2007 Haiku Festival

 Welcome everyone to the second annual Haiku/Senryuu eFestival!

Last year’s Haiku Festival was a lot of fun.  This year, I’ve decided to do it in autumn.  Because I forgot to do it in the spring.  After this year’s Limerick Festival, I think I’ll put a Rated-R ceiling on the entries.  As always, NC-17 haiku may be sent to my email (snicker, snicker) but please post the rest of your entries and comments in the comments section. 

Haiku and senryuu, of course have the same three-line formal structure: five syllables in the first line, seven syllables in the second, and five syllables in the last line. I like to have one line (doesn’t matter which one) that has an imperfection of plus-or-minus one syllable, just because imperfection is tragic, and tragic is beautiful. So I’d live to see your 5-8-5s, your 5-7-4s, your 6-7-5s…. whatever, as long as it’s only one imperfection. Perfect 5-7-5s will be accepted as well, but they are a little obvious, don’t you think?

Of course, free form haiku are welcome as well; heavy on the imagery, as stingy as possible when it comes to the syllable count.

As you know, the haiku form is related to seasons and nature. Senryuu, while sharing the same formal properties of haiku, are supposed to be funny. They can be witty political satire, golf-clappy high brow social commentary, or a juicy fart joke.

Contributors (you) who wish to be considered for the coveted eCherry Blossom awards must submit thieir entries by midnight (zulu) Sunday, November 18th. 

Post your haiku and senryuu in the comments section of this post, and tell all your friends. Don’t forget to title your poems!

Here’s one from last year to start us off, by Spiritrover, called “Pinky Spring:”

“Skip and go naked,”
says a Portland sunny day;
“Stop that,” says my wife.

Ok folks!  Start counting syllables!