Late night haiku

The modern media environment offers noise and calls it information.  
These distractions are designed to cloud our focus.
In the confusion, it is easy to mistake illusions for reality.  
That is a mistake we cannot make if we wish to win.  

To prevail we must do more than merely see the truth.  
We must be able to perceive it.

Stripping away the noise and perceiving the essential details takes practice.  
Now is a good time to begin.

John McCain's campaign runs on fear and confusion. Obama will win.

•  Ni To Ichi

  This is why McCain will not win.

  by 8ackgr0und N015e on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 10:36:01 PM PDT

  •  When the doors of perception are cleansed

    Yup. I've always valued states of mind over philosophies.

    by Last Years Man on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 10:41:46 PM PDT

  •  Ni Ten Ichi Ryu

    Ni Ten Ichi Ryu
    ~ The TWO as ONE school/lineage ~
    (Musashi's school)

    ~ RYO-DO ~
    ~ the way of both ~

    by ArthurPoet on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 10:44:14 PM PDT

  •  ~ shin-shin-shin gan ~

    ~ shin-shin-shin gan ~
    ~ to see thru the mind and eyes of god ~

    by ArthurPoet on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 10:45:55 PM PDT

    •  Unfortunately your sig no longer applies in Japan

      or at least in Tokyo. Nothing older than 2 months gets any kind of attention here.

      I often have to explain to people why I still listen to music that was made more than 10 years ago.

      by Last Years Man on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 10:51:37 PM PDT

      •  ~ Ho No Michi ~

        fuck Tokyo ....

        ~ i honor lore ~

        furiki-o-tazune atarshiki-o-shiru
        we must study the old to understand the new

        

        ~ Happo Biraki ~ Kamae ~
        ~ Open on all eight sides ~

        

        

        ~ Katsu-jin-ken ~
        ~ Setsu-nin-to ~

        the life giving sword
        and the death giving sword
        are one

        

        

        The Way of the Law

        Anata-wa akari-ni shitsumon sureba
        Kage-ga kotaeo dashimas
        Kyu-ni, kokoro-ga mitomemashte
        Anata-no michi naka de shimas
        Tokuye, anata-wa nanni-o bushokku shimashta
        Soko-ni aru
        Sore-na-no-ni, zuto sagashte
        Shitte-imas honto-no akari-ga --- yami aru!

        If you question the light,
        shadow will answer.

        In that precise moment,
        acknowledge the heart,
        and make your way inside.

        Go as far as you can go;
        what you seek will be there.

        Nevertheless,
        do not stop seeking.

        Know the true light
        is in the darkness.

        
        

        

        

        

        

        

        

        a story from the Chuang tzu ...

        One day Confucius and his pupils were walking by a turbulent river;
        it swept over rocks, rapids and waterfalls.

        They noticed an old man swimming in the river far upstream.

        He was playing in the raging water and went under.

        Confucius sent his pupils running downstream to try and save him.

        However, the old man beached safely on the bank,
        stood up unharmed,
        water streaming from his hair.

        The pupils brought him to Confucius
        who asked him how he managed to survive in the torrent among the rocks.

        The old man answered,
        "Oh, I know how to go in with a descending vortex, and come out with an ascending one".

        He was of course a man of the tao ...

        

        by ArthurPoet on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 02:14:55 AM PDT

      •  It is a shame to see history eaten

        Ars Oblivionalis ... long held to be the most interesting of the impossible arts has taken hold.

        by 8ackgr0und N015e on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 05:39:32 AM PDT

•  Hmmm...

  I don't know what makes a good Haiku but here's a try:

  blah blah blah blah blah.
  I'm sick of all the chatter.
  Where is November?

  by DawnG on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 10:38:26 PM PDT

  •  excellent!

    by 8ackgr0und N015e on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 10:39:10 PM PDT

  •  Haiku actually sound a lot better in japanese

    When translating them into English, I prefer not to stick to the rules of verse and syllable. For example, something stupid that I came up with off the top of my head

    風の音
    (kah-zay-no-ohtoe)
    子供の笑顔
    (ko-doh-moe-no-ay (as in pay)-gah-oh
    夏の公園
    (nah-tsoo-no-koh-en)

    In Japanese this has a natural rhythm and you read it according to a certain meter. (down-up-down-up-down) (down-up-down-up-down-up-down) (down-up-down-up-down) Even if I stuck to the rules of syllables, the English wouldn't have that rhythm

    so, to translate

    the sound of the wind
    a child's smile
    summer park

    by Last Years Man on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 10:49:41 PM PDT

    •  I read a book once in college

      I think it was the Tale of Genji where a haiku was offered like a greeting or a compliment.  I always thought it such a romantic way of interacting.

      by Adept2u on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 10:54:19 PM PDT

    •  Does Any Japanese Work in Iambic Pentameter? nt

      by Gooserock on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 10:58:53 PM PDT

      •  Not haiku no.

