A monoku is a form of Japanese poetry consisting of a single stand-alone line. It focuses on brevity and simplicity, allowing for a powerful and concise expression of an idea or emotion.

At first, a monoku might appear to be a one-line haiku. But don’t be fooled. A one-line haiku could contain a 17-syllable count or, at the very least, be limited to the subjects of nature and seasons.

Monokus can be about any topic, and there is no restriction on line size. They are characterized by their ability to convey deep meaning in just a few words.

For example,

lost in her thoughts, she found herself

This Monoku captures the essence of self-discovery and introspection. It speaks to the idea that sometimes, in solitude and contemplation, one can uncover deeper truths about oneself. The juxtaposition of lost and found works well here.

Poetry Pop Challenge

Open your notebook and write five monoku. Dig deep. Explore your heart and mind to compose your monokus with feelings and meaning. Which do you like best? Which needs more work? Writing Monokus takes practice, but writing them (and reading them) is good for the heart, mind, and soul. And please, feel free to post your monoku(s) in the comments below.

If you haven’t already, select a notebook to keep all the exercises and challenges from this blog in one place. You can purchase an official Poetry Pop notebook by clicking on the image below:

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