ZAPPAI

 What is a Zappai?

Zappai,a triple line form of Japanese poetry is something like a haiku but not exactly. It can also be referred to as a senryu but not exactly. Zappai poems are those poems which have 5-7-5 syllable patterns that do not contain the seasonal reference expected of haiku.

How to write a Zappai poem?

A zappai poem, as mentioned earlier, consists of just three lines. 

~Choose a really nice topic and write a description about it not worrying about the number of words or syllables.

~After this, look into the syllables and write your work.

EXAMPLE OF A ZAPPAI POEM:

We followed the road

                                      ~Robert Lee Brewer

We followed the road

'til it led to another

dead end cul de sac.

Note: None of the poems we present belong to us. We present an organised record and analysis of them. All copyrights are reserved to the original author and we are not using plagiarized work. The originality of the writers is verified to the fullest extent we can.

As mentioned, the poem has 3 lines and follows the 5-7-5 syllable pattern. And there is no rhyme pattern used here.

Tips to write a Zappai poem:

1. Make sure to choose a great topic and write a brief description about it.

2. Don’t confuse zappai with haiku. Haiku poems are only really supposed to apply to nature poems, but zappai has nothing to do with nature or human beings or their feelings.

3. Refer the description you’d written and pen your zappai

4. Make sure you follow the syllable pattern ( 5-7-5 ).

5. Give a nice title and use some poetic devices.

Zappai is a Japanese form of poetry which is mostly confused with haiku and senryu. Basically a zappai is a haiku that is written for pleasure and does not have to do with nature or humans. Try our other blogs to improve your already awesome poetry! Keep penning!

~Hariesh

Team PoeTree Forest