23 Haiku is a book of "haiku-style" poems, based on the traditional 5-7-5 form. As individual syllables can have meaning in the Japanese language, it is impossible to write a true haiku in English. Most English language writers either try to create the tone of a haiku, ignoring traditional form, or they follow the traditional form, attempting to inject the limited number of words that can be used with the sound and feel of a haiku. Robert Darlington has chosen the latter approach for "23 Haiku." He prefers to call these haiku-style poems, out of respect for Japanese language and culture.