        I'm sure you could find tanka or longer freeform poetry that could fit in iambic pentameter if you looked REALLY hard.

        The thing is that the syllabic emphasis is backwards from English in Japanese. on a three syllable word, you stress the FIRST syllable, not the second. On a four syllable word, you stress the second syllable.

        when Americans say Toyota, for example, they say (toy-OH-tah) but a Japanese would say (TOY-oh-tah).

        Eventually in Japanese it gets to the point where there is no real rising and falling intonation and everything is flat. That's why haiku end with the down up down formation, which is the opposite of iambic pentameter.

        by Last Years Man on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 11:03:40 PM PDT

•  McCain

  John admirals son
  white affirmative action
  mediocrity

  by Adept2u on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 10:43:16 PM PDT

  •  ouch!

    by 8ackgr0und N015e on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 10:57:56 PM PDT

•  yes!

  I've lost my car keys

  In Czechoslovakia

  Tax cuts cure ringworm

  by Irishkorean on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 10:44:42 PM PDT

  •  Hmmm....

    We have nothing new
    to offer so we return
    promoting nonsense.

    by 8ackgr0und N015e on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 10:50:07 PM PDT

    •  This one is really good.

      by Last Years Man on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 10:53:40 PM PDT

      •  thank you

        by 8ackgr0und N015e on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 10:58:28 PM PDT

•  Don't count

  your chickens until they hatch!! Remember Ct.

  by white is black on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 10:47:50 PM PDT

  •  Hmmm....

    Chickens coming home
    to roost mark the beginning
    of changing fortunes.

    by 8ackgr0und N015e on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 10:51:47 PM PDT

    •  In other words

      it's karma. What goes around comes around, and we are starting to get ours because of the Neo-con Nazi Bush Bitches. Remember how good and puffed up Dem.'s felt about Ct. and Lamont. It ain't over til the fat lady sings pal.

      by white is black on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 11:03:00 PM PDT

      •  shhh....

        too many words are
        not enough some times to make
        reality clear.

        by 8ackgr0und N015e on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 11:06:45 PM PDT

    •  That's lovely.

      Mine is shameful. :-(

      by gallimaufry on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 11:32:46 PM PDT

•  :)

  Obama wil win
  John McCain is a moron
  Are you fired up?

  by westcott on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 10:51:13 PM PDT

  •  :)

    by 8ackgr0und N015e on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 10:52:16 PM PDT

•  I'll give it a shot.

  Cindy ain't a cook
  Maverick sure is a crook
  Au revoir

  by BA BarackUS on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 10:52:48 PM PDT

•  McNasty, by Presumptuous Insect

  Trouble is when a
  nation ponders a leader
  who calls wife a c*nt.

  by Presumptuous Insect on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 10:54:13 PM PDT

  •  finger snaps n/t

    by Adept2u on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 10:56:07 PM PDT

•  John Mccain

  今までも

  (ee-mah-mah-deh-mo)

  やってきたことも
  (yah-teh-kee-tah-koh-toe-mo)

  またやれば

  (mah-tah-yah-reh-bah)

  All the things
  I've tried so far
  What if we tried again?

  by Last Years Man on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 10:57:02 PM PDT

  •  hmmmm.....

    Change always happens,
    whether you like it or not.
    Look forward not back.

    by 8ackgr0und N015e on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 11:01:34 PM PDT

•  Windows Vista crashed

  I see the blue screen of death
  No one hears my screams

  by Light Emitting Pickle on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 10:59:02 PM PDT

  •  Unix...

    A nice place to live
    But you don't want to visit
    It will drive you mad.

    by 8ackgr0und N015e on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 11:04:17 PM PDT

  •  BSOD? I happen to know that pooties did it.

