So today, on a whim, I set myself a challenge: write five haikus in 15 minutes. Not the most outrageous dare, I know, but it was fun. So, I passed it on to my bud Cory, and he too took up the challenge. Now we’ve both got a new way to break up our bouts of boredom. Throughout the day, I did three sessions of this challenge; in the final session I wrote six. I make no claims that these follow all of the traditional haiku conditions or that they are particularly good, but all of the sessions were completed within the 15 minute time limit. I hope you enjoy these, and if you decide to take on a similar challenge yourself, share what you come up with. Just remember, it’s about integrity.
Session 1
Sing Muse, let me hear
The secret workings of the
Bent, unconscious mind.
The breeze is pleasant.
The sun is hot and rude, but
Together they twine.
Blue-tipped clouds above
Drift in perfect peace and bliss,
While we fools work on.
Dreams beset my brain
In morning waking sleep when
Sunlight should lift lids.
Sweat glistens on skin,
Each breath and step is hard work;
I’m running today.
Session 2
Youth and beauty are
Not overrated by those
Who are beyond them.
My mouth was erased.
Words only seep out through my
Eyes, ears, and nose now.
Music invades minds,
Infects limbs with motion and
Melts faces, sometimes.
Time is short, so short.
Let’s lament it together.
“Where has the time gone?”
Paris is burning!
So says the voice in my head.
Let the ash rain down.
Session 3
The last one, here goes:
To be or not to be? Hey!
That’s cheating, says I.
My tongue is tickled
By a flayed, soggy toothpick.
So the words pour forth.
Stomp your hands, clap feet.
Fiddle’s a-playing tonight;
To the streets we go.
Water bright and clear,
Undisturbed glassy surface.
Jump in boys! Ahoy!
Keys unlock doorways.
But some open your brain-box,
According to Joe.
It is quittin’ time.
Chickens take flight after work.
So farewell, Earth-bound.
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