Haiku Activity

SSAT Middle Level Vocabulary #3

---

Haikus shrink our words

And expand our beating hearts

Thump. Thump. Have fun too!

---

Welcome to the Haiku activity! This advanced form of vocabulary practice can help with mastering words that may appear on the SSAT Middle Level, or in life in general!

Haikus are a beautiful form of poetry that originated in Japan. They usually focus on nature, but can have other subjects as well. With Haikus there is no need to rhyme. Their unique format on its own can create enough charm to win over an audience.

Here are the rules:

Pick a word from the examples that come after this intro. Write a Haiku in the comments that uses the word properly. The Haiku format is like this:

5 syllables

7 syllables

5 syllables

Here is an example Haiku with separated syllables to get you started:

Five syll-a-bles first

Now are se-ven to play with

Sor-ry back to five

If you get stuck, look at the rest of the haikus below or contact us. Remember, we love teaching and tutoring so we always try to be available for a student in need.

---

Below are 10 SSAT vocab words and the example Haikus that use them:

---

Alter – to change something

I alter my plants

A snip here and a snip there

I hope it feels good

---

Ambiguous – Something that is unclear with several possible meanings

Do flowers smile?

It cannot be determined

So ambiguous!

---

Ambivalent – having mixed feelings or ideas that are opposite of each other about something or someone

She picks the petals

I love him, I love him not

Ambivalent heart

---

Amorphous – something without a clear shape or form

Water plays with us

Splash! Crunch! Ouch! Gulp! Amorphous!

Can it feel as well?

---

Analyze – To study something carefully and be ready to explain it

24 years, sir

I analyzed the forest

And I found myself

---

You made it half way to the end! Here is a famous Haiku by Yosa Buson called “Lighting One Candle” to give you some more energy! He is another master of Haikus. Keep in mind, he wrote his Haikus in Japanese, so the English version may not follow the 5/7/5 structure that we are using.

The light of a candle

is transferred to another candle–

Spring twilight

---

Ancient – something very very old that belongs to a past that is no longer around

Dinosaurs, Romans

There are many ancient things

Time is but a wheel

---

Anguish – intense physical or mental pain

Where have the fields gone?

Trampled by parking lots — oh!

Anguish fills my heart

---

Animosity – deep hatred toward another

Animosity

Champion of the weak hearts

Shall fail in the end

---

Annex – to add or attach to something larger

Those messy records

Organize them right away!

Now annex your notes

---

Anxious – nervous or worried

I’m uh uh anxious

About going to the swamp

Darn alligators!

---

Time to post in the comments below!

Now It is your turn

Post a fun Haiku below

Here is the format:

5 syllables

7 syllables

5 syllables

Include at least one of these words in your Haiku:

alter, ambiguous, ambivalent, amorphous, analyze, ancient, anguish, animosity, annex, anxious