    I have PHOTOGRAPHIC evidence.

    by Presumptuous Insect on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 11:13:09 PM PDT

•  Not a neocon

  Not a progressive either
  Where do I belong?

  by jvantin1 on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 11:01:13 PM PDT

  •  :)

    by 8ackgr0und N015e on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 11:02:07 PM PDT

  •  RE

    Not a neocon
    Not a progressive either
    Just a Democrat

    by opendna on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:22:36 AM PDT

•  ...

  hustle, get out vote
  put democrats in office
  maybe we survive

  by dirkster42 on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 11:01:26 PM PDT

  •  yes!

    by 8ackgr0und N015e on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 11:02:43 PM PDT

•  tired, but will play

  lightning bolt flashes my brain is filled with thunder Obama hope strikes

  by cfk on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 11:04:19 PM PDT

  •  ooohhh.....

    by 8ackgr0und N015e on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 11:08:12 PM PDT

    •  topical from MI weather, tonight !

      lololol...had to unplug computer twice...sigh.  

      But have our lights, hurrah!

      by cfk on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 11:09:30 PM PDT

      •  nice colors

        by 8ackgr0und N015e on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 11:10:14 PM PDT

        •  it is maya blue 115, 194, 251

          ek and Magnifico taught the box thing and the colors are at wiki:

          http://www.dailykos.com/...

          http://en.wikipedia.org/...

          thistle (light purple) 216, 191, 216
          mauve  (light purple) 224, 176, 255
          maya blue  115, 194, 251
          lavender blue periwinkle 204, 204, 255
          moss green 173, 223, 173
          Navajo white (peachish)  255, 222, 173
          nadeshiko (carnation) pink 246, 173, 198
          pastel pink 255, 209, 220
          wheat 245, 222, 179
          Columbia blue 155, 221, 255
          apricot 251, 206, 177
          peach orange 255, 204, 153

          Have fun!

          by cfk on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 11:18:36 PM PDT

          •  You have unleashed the Genii

            Things will never be the same

            by 8ackgr0und N015e on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 11:21:10 PM PDT

            •  lololol

              That is what I wanted to tell Magnifico and ek. :)

              by cfk on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 11:27:55 PM PDT

            •  I should say there are many, many more colors at

              wiki...my list are just the ones I like.

              by cfk on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 11:28:58 PM PDT

              •  Yes... here is a good reference for colors

                http://en.wikipedia.org/...

                by 8ackgr0und N015e on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 07:07:30 AM PDT

•  Problematic

  A dangerous novice.
  WOAH there, he seems to be black!
  --But we're still losing?

  by Gooserock on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 11:06:55 PM PDT

  •  CRAP! 6!! nt

    by Gooserock on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 11:12:00 PM PDT

    •  too much of a good thing

      :)

      by 8ackgr0und N015e on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 11:13:33 PM PDT

  •  Just lose the first article "A"

    I think it still works.

    by Uncle Moji on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 01:55:19 AM PDT

    •  It does indeed :)

      by 8ackgr0und N015e on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 05:41:28 AM PDT

•  I'll try one in English

  John Mccain:

  If at first you don't
  succeed at anything you do
  abandon all you've learned

  Obama:

  calm is the ear that
  hears from a man who neither
  whispers nor shouts

  by Last Years Man on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 11:07:54 PM PDT

  •  yes.

    by 8ackgr0und N015e on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 11:08:46 PM PDT

•  On the Media

  He leads all the polls
  Dems ahead most everywhere
  Bad news for Barack

  by GrouchoKossak on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 11:14:41 PM PDT

  •  Ha!

    by Last Years Man on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 11:17:19 PM PDT

  •  Irony

    It's a strange horse race
    that lacks enthusiasm
    on the other side.

    by 8ackgr0und N015e on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 11:18:50 PM PDT

    •  Thanks

      Can only Haiku
      In my own pidgin English
      But I sure do try

      ;)

      by GrouchoKossak on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 11:27:59 PM PDT

  •  Wow. Yours actually works according

    to Japanese meter. Well done.

    by Last Years Man on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 11:24:11 PM PDT

    •  Heh...I got lucky

      beyond 5-7-5...I got nothing LOL

      by GrouchoKossak on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 11:28:55 PM PDT

      •  Oh, wait, maybe that's what you meant n/t

        by GrouchoKossak on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 11:30:14 PM PDT

        •  No.

          the stressing works too. For example. Barack. The stress is always on the second syllable and you use it to end the line. Exactly right.

          by Last Years Man on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 11:31:55 PM PDT

          •  Well that was sheer luck on my part LOL

            by GrouchoKossak on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 11:32:50 PM PDT

          •  Hell

            An old Southern boy
            I can hardly speak English
            Glad I one right

            ;)

            by GrouchoKossak on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 11:40:01 PM PDT

            •  Got one right...okay, I should clearly go to bed.

              by GrouchoKossak on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 11:40:39 PM PDT

              •  :)

                by 8ackgr0und N015e on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 05:42:50 AM PDT

          •  i think mine has backward stresses?

