The Orb

Joe sitting at a large table, staring at a glass orb. He just couldn't believe what was happening. He had just gotten into his car when... He doesn't remember anything from that point on. He only remembers everything up to him getting into his car then ending up at this table staring at the orb. Joe just sat there never blinking, never deviating his glance, and never moving his head.

Do You Want To Write A Haiku?

I've been experimenting with haiku, and I really like the form. It's simple and straight to the point in expressing a moment, although that can vary with the westernized form. But generally it's about expressing a moment; to create a clear mental picture of beauty. If this is something you are interested in then read on.

The traditional Japanese form consists of a season word, which could be any word that could be attributed to a season, if I understand it correctly, and expresses a moment, like laying out a scene. There is also a form called senryu that is directly related to haiku, almost the same except it is used to express humor and does not require a season word. Probably most haiku you encounter are closer to a senryu, even if they don't express humor.

The western adaptation doesn't seem to adhere to the strict Japanese form, but is very similar. People just describe anything and everything in a haiku. For me though, as long as there is a clear image of a moment that is expressed in a haiku; I feel qualifies as a good haiku. Like I said at the beginning of this post, it should be simple, and straight to the point. Also from what I understand so far, metaphorical language should be avoided for the sake of directness. But I feel if someone is inclined to use metaphorical language, it can't hurt. People can have their own spin on an art form if they want to.

Here is the very basic requirement of a haiku, although it varies from different individual styles, but the most common form of haiku should have a syllable count of 5-7-5. Also it should express a moment, and create a clear mental image. You will come to realize that it's not to difficult to express a clear moment with so few syllables, its actually refreshing at times. Here is a haiku I came up with on the spot as an example:

Creating a post. (5 syllables)
Correcting things as I go. (7 syllables)
This post almost done. (5 syllables)

Not the best example but I feel it's adequate in showing the basic usage of a haiku. You notice I didn't adhere to the strict Japanese form using a season word, you will find that a lot of haiku are written like this. Also I said earlier that most haiku you find are probably more similar to senryu; like the one I did is probably closer to a senryu without emphasis on humor.

I hope my readers liked this little tidbit of information on haiku. I tried to be as accurate as possible and to keep things simple. If anyone spots any errors in my description, let me know. For more information check out Wikipedia's entry for the haiku form, or find some good sources from a search engine. I would provide some links but I feel the Wikipedia page has a very good listing of links associated with the entry; so if you want some quality links check out that entry. And if you feel that you have some information that can be useful or just want to say something, feel free to comment on this post. Thanks for reading.

Hope Has Something To Say

Dear Friend

Whatever you do, please don't let me go. I beg of you not to abandon me; please. You need me more then you realize at times. I will never let go of you, you can only let go of me. When times are bad I will be there as long as you don't forget me. Please keep trying, please don't admit defeat. I don't want to die.


Your Friend
Hope

Rat Drone -DRAFT- Here for you to see early.

This is just a draft of a poem written like prose, commonly called a prose poem. Anyway, this may change, or it may not. Like I said it's just a draft. I thought people might like to read it.

I don't want to be a little rat scurrying around and around for his cheese; a drone of society. There has got to be other ways to get my cheese. Give me some cheese please. Like I said I don't want to be a little rat drone scurrying around and around redundantly for my cheese. I need to do my own thing, find my own original source of cheese, I need lots of cheese. I want so much cheese that I don't have to worry about cheese. Yummy! Give me some cheese please. Is this getting redundant? Well, rat droning is redundant. Give me some cheese please. Cheese makes the world spin, most people would disagree, but I'm right. Cheese solves lots of problems, it also creates them. But all I know. Is I want lots of it.

So you say I have to run around and round in a maze, or in a wheel for my cheese? I have to break my back, and or stress out for my cheese? So you say I have to give up half my life for my cheese? No thanks, I'll find my cheese some how. I don't think all that is necessary for cheese. Its just cheese after all right? Its everywhere, there has to be more interesting ways to get it. You know. Without giving up half your life.

Have fun giving up half your life and being drone in a maze, running on wheels, in a cage. Being a rat maybe alright, but it isn't for me. Nope. Call me in 20 years rat drone, tell me how much cheese you have, and if your happy. And watch as people take your cheese because they say it is theirs. Yummy! Cheese is great isn't it? Give me some cheese please.

Little update.

Going to get some stuff up, just haven't gotten around to it. Stay tuned(hehe)!

Aesop's Fables In Verse

I thought it would be fun to render some of Aesop's fables into verse. This has been done countless times in the past by lots of people, but I've never done it before; I thought I'd post some of them that I do and get some feed back from people that read them here(constructive feed back).

When choosing the verse form, I thought I'd do something unorthodox, and use couplets with syllabic lines. Generally couplet lines have a beat to them, but I thought it might be neat to go the syllabic route, I think the rhymes can keep the rhythm going and the syllabic structure keep it all nice and uniform. Anyway I hope to get my first one up maybe tomorrow night.

Quick note for people that stop by.

It would be great if you bookmarked this blog and visit from time to time; currently I'm getting material ready for posting, so come by every so often. I'll see about getting an rss feed going so you can see posts as they become available.