Perhaps there is an idea among Japanese students that one

Listen now to the wisdom of Lafcadio Hearn, who speaks of the intricate differences between Japanese and Western poetry: “Perhaps there is an idea among Japanese students that one general difference between Japanese and Western poetry is that the former cultivates short forms and the latter longer ones, but this is only in part true.” Here, Hearn challenges a common perception that the divide between Eastern and Western poetry lies solely in the length of the poems themselves. While it is often assumed that Japanese poetry focuses on brief forms like the haiku and Western poetry on longer, more expansive forms like the epic, Hearn encourages us to look deeper and recognize that the nature of poetry transcends mere length.

The ancients understood this well. In Greece, Homer composed epic poetry, with works like The Iliad and The Odyssey stretching over thousands of lines, speaking to the grandeur of gods, heroes, and fates. Yet, Homer’s poetry was not simply about length. His works are steeped in meaning, weaving together divine and mortal experiences, exploring honor, tragedy, and the very nature of existence. It was not the length that gave the epic its power, but the profound themes it addressed. Homer’s poetry captures the tension between the finite and the infinite, the personal and the divine—ideas that transcend the length of the verse itself.

In contrast, Japanese poetry, especially the haiku, has long been admired for its brevity. A haiku is famously composed of just 17 syllables—five, seven, and five—yet it can convey a depth of feeling, a connection to nature, or a moment of insight that lingers far beyond the small space it occupies. Matsuo Bash?, the master of the haiku, captured the essence of a fleeting moment in just a few words:
“An old silent pond...
A frog jumps into the pond—
Splash! Silence again.”
In these 17 syllables, Bash? transports the reader into a moment of profound simplicity, where nature’s subtle movements echo the deeper rhythms of life. Here, the brevity is not a limitation but a tool—one that forces the poet to distill their experience to its most essential form. The haiku exemplifies how short poetry can contain universal truths, providing the same depth as a longer work.

Yet, as Hearn suggests, it is not simply the length of the poem that defines its meaning or its power. Western poetry has also produced short forms that carry immense emotional weight. The sonnet, for example, with its 14 lines, offers a structure through which poets like Shakespeare could encapsulate complex human emotions, from love to loss, from time to beauty. In Sonnet 18, Shakespeare writes:
“Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate.”
In just a handful of lines, Shakespeare captures the fleeting beauty of youth and love, elevating these universal themes through the concise and powerful form of the sonnet. This proves that the strength of poetry does not lie in the length of the verse, but in its ability to capture a universal human experience, whether in a haiku or a sonnet.

Consider the limerick, a short, often humorous form of Western poetry, which can deliver a complete story or insight in just five lines. The limerick is a playful and concise form, and poets like Edward Lear used it to create entire worlds in a few quick strokes. Though shorter in length, the limerick carries its own weight in conveying wit, humor, and often a sharp reflection on life. These examples show that Western poetry also embraces the brevity of form, crafting poetry that can be both succinct and profound.

The lesson here is clear: poetry is not defined by its length, but by the power of its message. Whether in the briefest haiku or the most expansive epic, poetry serves the same purpose—to convey deep human truths, to express emotion, to explore the nature of life and the world. It is not the length of the poem that matters, but the depth of insight it offers. Brevity in poetry can be just as powerful as length, and often, it is the shortest of verses that can leave the deepest impact. Thus, poetry, in both the East and the West, serves as a means of distillation—capturing vast truths in small, potent doses.

Practical actions follow. As a poet, seek to understand the power of both short and long forms. Don’t be limited by the assumption that one must be more profound or meaningful than the other. Whether writing a haiku, a sonnet, or an epic, focus on the clarity and depth of the message. Strive to capture the essence of your experience, whether through a brief moment of insight or a grand narrative. As a reader, approach poetry with an open mind. Appreciate the brevity of a haiku and the expansiveness of an epic, understanding that both can contain the same level of wisdom, emotional resonance, and insight into the human experience.

Thus, Lafcadio Hearn challenges us to look beyond the surface distinctions between Eastern and Western poetry. The true power of poetry lies not in the length of the verse, but in the depth it conveys. Whether short or long, poetry speaks to the soul, conveying truths that transcend time and culture. Let us embrace both the short forms and long forms of poetry, recognizing that in each, there is a potential for profound expression, connection, and reflection.