Originally haiku was the starter lines used at a party. Because only one or two starter lines would be used guests would go home with left over poems. They decided to publish these left over poems. Eventually the left over poems began to be recognized as independent poems and in the early 1900's the Japanese coined the word Haiku.

A haiku usually contains an indication of a season. Not necessarily however though the name of the season. Also, a haiku would not have both winter and snow used in the same poem as snow is automatically associated with winter. I have however, read some more contemporary haiku that I thought ignored this rule. For example a haiku that mentioned both tulips and the season spring in it. I associate tulips with Spring since that is when they bloom.

There are comtemporary haikus which do not follow the rules as closely as the traditional. Like some of the haikus here.

Flowers everywhere...
intoxicating fragrance...
lingering on the air.

Wisps of clouds...
Hightlight the sky..
Ocean waves

(This poem is three haikus put together. Each three lines could stand on their own as a haiku)

 

Winter Announcing Her Presence

Outside my curtained windows...
Gray overcast skies...
Smoke perfuming the air

Falling leaves from trees...
Bare arms sillouetted...
Against gray oppressive skies

Raining, cold winds blowing...
Chill in the air...
Winter announcing her presence

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