Haiku Death Battle

Why is traveling so interesting? Other than the change of scenery, exposure to other cultures, new food, and challenges in life, I can't think of anything interesting about it. Oh, except the really interesting, creative people you meet.  It has become abundantly clear that the group of people we associate with are multitalented; athletes, musicians, artists, professional hula hooper. But the talent has been showcased mainly at a monthly poetry night which several of the teachers organized.  It turns out that our family has some talent too.  Lizzie inspired an event ultimately entitled "The Haiku Death Battle".  During a previous poetry night she was reading original haikus she had written in between the other teachers readings and performances.  

The high poetry council then decided to create a Haiku competition.  This was a well defined event with strict rules that some of the creative participants had difficulty adhering to.  In additions to the strict meter of this form of poetry (5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables) there was also competitor denomination through colors; red competitor and non-red competitor (in this case blue), no audible clapping or laughing so as not to influence the judges (clapping was a one handed pushing of air and laughing was a jiggling of the hand back and forth.), and red and blue sticks used by the judges to indicate poem winners.  Each round was followed by a brief normal clapping which had a length strictly orchestrated by our event conductor.  I had a hard time stopping my clapping in time and was remonstrated by our M.C. 

Bridget and Lizzie both participated in the event and Julian had his own age appropriate event to attend, a quinceanera, which is almost like a sweet 16 but happens when girls turn 15 and are almost like proms in their formality, grandiosity and size.  There was some discussion about whether Lizzie should be able to participate, because there was fear that she would win on cuteness instead of the quality of her poems.  But I imposed on the high poetry council's kindness to allow her to participate because she did inspire the event and she worked hard on her creations.  Both Bridget and Lizzie made it to the semi-final round and there were some who would have liked to see a final round between us, but I was not looking forward to that type of mother/daughter competition.  Fortunately we both lost in that round and did not have to face each other.  Norm contributed to the evening by video taping much of the event and reciting some excellent Bertolt Brecht poetry, not of the Haiku variety.

Below you can see our creations for the evening.  There were so many great poems.  We hope to be getting copies of them all to add here.

Eliza's

1. A proud white harp seal, 11. Girls want to have fun,

Gets chased by a white shark as, We laugh and play all day long,

A whale saves the day. Our fun never ends.

2.A flaming candle, 12. Glassy and clear cup,

Glows in the night while we sleep, Sparkles with water in it,

The soothing crackle. As I drink it all.

3. Pencils on my desk, 13. EXIT

Many pencils on my desk, Four lit green letters,

Clatter on the floor. Awaiting our departure,

4. The flowing rivers, Proud of their success.

Run rapidly to the sea, 14. Screaming eyes of light,

Where the sharks are born. On stone hearts and souls reflect,

5. Lonely pebbles form, Peacock feathered bright.

Massive piles of grey matter, 15. Piano

In streets of Cuenca.  Carved wood painted black,

6. Merry Santa Claus, Openly awaiting touch,

Bring presents to kids at night, To steal the silence.

Watch out he might not. 16. A tiny spider,

7. Pretty butterflies, Crawls up the bedroom wall,

Fly by my window at night, As I am sleeping.

Fly into the dark. 17. Green guacamole,

8. Poor old cute Jasmine, Made out of avocados,

died getting hit by a car, Chips are good with it.

Oh we loved her so. 18. I have a rainbow,

9. Pretty flowers wait, Glowing in my beating my heart,

To bloom on the start of Spring, Where Jasmine is still.

Growing each Spring Day. 19. I feel a cold chill,

10. School School so boring, And I know winter is here,

I go there every five days, So I call my friends.

I learn math and art. 20. I look out my window,

And see something wonderful,

A horse white as snow.

Bridget's

1. White Stripes 8. Rejuvenation

Chosen from the herd Blood slips through my veins

For her sexy hind quarters, My body an hourglass.

Loved for her thick stripes. Time to turn over.

2. Possessive Adjectives 9. Perverse Technology

My spouse, my child, mine! ipod, itouch, wii.

Can I really be loving, These predators devices,

Without owning you? preying on children.

3. Roseanne Barr 10. Exercourse

Little facial lines 1, 2, 3, push, aahhhh!

Make sane women consider  Why isn't getting you out,

cutting their faces. Fun'az getting you in?

4. Face Dander 11. Parenting

Mucous tinged mustache, To this helpless babe,

Man allergic to own beard. We just became the utmost

Choo, he blows it off. important people.

5. Ode to the Queen of Haiku 12. Falling Down

Animal lover, Scrape off a layer.

Gorgeous adaptable girl, What lies underneath the skin?

We think we love her. Another layer.

6. Miedo in la Amazonia 13. Traditional Haiku - Cuenca

Twisted trees in muck, Morning, October,

An anaconda lair slog, By noon, it's April,

She dies, heart attack. December doesn't come.

7. Love 14. Avoiding Nasty Movies on Long Bus Rides

Let me slip into  Shove her head in seat, 

Something more comfortable. Stab my fingers in her ears.

How about your skin? Lizzie, stop watching!

15. Julian's Consciousness 16. Rivalry

Life flashed before eyes                                      If I give you both

Stay away from the white lights, The same gift, it doesn't mean

Puberty begins. That you are not special.