Critiquing Poetry/Analyzing a haiku

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Poem

The old pond; A frog jumps in — The sound of the water.

Basho, translated by R. H. Blyth

Form

Haiku prosody is syllabic, meaning that number of syllables in a poetic line give the piece structure. A haiku is separated into 3 phrases of 5 syllables, 7 syllables, and finally 5 syllables respectively, for an overall total of 17 syllables.

Images

Haiku are characterized by the juxtaposition, and harmonization, of two contrasting images. These images are delineated by the use of a kireji, a "cutting word". Translations usually will mark the cutting word with a dash.

Analysis

In Basho's piece, the contrasting images are that of the old pond (which evokes stillness, quiet, and serenity) and that of the jumping frog (which evokes activity, energy, and wildness.) They are harmonized in the last line.