Haiku in your Nature Journal: Challenge Day Fourteen

Do you want to write poems in your nature journal?

Today’s Prompt: Haiku in your nature journal

Remember how there are three languages in nature journaling? Images, numbers, and words. Haiku is a great way to get some words into your nature journal if you don’t have much time or don’t know where to start. Even if you are a more scientific or nerdy nature journaler like me you will be surprised by how efficient a descriptive tool haiku is!

Tips for adding haiku to your pages

1. First, don’t overthink it.
2. Use a reminder so you know that haiku is always an option. For example a haiku on the first page of your nature journal.
3. Look for inspiration in rocks, leaves, trees, or bodies of water. Poignant nature moments or actions are also great!
4. You can add a haiku next to a drawing or a landscape painting for great effect.
5. Write three lines with the following syllable structure: 5-7-5
6. Use descriptive, sensory details.

For inspiration you might want to read examples of haiku which you can find here. You can also learn a lot more about haiku here: http://www.haikuworld.org/ 

One of the most powerful things in nature journaling is if you can develop some consistency around your practice and what tools you use. This applies equally to haiku. If you are out in nature and you are feeling overwhelmed by the stimulus and don’t know what to do with your nature journal you can fall back on your tool kit. Only have ten minutes to nature journal? No problem: write a haiku.

Example I wrote in my kitchen in Quito Ecuador:

Yellow dragon fruit

slice, drip, speckled flesh inside

juicy, crunchy, gone.

But what if I’m completely new to nature journaling?

Regardless of your experience, we got you right here. Below are links to some super resources for beginner nature journalers.

Are you just getting started with Nature Journaling?

Here are tips and motivation for beginners.

Need help choosing supplies?

Where is the 30 day challenge?

If you missed the beginning you can still jump in now. Here is the complete guide.

If you want a PDF for printing: 30 Day Challenge Wild Wonder Nature Journaling