kicked
around the room
from one end to another
a mindless show of spinning
like a hunter chasing rabbits
a child its dreams
as a runner on a winter morn
out of breath
wheezing
rasping for air
for a pause—
from the cold chase
gosh, what a wild goose
shoved around for fun
serving bullies all along
a plaything for the kids
to get ‘em off the parents
who pine for a quiet night
this way and that
unclear what’s what
blindly running
a duty of the distraction
that’s done, only ends
when the game’s over
or footballers tire
Tag: free verse
So long
shedding skin
slithering,
searching summer
snake
A new experiment today. Think it works?
On a winter eve
giant trees
falling soundless
sun setting
In the spirit of modern English haiku, I’m experimenting with shorter syllable patterns.
What rules?
It was in an English literature class, while studying Shakespeare, that I first heard of poetic licenses.
Poets breaking rules.
Writing as their heart desired. Morphing labels, forging words, scouring attention.
It fascinated me. I grew up learning to obey authority, as most of us did. And I followed devotedly, setting additional rules for myself.
I hated putting a foot out of line. Always submitted homework on time.
Though I loved restrictions, I also found immense joy in testing those boundaries. That’s why haiku as a poetic form attracted me. It threw a challenge: tell a story with limited words. Couldn’t resist.
I’ve been writing haiku for a while. And I’ve always vehemently stuck to the traditional pattern. A haiku is a Japanese form of poetry containing three lines in the 5-7-5 syllable pattern. That’s how I’ve always written it; that’s the only way I knew of writing haiku.
Until I heard of Haibun—a piece that combines haiku and prose, often in travel writing and autobiographies.
Haiga—a haiku accompanied by a work of art like a painting or photograph.
And haikai—linked verses relating to vulgar, witty, and earthy topics written by multiple poets.
And then I heard of “modern English haiku”.
Apparently, contemporary haiku in English uses a 3-5-3 syllable pattern (with exceptions, of course).
I also learnt that the longer version is more suitable for Japanese haiku because of the language’s natural rhythm.
Hmm.
So after being inspired by a bunch of modern haikus, I decided to give it a shot myself. Oh, well—it’s not breaking the rules if there’re no rules to begin with.
rebellion
poetic license
now convention
Thoughts, friends?
Distracted
“I hate you”
you declared
stormed out
into the setting sun
that winter’s eve
through glass doors
away from me,
my reaching hand
I turned back
silent
oh, my child
I love you still
you’ll come around
after all,
aren’t mothers and daughters
just fighting cocks?
it was something silly—
but my dear,
people will dally
you were right to worry
tension’s high
big day nearby
complain, whine—fine
pray, lay off wine!
“drive safe”
text, less invasive
I hovered…
ah, beautiful shoes
perfect wedding night
complements your white
clicked my phone off
distracted.
Sought luxury for your feet
as you lost luxury of feet.
The Chaos Within 