Haiku Poem How-To Written in Haiku

Writing a haiku

Can seem daunting but relax!

It's not hard to do.

Select a topic—

your favorite ice cream flavor,

the state of your socks.

Count your syllables—

three lines of five, seven, five

is the final goal.

Try a twist ending.

Use a thesaurus if stuck.

Better with practice!

My inspiration here is mylittlebecky, who commented that she liked reading haiku poems, but couldn't write them "satisfactorily." My view is that haikus (and all poetry, really) should be fun to write. I wouldn't get hung up on perfection--that's what revisions are for. The beauty of the haiku is the short format allows you to write a complete poem quickly, and syllable limitations lead to unexpected word choices. All fun and games, in my opinion!

To the Family Living Alone in the 32 Story Condo: Haiku Advice

Alone in condo
Recession-induced Shining
Intruders at night!

Make like Home Alone!
Camp in the elevator!
Bowl in the hallway!

You'll miss the quiet
When the economy turns!
Home alone no more.

Read more about the plight of the lonely family here.

Haiku Op-Ed - Latisse

Who will pay for this?
Mascara works fine for me!
1400 bucks!

Latisse actually became available for sale in February, but the commercials I've been seeing for it seem new. Being lash-less, completely, probably does cause some medical problems, like getting debris in your eyes or dry eyes. But is insufficient lash lushness really a cosmetic issue serious enough to merit medical intervention? That insurance companies will not cover? I guess the answer in the eye of the beholder.

Read more about the ground-breaking medical miracle that is Latisse here.

Somehow, I don't think the application of Latisse is the only thing they've
done to to this previously lashless lady.

Haiku Movie Review: "Serenity"

To my brother Mike—
Who gave me Serenity
Watched it finally!

TV show spinoff
From the writers of Buffy
My brother loved it!

Earth was dead
Two hours of space fighting—
My brain was dead, too.

I paused and rewound—
Fugitive bro and sister
Cruise space with outlaws.

Cast of cute unknowns
Several clever one liners—
But I was spaced out.

I will have your back
Like the siblings in this film
But our tastes collide!

Thanks anyway, Mike!
I won't make you watch Clueless
If you don't get mad!

Haiku News Brief: Divorce Really Hurts!

Marrieds healthier
Split toll more than broken heart
Remarriage no help!

Husbands give money
Wives get their men to doctors
For both: less bar time!

Read the details about divorce can hurt your health here.

Does It Have to be MY Village? A Story in Haikus

I have a problem
Age six and relentless
Her name (really)—Fierce.

Fierce is my neighbor
You'd guess she lives by herself—
Pays bill, makes dinner.

Skinny as a weed
Pink Hannah Montana dress
Who names their kid Fierce?

Where are her parents?
Maybe Fierce thinks they're hiding
Behind my front door.

Knocks for ten minutes
She tries to hug the mail man
Comes back to my door

She wants me to play
But I want to paint my toe nails
Read Elle, watch Juno

I feel guilty then—
Mad I'm made to feel guilty!
Do they know she's here?

Whose problem is this?
I want a better world, too
It's my summer break!

Ambushed in my house!
It has to take a village?
She's knocking again!

Minimum Wage Hike: A Haiku News Brief

Seventy more cents!
But will it hurt employers?
Or spur consumers?

My take:

Bosses feel the pinch,
But strapped for cash will spend more.
And everyone wins.

Find out more about the minimum wage increase here.

Haiku Movie Review: "He's Just Not That Into You"

A selection from my Netflix Que:

"He's Just Not That into You": a romantic comedy starring Ben Affleck, Ginnifer Goodwin, Drew Barrymore, Justin Long, Scarlett Johansson, Jennifer Connelly and Jennifer Aniston:

Dating advice book
Stretched into too many plots.
Not that into it!

Huge star studded cast
Cliched faux feminist end
Passed off as modern

Scarlett: typical!
Justin Long as a heart throb?
Goodwin deserves more.

Read other critics' opinions here.

Chris Brown Needs a New Day Job

Chris Brown issued a public apology today for assaulting fellow pop singer and girlfriend Rihanna. Brown, poised to assume the King of Pop mantle prior to the incident, deserves kudos for owning up to his mistakes, but now he needs to retreat from the media and pop music. Not because he's a reprehensible person (which none of us knows him well enough to say whether he is or isn't), but because of his particular line of work: playing heart throb to legions of middle school girls.

Love songs sound twisted
Coming from an abuser!
Tween girls influenced.

While his on-air apology may help other young men in his position seek help and change their behavior, Brown's fan base is primarily young girls and for him to court them again is in very poor taste. Allowing Brown to promote a new album on television or in the press implies that all is forgiven, and given how difficult it already is for many teenage girls to disentangle themselves from abusive boyfriends, this vulnerable demographic doesn't need the mixed message.

Chris Brown's apology is the best thing he could have done to stop other young men from making his mistakes. His statement should be the last we hear from him.

Starbucks Update #2

Two of my favorite things are coming together and hopefully will deliver some holiday yumminess!

Project Runway Champ
fashioning New Starbucks Drink!
Hope not a "hot mess!"

The results of this collaboration between Christian Soriano and the 'Bucks will be announced tomorrow!

Mugs with Heidi's face?
Blah! But a Tim Gun latte?
That would "make it work!"


http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2009/07/christian_siriano_is_collabora.html