Martial Development Haiku Contest

I hereby announce my latest group writing project, to encourage contemplation and discussion on the subject of martial arts.

Your Task

  1. Compose an original haiku about martial arts or a related discipline.
  2. Post the haiku on your own blog or website.
  3. Send a pingback. This should happen automatically if you link to this post; if not, you can include the address of your poem(s) in a comment below.

Examples
Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry, consisting of three unrhymed lines. The seventeen syllables of a haiku are arranged in a 5-7-5 pattern.

Staring, confused, at
his teeth on the ground. It worked
in the Octagon?

Parents, remember:
“A true ninja always eats
their vegetables.”

Your haiku may be lyrical or literal, beautiful or brusque, but contest entries must not identify any living person by name.

Prizes and Rewards

  • Participants in my previous writing project were informed, entertained, and possibly enlightened. Past performance does not guarantee future results, but…who knows?
  • The best haiku by each participant will be featured in a separate post. Each will be accompanied by a link to the participant’s website.
  • Japanese Swords
    Japanese Swords
    (Not the Ninja Play Set!)
  • One lucky winner, chosen at random, will receive a Deluxe 忍者セット (Ninja Play Set), including: two plastic katana, one wakizashi, one tanto and one shuko.

Contest Rules

  • Multiple haiku compositions are welcome, but will not increase your chances of winning.
  • Contest entries must be received by June 22, 2007.
  • Eligibility for the Ninja Play Set is limited to adult residents of the USA. Cash value 210円.

Good luck, and have fun!

Update: The contest is over… but additional submissions are welcome!

6 comments

  1. First, a couple of haiku in Japanese:

    Samui fuyu
    Shiroi meigetsu
    Yukiakari

    Cold winter
    White full moon
    Brightness of snow

    Meigetsu wa
    Tsuranuku mado de
    Sosogimasu.

    The full moon
    Through an open window
    Pours in.

    Now a few in English:

    Blowing leaf dances
    skillfully eluding me
    I rake patiently.

    Scattered leaves
    Blow across the parking lot.
    Arrival of autumn.

    Quarter moon smiling
    Down like Cheshire Cat, songs
    Crickets sing at campfires.

    Bassho’s frog went plop!
    and never heard from again.
    A snapping turtle

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