CHALLENGE!!! Haiku Monday #1

What do you think?

Let's start something!

If you're a longtime reader then you know that I love Haiku. Well, I decided to start a Haiku Monday challenge. Last year (I think...) I had a little Haiku challenge and got lots of great responses. Many people had never written a Haiku before - some still didn't, you know who you are, Jan! (Miss 30 syllables instead of 17, love you for that!) - and were delighted to discover how easy it was. That's the great thing about Haiku, it's totally accesible.

Traditionally, Haiku is about Nature (yes, with a capital "N"). We're not going to be all serious here, though. Your Haiku can be about anything - even nature!

Spring! I dance for thee.

My skirt! With so many holes.

Panties! A good thing.

(both picture and Haiku are from the blog Threadbared)

Here are some guidelines:


If you google Haiku you will find much discussion about the rules and whether you should use them. I say let's just start with the basics and if you break them a little...well, we call that artistic license in this house!


The pattern we'll be using for Haiku is the following:

Line 1: 5 syllables
Line 2: 7 syllables
Line 3: 5 syllables


If you would like some examples, check out this site full of Haikus about lint - yes, as in dryer. My favorite might be the one that ends in "Lint, you complete me."


This is one I did for last year's Altered Art themed Haiku challenge:


Altered art passion.
New beauty made from old things.
It makes my heart sing.


Here's my thought about art and Haiku; while art is totally (completely!) optional, wouldn't it be nice to make a little 'zine full of art and Haikus? The details for that have to be worked out still. Liisa is a 'zine veteran, so I will pick her brain about that part and work out the details at a later date.


In any case, art or no art, all submissions from the week will be posted here the following Monday with a link to your blog (if you have one). In other words, I will post the topic sometime on Monday; accept submissions in the form of a comment or an email all week; create a blog post the following monday announcing the next topic and publishing the previous week's submissions.

(artwork and Haiku courtesy of the kind and generous Margaret Etzler)

So, to begin the process. This week's Haiku/art theme is:

GRATITUDE

There is so much to be grateful for in our lives, be as mundane or as esoteric as you like. Want to write a Haiku about the squeaky toy that keeps your pesky dog busy while you paint - go for it! Want to write a Haiku about the kind nurses in your mom's post-op ward - excellent! The way the sun shines on the leaves on your morning walk - well, you get the idea. Whatever you want to write about that expresses the topic "gratitude" for you is welcome. I look forward to seeing what you write!