How to play Hakai – a group poetry game

Haikai collaborative poetry (aka renku, or renga) has a long history in Japan, where it combines aspects of game-play with literature. It’s a fun and creative group activity which is becoming popular in the west in recent years. You don’t need to be a poet to play!

The plan below is for a 12-verse haikai, but there are many other plans (up to 100 verses, if you and your writing partner(s) are feeling energetic!). Each haikai consists of alternating three- and two-line verses.

There’s an example haikai down the page, to give you some ideas.

Steps:

• Decide who is to write the verse
• Pass the writing pad
• Pass it over to the third player
• Alternate three- and two-line verses

Some tips:

• The idea is to convey the feeling of change.
• Start and end the poem on an upbeat note. In-between, anything goes!
• Avoid repeating topics, or words (other than small ones).
• Variety is the key: vary the subject matter, style, intensity, grammar etc. as much as possible from verse to verse

– Visit wikihow.com HERE for more detail on how to play Hakai

Example:

Summer Dawn

summer dawn -
the tide laps
on sandcastle walls

ancient mosses cling
to the cliff face

shadows slowly fade
as I set out
for Sally Gap

through the wormy thatch
an autumn breeze

mushrooms magic
moonglow
in deserted woods

divining her man
with a shillelagh1

a ball of malt2
acushla3
before we try again

children call
through densely falling snow

out the aircraft window
a thousand miles
of wing

patching over cracks
in this old mill

the tulip fancier
settles
for a daff

sighting home
our ewes come into milk