Is haiku bound by the rules of everyday grammar, or does it operate on its own terms? In this episode, we explore how haiku breaks away from the structures of normal sentence-based language. From notions of spontaneous grammars to the disruptive grammars of the "Cut" in haiku, we question why readers and editors often impose standard grammatical expectations on a poetic form that may not want them. Through examples and thought experiments, we ask: If a haiku isn't a sentence, what is it—and what kind of grammar does it create?

Contact the Haiku Theory Podcast by Emailing Us Here. This episode's music was recorded by Graham at his old piano and is titled, "Waltz of Gold."