            Texas breeze blows hot
            Time for Netroots Nation
            I wish I were there

            by TrueBlueMajority on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 12:29:29 AM PDT

            •  oops--I left out a syllable

              Texas breeze blows hot
              It's time for Netroots Nation
              I wish I were there!

              by TrueBlueMajority on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:25:26 AM PDT

•  GOP

  Strange machines are these
  when I turn the volume down
  the noise gets louder

  by Last Years Man on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 11:21:15 PM PDT

  •  hahahahaaaaaa

    by 8ackgr0und N015e on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 11:22:07 PM PDT

•  Late night ode to McCain

  All this complaining
  Can't they see it's all mental?
  Where's my f'ing plane?

  Okay, poetry is not my strong suit.  I'm the first to admit it!

  by gallimaufry on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 11:31:33 PM PDT

  •  I was thinking in a similar vein

    Mental recession
    Just a figment of the mind
    Vote Republican

    Not much of a poet, but thought I'd give it a go.

    by jaywillie on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 11:39:16 PM PDT

    •  Much more elegant.

      It may be the sound of kitty love in the background that is sapping my inspiration.

      by gallimaufry on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 12:06:48 AM PDT

      •  I thought mine was clunky as hell! LOL

        by jaywillie on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 06:50:02 PM PDT

•  Once again looking to wb-skinner for inspiration.

  Who can hold the sun?
  We think we're so big sometimes;
  it's an illusion.

  

  by SciVo on Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 11:33:33 PM PDT

•  with the seasonal reference

  Summer on campaign:
  Young man running for the White House,
  Old man running from it.

  by sagesource on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 12:07:11 AM PDT

  •  yes!

    by 8ackgr0und N015e on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 05:44:30 AM PDT

•  Seasons

  We toiled through the spring
  Now in the heat of summer
  Hope bears fruit in fall

  by Uncle Moji on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 01:59:36 AM PDT

•  Trade winds

  The trade winds now rise
  sweeping the foul air off shore
  Obama 08!

  by Uncle Moji on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 02:07:54 AM PDT

•  Hope

  The burdens of fear
  are too heavy for many
  You embrace our hope

  by Uncle Moji on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 02:11:46 AM PDT

  •  beautiful

    by 8ackgr0und N015e on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 05:50:12 AM PDT

•  Soldier

  He can't remember
  What it was like without fear
  He waits to come home

  by Uncle Moji on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 02:14:47 AM PDT

  •  yes.

    by 8ackgr0und N015e on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 05:50:33 AM PDT

•  Bush

  Bush plan of attack
  His list of enemies grow
  Derail the mad man

  by Uncle Moji on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 02:18:51 AM PDT

•  McCain = Bush

  "I am not like him,
  Except when I am like him
  That's me, John McSame!"

  by Uncle Moji on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 02:21:01 AM PDT

  •  mmmmmm

    by 8ackgr0und N015e on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 05:51:12 AM PDT

•  Thanks for the fun!

  Haikus are always so difficult and such fun.  My brother and I play a haiku game when we travel a particular stretch of a freeway, we have only that time to come up with environment appropriate haikus that are different and fresh and unexpected.  

  Have you ever tried ghazils?  I struggle with the form which I use to stretch myself, and I remain a sorry amateur.  I would love to see more in that form so I could learn more.

  But always so wonderful to challenge yourself to a limiting structure and find it so paradoxically vast and freeing.

  Kudos.  

  Lots of really fun and clever and beautiful haikus from all.  Mine are awful but the fun was the thing.

  by Uncle Moji on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 02:28:58 AM PDT

  •  I loved your poem about the soldier

    very moving

    by 8ackgr0und N015e on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 05:52:01 AM PDT

    •  Thanks!

      by Uncle Moji on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:49:51 AM PDT

•  the beating

  
  the beating
  of my heart
  reminds me

  of the silence
  around me

  and that
  i am alone

  arthur

  by ArthurPoet on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 09:20:18 AM PDT

•  The New Yorker

  Satire is dead! Help!
  Irony is dead! Oh No!
  Lord! Save us from puns!

  by opendna on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 11:24:20 AM PDT