Brown V-day Haikus

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I wanted to tell you about an cool V-day haiku contest that my friends over at Breakupgirl.net have put together (yes, there are prizes). Being me, I’m naturally informing you about it on IST, right up against the deadline. Submit your best valentines day efforts here, according to these rules:

The 411 on 5-7-5

With this contest, we honor the noble Japanese poetic form — the demure yet powerful haiku — as the only literary vehicle with the suppleness to master the depths and breadths of woo and rue that blossom at this black/magic time of year. Turn your insights and/or outrage into subtle poly-syllabic philosophies that follow this timeless equation: 5 + 7 + 5 = 17. To demonstrate:

First, five syllables.
Then, seven in the middle.
See? That’s seventeen!

Entries will be accepted until Saturday, February 11 at 12 midnight, and the winning haikus will be unfurled on February 14 for all to see. [Link]

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p>Submit your entries to the contest and leave your submissions in the comments as well. I’m playing around with a few desi-themed ideas:

Her dal was tasty
Hungrily, I married her
It was all takeout

Spicy! Exotic!
Was this a personals ad,
or a Times story?

Not great, but I just came up with them now. You might find greater inspiration by looking at some of the past winners:

“It’s not you,” he said.
“Well, if it’s ‘not me,'” I said.
“Then dump someone else.”

I hope he’s happy.
Of course you realize that I’m
Being sarcastic.

Melodramatic!
It would be just like him to
Be writing haikus.

I guess I’m allowed
To see other people now.
But he sure isn’t. [Link]

51 thoughts on “Brown V-day Haikus”

  3. My very feeble attempt..ahem. And I still hate the holiday.

    I burnt all of it The cards like oily bhajias hope rose with the smoke

  9. I used to write meaningless haikus for fun, much to my co-workers’ annoyance and occasional amusement. 🙂

    Here’s one for V-Day:

    V-Day don’t matter; Hallmark’s not getting my coin. I loves ya daily.

  14. Why confused? Write a haiku, put it in the comments, and submit it to the contest that I liked to for your chance to win a prize. Simple, really.

  20. I’m a FOB only Wanting love and life partner Why you are laughing?

    It made me laugh and it made me cry. But mostly laugh. I love it!

  25. It made me laugh and it made me cry. But mostly laugh. I love it!

    Came from the heart, my dears…thanks!

  38. The pierced, pretty punk, A brown rebel with a cause… She needs romance too.

    “Tell me you love me.” “I will love you, forever.” After all. Do you still?

    Unattainable, my crush. A chance to be mine? Extraordinairy.

    (ok, really, have to stop making up poems…)

  40. FYI: A call for the Elimination of Joke Haiku Production on the Internet.

    Via the Mutineering Snarkmarket’s Snarketeer Jeffrey.

    But I think we can take this seriously–this is love after all.

    When love sours, memory reaches backwards to anchor in sweeter waters.

    Bitter reader’s heart melts to see comment-courting of Lady Cicer.

    Tapping out letters to the pitch in the black– Missing you–please ping.

    Dolce desi art wove salsa and wit into homes for orphaned hearts.

    Catwalk on Columbus, No honey in the catcalls– sting like cat scratches.

    Northbeach tavern light, Drown tales of loss in Shirley Temple’s sweet red fizz.

    Barbary Coast walk, Wild Parrots call, mate-to-mate Can birds be sweethearts?

  41. I gave out my heart For a sweet gulab jamun Now she thinks I’m fat

    Wedding photo came So very inauspicious For I am smiling

  42. I can’t even watch The TV without seeing
    Red and pink and hearts

    Many years ago One valentine per classmate And then you grow up

    Is it so wrong to Want someone who can see the Beauty of your soul

  43. You want to meet me? I am surprised, elated. Nervous. And ready.

    Your call makes me jump Your voice a forceful tenor I gurgle in glee.

    You are stoic, calm Your eyes dark pools of stillness Merging into night

    We walk in and are The cynosure of the room It feels like we fit

    Your aura subdues My words bubble in silence My heart in a cage.

    I wait breathlessly For a look that says you love me. I have ever since.

  44. aranyi…you’re singin…erm, writing the words to my life!

    my feeble attempt:

    Knowing it was time We murmured cheerful goodbyes I left with false hope

  46. Dedicated to you, DD, in light of our cheeky conversations on another thread during the past week 😉

    They speak of her tush

    And her wild, naughty dancing;

    Both are off the scale.

    Walking behind her’s

    A superb spectator sport;

    But her heart’s good too.

    Her marital state

    Means the teasing’s in jest, but

    That ass just won’t quit.

    Badmaashi aside,

    Have a spanktastic V-Day

    From Jai to DD.

  48. VBSF, if only our histories formed the subject of textbooks. Then my will might make mine an eternal love story yet! Yours fits mine too!

    Mutineers!!!!! I MISS 55 FRIDAYS!!! BRING IT BACK!!!!!

  49. Jai (re #46) Aww shucks, the kind of booty that sonnets and poetry are written for! 😉 Happy V-day (belated)

  50. Hi DesiDancer,

    I’m glad you liked it ! Just a light-hearted tribute to your magnificent derriere all-round fabulousness 😉

    Jokes aside, you do seem to be a genuinely sweet-natured person (along with all the sass and intelligence, of course), so I do wish you all the best for tomorrow, and hope you have a fun day doing whatever it is you plan to do.

    Take care 😉