Translink ' Life’s Better' Haiku Competition - Deadline 31 July 2014 at 5pm

Calling all professional and amateur poets…….Translink have teamed up with Poetry NI and Community Arts Partnership to run a Life’s Better Haiku competition.

Could you write your own haiku poem? Take time out on your journey to sit back, relax and let your creativity flow.

To be in with a chance of seeing your haiku poem displayed in bus and train stations across Northern Ireland, we are encouraging you to put pen to paper, finger to Smartphone or stylus to tablet and create your own haiku.

Take inspiration from the stunning scenery on your journey, the environmental and financial benefits associated with travelling with Translink or simply use the free wifi to perfect your poetic prose.



Submit your haiku,

From either man, woman, child,

To win with Translink.

What is a haiku?

A haiku is a three lined traditional form of Japanese poetry, the first and last lines of haiku poems have five syllables and the middle line has seven syllables, traditionally a haiku doesn’t rhyme. Often a haiku is based on vivid imagery, emphasizing simplicity, intensity and directness of expression.

We will work with Poetry NI and Community Arts Partnership to choose four winning haiku that best reflect how travelling by bus and train can make your life better and the lucky authors will see their haiku displayed in Translink stations across Northern Ireland.



Tips for writing the perfect Haiku

Poetry NI founder Colin Dardis has provided helpful hints and tips on writing the perfect haiku:
Structure - When attempting to write a haiku, there are two main things to consider: structure and content. Structure deals with how exactly the poem is laid out and composed; content is concerned with the actual subject, theme, phrases and poetic techniques used within.


Simplicity - Generally, the words contained in a haiku are not overly elaborate or abstract. Given the limited number of words you can fit into a piece, the lexicon tends to be natural and lacking rhetoric. The challenge is to keep your words on this level, while at the same time creating something inspiring and evocative.


Rhyme - Haiku tend not to be titled, and generally do not use rhyme. That is not to say that rhyme cannot be used altogether. Internal rhyme, where the rhyming words are not necessarily at the end of a line, but contained within a rhyme, can be used. However, take care to make sure this doesn’t detract from the overall impression you want your poem to give. Haiku also are almost always written in the present tense.


Inspiration - Overall, I would suggest writing about something personal, something directly experienced. Make sure that your poem can make sense to the reader: avoid overly personal allusions that may be obscure and impenetrable. Keep the language natural, and if you are in need of some inspiration, search for some samples of traditional haiku online, and see how others approach the form.

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Good luck and happy writing!

Closing date 31 July 2014 at 5pm
Winners will be selected by Translink, Poetry NI and Community Arts Partnership
Judges decision is final
Four winning haiku will be chosen and the lucky authors will have their haiku displayed in Translink stations across Northern Ireland (to be agreed with author)
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