MURDER, POLITICS, AND THE END OF THE JAZZ AGE
by Michael Wolraich
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A Pre-Sprung Spring Friday Afternoon at the Haikulodeon
By MrSmith1 on Fri, 03/22/2013 - 1:56pm |
Here's this week's heap of haikus:
Triptych Access-a-Ride #1 - Brooklyn Bridge
The world passes by.
I look out my window and
imagine stories.
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Triptych Access-a-Ride #2 - Lower West Side Manhattan
I so look forward
to viewing the sunset from
the West Side Highway
I so look forward
to viewing the sunset from
the West Side Highway
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Winter's final gasp
tries in vain to hold off Spring;
But blooms triumphant!
tries in vain to hold off Spring;
But blooms triumphant!
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If you struggle to
build ships in bottles, why not
get bigger bottles?
build ships in bottles, why not
get bigger bottles?
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Scampering puppies,
all excited and barking;
salve for our sadness.
all excited and barking;
salve for our sadness.
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It can not be Spring.
The flowers aren't blooming, and
my egg fell over.
The flowers aren't blooming, and
my egg fell over.
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Tucked in his wallet
was a photo from his youth
of his secret love.
was a photo from his youth
of his secret love.
My friend David's response:
Should she reappear
there's an unexpired condom
next to her photo.
there's an unexpired condom
next to her photo.
My response:
He carries a torch,
but he never lets condoms
reach expiration.
but he never lets condoms
reach expiration.
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tanka haiku:
Our thoughts are blended,
into philosophical
smoothies. We're zombies.
How do brand new thoughts arise
when old thoughts refuse to die?
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tanka haiku: I still stop and pause
at ev'ry intersection
to look left and right.
You ask, "why is this funny?"
Hint: Can't turn head and half-blind.
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Can haikus be writ,
without, to wit, a single
snit? I guess they can.
without, to wit, a single
snit? I guess they can.
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Weather will happen,
the earth will keep turning, in
spite of our tantrums.
the earth will keep turning, in
spite of our tantrums.
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Cars that have not moved
since last night, tell me it snowed.
Taxis say nothing.
since last night, tell me it snowed.
Taxis say nothing.
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We're not defined by
what we have lost, but by what
we do with what's left.
what we have lost, but by what
we do with what's left.
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What remains must not
be slighted by our great grief
o'er what's been taken.
be slighted by our great grief
o'er what's been taken.
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Old TV-ku #1:
Route 66 to
The Streets of San Francisco;
My Mother, The Car.
Route 66 to
The Streets of San Francisco;
My Mother, The Car.
Old TV-ku#2 (Dobie Gillis edition):
Maynard had two joys;
Dizzy and knockin' down the
Endicott Building.
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St. Paddy's Day-ku:
In fields of shamrocks
lies my past, who looks at clouds
and dreams of my life.
lies my past, who looks at clouds
and dreams of my life.
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Part of ev'ry plan
is collateral chaos ...
What if ... that is us?
is collateral chaos ...
What if ... that is us?
My friend David's response:
You mean that perhaps
we're collateral chaos
in someone else's plan?
Are you suggesting
that we're the background talent
in another's dream?
we're collateral chaos
in someone else's plan?
Are you suggesting
that we're the background talent
in another's dream?
My response #1:
What if the "stars" of
this whole earthly spectacle
are the butterflys?
this whole earthly spectacle
are the butterflys?
My response #2:
What if we are not
the focus of all life, but
merely random results?
The moon above brings the tides,
Honey Bee's cross-pollinate.
the focus of all life, but
merely random results?
The moon above brings the tides,
Honey Bee's cross-pollinate.
David's response:
What if the "stars" of
the butterflies' dreams are us,
the human beings?
the butterflies' dreams are us,
the human beings?
My response #1:
Though we may believe
we're the center of all things.
Ask Copernicus.
we're the center of all things.
Ask Copernicus.
My response # 2:
To be the stars of
a butterfly's dream would mean
a downgrade in pay.
a butterfly's dream would mean
a downgrade in pay.
David's response:
Funny idea:
Have Copernicus appear
to the brand-new Pope.
Have Copernicus appear
to the brand-new Pope.
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- 2120 reads
Comments
I am digging your transit theme. I thought of this on the subway ride:
Train car full of souls,
Each one as sharp as a knife,
Going home again.
by moat on Fri, 03/22/2013 - 7:18pm
Thanks moat. I had the idea the other night, and I like the first result, so this may become an occasionally recurring theme.
btw, nice haiku.
Train cars full of souls
riding through the underworld
Charon would approve.
by MrSmith1 on Fri, 03/22/2013 - 9:29pm
We are all just passing through something.
But I tell ya, attempting to pass through this winter was tough.
Maybe it hits me because the winters over the previous two years were rather 'light'.
But this year we had wind and much more below zero temps and a lot more snow.
12.5 hours of sunlight and a few days ago it got well below zero and we had a blizzard!
I appreciate the train ride though!
by Richard Day on Sat, 03/23/2013 - 2:41am
The photos were quite a treat, Mr. Smith. Now I know what my daughter saw that made her cry.
Of course, this means I have a story but not a haiku. If only I could tell it in three lines, I would.
Like her maw, she was born in a big, bad ass city (Flint, MI). But, unlike her maw, she was raised in a very rural area. Cows and horses for neighbors and what not. She longed for more exciting digs so when she grew up and opportunity knocked, she moved to New York State, Finger Lakes area. Soon she was taking her first trip to the Big Apple by train.
She called to tell me about it.
"I cried when I saw the city," she said.
Thinking oh-my-god, this poor little country girl must just be overwhelmed by that big, tall, stinky place. I mean, it must be so foreign to her and scary enough to make her cry.
"Was it that bad?" I asked.
And she said, "No, Ma. It was that beautiful."
Heh. What do mothers know?
by wabby on Sat, 03/23/2013 - 8:05am
Mothers know a lot, Flowerchild, but children will always retain the ability to surprise their parents. That's a wonderful story. I can actually visualize the whole thing.
Manhattan's skyline;
a powerful reminder
of what's possible.
by MrSmith1 on Sat, 03/23/2013 - 11:35am