Which of the following is NOT a typical feature of haiku?

• A. 5-7-5 syllable pattern
• B. Three lines
• C. Rhyme
• D. Usually nature imagery

Answer: (C)

Haiku are brief nature-based poems that traditionally appear in three lines with a 5-7-5 rhythm and usually include a seasonal image. The moment is captured with concise, clear imagery, often pairing two images with a subtle twist or pause between them. Rhyme isn’t a typical feature of haiku; traditional haiku in Japanese relies on sound patterns and imagery rather than rhyming words, and even in English adaptations poets tend to emphasize syllable counts and seasonality over rhyme. So the element that doesn’t fit with a standard haiku is rhyme. The other features—5-7-5 syllables, three lines, and nature imagery—are the hallmark characteristics.