Diamond Haiku Challenge

[Brigid Briton]

I was just telling a friend my feelings about haiku. I said that they can be like diamonds, small but brilliant. (They can also be a lot of other things!). So, the challenge is to write a haiku, either following the 5-7-5 syllable construct most of us learned in elementary school, or, the more "modern" streamlined version, which aims at even more brevity.

Here are two examples:

cat sits just outside
rainbird's oscillating arc
diamonds on black coat

OR

diamonds
stud the evening sky
heaven twinkles

So, who wants to try their hand at this? Just make sure the word "diamond" or "diamonds" is included in your haiku.

[@Boiarski]

Climbing the mountain
I look back to see how much
I have forgotten.

Bird in the bare tree
sings as if the snow were new
blossoms on the branch.

[Brigid Briton]

Oh, dear Boiarski,

Long have I been admiring your poetry on Twitter. To have you show up here, even as a guest, is quite an honor. There's only one teensy little problem...the challenge was to write a haiku with the word diamond or diamonds in it.

I love what you wrote, but I was hoping for diamonds, diamonds, lots of diamonds, an old girl's best friend, and all that...

Hope you come back and visit us again.

Brigid

[Cory Raymond]

high noon in desert
diamondback rattlesnake
chills under rock ledge



Hi Brigid,
I'm sorry more people haven't participated in this challenge. I've noticed that you, Eiken and I seem to be the only people that are really into haiku around here. Too bad, it's an awesome poetry form! I thought this one would probably not conjure up the sort of diamonds you had in mind, but I did at least get the challenge word in there!

[Brigid Briton]

Hi Cory,

Thanks for playing. You're right, that wasn't exactly the sort of diamond I had in mind. More along the lines of:

It's All in the Cards

One man
gave her diamonds,
but the other
gave his heart.

Love trumps everything. Of course this isn't a haiku, so technically isn't eligible for the grand prize (which pretty much doesn't exist anyway!)

***

That said, the rattlesnake haiku was an unexpected treat.

[blackbird]

on the advice of a my new friend I will try this....I think she is quite perceptive. I admit I tend to be too "wordy."
5-7-5 wow that is short...


simple kite body
black diamond against the sky
just cloth on a cross

[Brigid Briton]

Bravo, blackbird,

I like this! I love the "cloth on a cross" since it conjures the image that some churches use at Easter time to represent the the only material things Jesus left behind. I am not religious, but the image still comes.

Keep at it, I think you have the knack!

Thanks for participating in the challenge.

Anybody else want to try?

[blackbird]

Oh I am so happy you liked it! It actually was quite a mind bender. Cramming so much into so little space. I have so many poems that really just ramble on and on like an old Agatha Christie novel that just doesn't grab you. No matter how much you try to stick with it, it eventually becomes a prop to raise a knick knack to the same height as another knick knack. I did like writing it though, and may try more.

[blackbird]

Went with my oldest son today, beautiful day....beautiful boy
nice visit from miss karma too
Big ass dually truck
Cuts us off,diamond plate shines
In blue red and white

[Brigid Briton]

Hi blackbird,

This made me smile, although, at first, I thought your introductory lines were a part of the poem.

In addition to haiku only having three lines and a total of 17 syllables or less, they are traditionally supposed to capture a peaceful or Zen moment. (Modern haiku have wandered away from that, but it's still something to consider when writing haiku).

The aim with haiku is simplicity. Normally, they should stand alone, without need for an introduction.

But, you are still thinking poetry, still thinking haiku, still thinking about rising to the challenge, and still making me smile. Good job!

[blackbird]

Thank you Brigid! Yes peace....zen right. Perhaps I will venture the two miles to my parents house. They have an authentic Japanese Tea house complete with little bridge over babbling brook.....World poetry day in the tea house.Hmm might be inspiring.
You are so positive and talk about Johnny on the spot quick. You are always here.....in the walls of this place aren't you? Reading, welcoming, lending tips, taking it easy. Yes, in the walls of this place.

[Brigid Briton]

from one BB to another: no, I'm not in the walls, I'm on the walls, a little poetry bug with big eyes and ears always on the alert for something new. Often frustrated and disappointed, when I find a new treat, I pounce! You make me smile (a buggy little smile)

To paraphrase the Beatles:

blackbird singing
little bug will watch you fly
in the dead of night

[Cory Raymond]

For Brigid, the Bug:

diamonds sparkle
sunlight illuminates
dew on grass


blackbird: Your parents have a real Japanese tea house, with a babbling brook? OMG, girl, did you spend some time there on World Poetry Day? Do you "got haiku"?

I like your style and sure wold like to see more from you!

Cory

[blackbird]

Thank you Cory....as a matter of fact.....I do have a few but they do not have theword diamond in them so I will post them elswhere....and I liked yours too.

[Brigid Briton]

Hi Cory and blackbird,

I can't tell you how happy it makes me to see people getting excited about haiku!
Cory: I loved your haiku. I am buggy about haiku, I have to confess.

blackbird: That's neat about the tea house. I'm very jealous. You got the right idea about posting in Haikuland rather than here. You learn fast!



Brigid

[Reilley]

Gave her a diamond,
cost me three months salary,
she gave me much more.