The Lune

The Lune, also known as the American Haiku, was created by New York based poet Robert Kelly in the 1960s. Like the Haiku, it has only three lines, but instead of five syllables, seven syllables, and five syllables, totalling seventeen syllables, we have five syllables in the first line, three in the second, and five in the third, for a total of thirteen syllables.

The name comes from the crescent moon shape of the finished poem. Unlike the Haiku, there are no restrictions (other than the strict syllable count), you can write your Lune on whatever subject you wish.

There is a variation of the Lune known as the Collom Lune, created by poet Jack Collom. This is also three lines, but instead of syllables we’re counting words: three in the first line, five in the second, and once again three in the third line, for a total of eleven words.

I'll warn you, this is another form that's kind of addictive once you get started.


poor squeaking mousie
now a toy
for excited cats

I know he escaped
from the cats
which I think is worse

now he’s loose inside
and don’t know
where he’s hiding now

exterminator
will be called
when it is morning


Collom Lune

I like fall
except when it drives mice
inside my house.


Sunflowers still stand
straight in the crystal vase
taste of summer