Haik-who?

One of the oldest and most venerated forms of poetry happens to be the haiku; a Japanese poetic form that requires three lines, each with a set number of syllables. The first and third lines contain five syllables and the middle line contains seven. Each haiku usually contains a specific seasonal reference and often shifts from one perspective to another within the tight confines of the three line limit. Since the form is so restrictive and traditional, many people count haiku with the sonnet, something to dread and never ever use. However, at my college and in certain sites on the web, people are stepping this unpopular form. Modernizing haiku and making it an accessible template for new poets to play with is a definite step in the right direction. My college hosts an annual "Haiku Death match" in which all students are invited to write haiku and compete for a year's worth of bragging rights. Many students (and teachers) join in and the results are hilarious. From Brittney Spears to the bailout, no topic is safe from these aspiring haiku masters. The match is in February and I will post some of the best (and worst) haiku then. You'll be able to vote for the one you think should have won or try writing some of your own. Keep an eye out!

Also, for a blog that I think is really having fun with this form check out the daily beer haiku's in the links section!