Stones and words for poetry day at Beattie & Forbes in Ahuriri, Napier

Val Thompson, part of the Beattie & Forbes crew, with a stone adorned example of haiku poetry. Photo / File

For National Poetry Day on Friday there will be no sticks but plenty of stones gathering at Beattie & Forbes in Ahuriri.

As they did for last year's day, they are basing their part of the national event around the art of haiku.

A haiku is traditionally a Japanese poem consisting of three short lines that do not rhyme, with origins traced back as far as the ninth century.

Beattie & Forbes manager Megan Landon said they would be creating a haiku "beach" outside the shop, where people could take their haiku poems and have them transcribed on to the smooth and good-sized beach stones that will make up the growing display.

Some of the haiku poems from last year's National Poetry Day event are still on show at the shop.

As is traditional, a haiku is considered to be more than a type of poem — it is a way of looking at the physical world and seeing something deeper. They are devised to leave the reader with a strong feeling or impression.

Landon said there would be a random prize for the haiku contributions drawn on the day, and to celebrate the book shop's 50th anniversary will accordingly be a $50 voucher.

She said a CAN (Creative Arts Napier) poetry group would be arriving to read some works around 12.30pm to add to the poetic occasion.

"It is always a lot of fun and everyone is welcome."