Jun 29, 2011 @ 4:48 pm | delete
- Great! I love your haiku presented on your lens English Haiku Poetry. If you try a HaiTweet, I hope you will share it here.
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tdunning
Jun 26, 2011 @ 1:36 pm | delete
- Haitweets forever!
A new form of an old art for a new world.
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Evelyn_Saenz
Jun 24, 2011 @ 6:50 pm | delete
- Each time I think I know Twitter, something new in invented. What a great idea! HaiTweets!
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Rushani
Jun 2, 2011 @ 8:00 am | delete
- :D SPLENDID
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