|
|
| weblog/wEssays archives | home | |
|
Reader Haiku II (July 23, 24, 25, 2007) Longtime correspondent UKC suggested I revive the Haiku invitation which appeared here before, a request I am happy to follow. The idea is to submit a haiku (three lines of 5, 7 and 5 syllables, preferably one relating to a season or the weather) on the themes of the past two weeks: the Great Unraveling and Am I Insane? Here is my pathetic offering to kick things off: Ah, insanity euphoria reigns supreme lightning strikes, trees burn July 24, 2007 My wishes came true and readers responded with some wonderful haiku: (in order received) Mike S. I am out of touch Celeb gossip is now news How long will we sleep? Don E. unwinding we come spinning leaves from trees to drop swallows returning Sherry P. Extinguish Bear Stearns the summer heat now portends lasting winter burns And by way of humble gratitude, I offer this: Out of nothingness readers create new beauty Haiku gods smile July 25, 2007 Poetic gods rejoice--readers sent in more wonderful Haiku for our reading pleasure. For those left cold by Haiku, we return to our regularly scheduled unpredictable gumbo tomorrow. What I like about Haiku is the challenge of squeezing complex emotions and thoughts into bite-sized poetry. You can read Haiku in just a few seconds, but the imagery and meanings reverberate long after. Of the masters, I like Ryokan best, but who cannot like Basho? Here are readers' contributions, in order received: Kenneth M. Biblical Summer (8 linked Haiku) Bumblebees sniff/hop spoons of vanilla ice cream fly away, dripping... Epic winds don't blow news down avenues. A pen detonates cities. Impeachment speeches echo off limestone. Dollars lose the glam of green. Kites above my bed are tied to shotgun triggers. There is no excuse. Desert dust is wiped from goggles. Red blood from a vision cakes and dries. Divining rods can't find water or oil. Distant shores smell of coffee. No sky for the cat to lose its cry in. Hymns are hummed in beggars' cups. Tonight, the world could end. We've come a long way since round stones and slingshots. Greg silver and gold coins capitalist ships burning plundering begins Doe Lo the reeling mind aches waits for beginning of end mad snake bites his tail weary head in hand cries out for much needed rest knowing end is far hope is running thin thinner water runs clearer clear to the ending Renee S-J. Just came across something interesting at work today. Management put out a bar graph showing our annual freight tonnage, inbound and outbound from 2002 thru 2006. Peak was the year 2004, a combined tonnage of almost 300,000 dollars. 2007? So far about 65k. Ouch! i work at a factory which has been operating since 1896. We do vinyl, plastics, etc for automtive interior trim, construction, pool liners and the plastic sheets used in Dentist X-ray packets. (The little ones that go in your mouth) among other items. In honor of such a drastic slippage in tonnage, here is my haiku: Tonnage is fading I see my lay-off coming thank the gods I saved. Renee's 17 syllables contain great wisdom and a sobering view of our collective future. Thank you, readers for a delightful array of creative Haiku. Here is my weak attempt for the day: Dow fourteen-thousand drunken Bulls borrow, heedless of the cliff ahead For more on this subject and a wide array of other topics, please visit my weblog. 
copyright © 2007 Charles Hugh Smith. All rights reserved in all media. I would be honored if you linked this wEssay to your site, or printed a copy for your own use.
|
||
| weblog/wEssays | home |