Haiku

The haiku is an unrhymed Japanese poem that records the essence of a moment keenly perceived. Typically it consists of three lines with specified syllables; traditionally it contains a season-word. The 17-syllable form connects man to nature through the senses by simply pointing to a thing or a pairing of things.

Haiku

      Japanese verse form
      A pairing of images
      Man heeding Nature

Greco-Roman Haiku

I wrote the following series of poems in protest to some militaristic haiku written elsewhere at AncientSites. In a strict sense, they are not haiku.

Where is the Glory?

In faraway Rome ...
Forlorn wife and newborn babe.
Where is the glory?

Another forced march,
No sleep, and hard bread to eat.
Where is the glory?

Vultures wheel above
Broken bodies, broken spears.
Where is the glory?

The enemy's met;
Another triumph's assured!
Where is the glory?

Poor legionary ...
Do you ever ask yourself
Where is the glory?

Death is the Victor

      Celts lose in the end;
      Vercingetorix dies, too.
      Death is the victor.

      Rome falls, and then what?
      Barbarians everywhere!
      Death is the victor.

      Dark Ages ensue.
      War and pestilence prevail.
      Death is the victor.

      Then the Renaissance:
      Rebirth of ... the art of war.
      Death is the victor.

      Mankind never learns;
      We waste time and life in war.
      Death is the victor.

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