Really? I had never heard haiku defined as having rhyme. I've always been taught that it's 17 syllables, 5-7-5, three lines, and it should be an encapsulation of a moment in nature. My alltime favorite haiku, by Bashi, I think: blink and stare and blink a mute exchange of wonder the owl and the child Here's one of mine: flying toward summer far above marshmallow seas oh, for a campfire! and here's another. This one's been published: two glorious words: aurora borealis can't hold the glory

those are nice and you are absolutely correct, charlotte, haiku doesn't rhyme. sorry for the confusion! *smile*

I liked the one about the aurora borealis. I'ts so right. 2 million words cannot adequately describe it. It is one of those things where you have to be there.

have never been there and would like to see it at least once in my lifetime. i don't believe the pictures i've seen do it justice.

Not even a TV camera with a wide angle lens! But you have to go in the dark of the moon. Mid december to mid february. I'm warning you though, all fireworks displays pale by comparison.

i always thought God's fireworks were way better!

By far!!! Not even in the same universe!!

this just in from marcia: Dog Haiku I lie belly-up In the sunshine, happier than You will ever be. Today I sniffed Many dog behinds -- I celebrate By kissing your face. I sound the alarm! Paper boy -- come to kill us all Look! Look! Look! Look! Look! I sound the alarm! Garbage man -- come to kill us all Look! Look! Look! Look! Look! How do I love thee? The ways are as numberless as My hairs on the rug.

Yay Wolfie!!! You found the perfect place for this bit of (sorry!) doggerel...

From a dear gentleman: "Night Rain" An early cricket chirps And then is silent. The dying lamp goes out, Then flares again. Outside the window I know there is rain In the night. From banana leaves First comes the sound. Bai Jyu-Yi Tang Dynasty Approx. 800 AD

The large initial drops of a tropical squall do indeed announce themselves on banana leaves. Mine do!

Tang poetry. I do know that the Tang Dynasty was the great era for Chinese bronze casting. However, I don't know much about the poetry of the time. Thanks Marcia.

This probably should be in its own topic but another lovely one was sent by the same gentleman - much to my pleasure: QUIET NIGHT THOUGHTS Before my bed there is bright moonlight So that it seems like frost on the ground: Lifting my head I watch the bright moon, Lowering my head I dream that I'm home. --Li Po

And, yet another. I need to know what this exquisite Chinese poetry is called so we can make a topic for it... AN INVITATION TO MY FRIEND LYOU "Green Ant" New wine. Red Clay Little warming-stove. It is late And about to snow. Could you drink A cup with me? Bai Jyu-Yi Tang Dynasty 817 AD.

RED-NECK HAIKU BEAUTY Naked in repose Silvery silhouette girls Adorn my mudflaps REMORSE A painful sadness Cain't fit big screen TV through Double-wide's front door OPTIONS Unemployment's out. Hey, maybe I can git on Disability MOTHER AND CHILD Crusted in boogers Stained with Kool-Aid, baby has face Only Mama loves BLAZE Distant siren screams Dumb-ass Verne's been mowing with Gasoline again A NEW MOON Flashlights pierce darkness No nightcrawlers to be found Guess we'll gig some frogs EXUBERANCE Joyous, playful, bright Trailer park girl rolls in puddle Of old motor oil ALONE Seeking solitude Carl's ex-wife Tammy files fer Restraining order DESIRE Damn, in that tube-top You make me almost fergit That you're my cousin HATRED I curse the rainbow Emblazoned upon his hood Goddamn Jeff Gordon OFFERINGS Tonight we hunger Grandma sent grocery money To Robert Tilton DRAMA Set the VCR Dukes of Hazard Marathon Starts at 9 O'Clock DEPRIVED In WalMart toy aisle Wailing boy wants rasslin' doll Mama whups his ass NO SIGNAL White noise, buzzing static Call Earl; the satellite dish Needs new descrambler IMPOUNDED Sixty-five dollars And cyclone fence keeps me from My El Camino GATHERING In early morning mist Mama searches Circle K for Moon Pies and Red Man PRIDE Grinning, he displays The nine hundred beer cans that Fill his pick-up bed

*laugh*

back down to earth, huh?!

oh...and for those of you who did not get enough: lonely and depressed all of my cousins are guys back to the chat room --Bubba