I have to write them,
Haikus, that is, and yet, no,
I shall not do that!
But, who has power,
who can honestly say, no,
when a Haiku calls?
I know I cannot,
I have to write the three lines,
because, I have to.
Not that I am weak,
but, every week day is
a Haiku day, no?
Go on, try it out;
seventeen syllables, then…
create your Haiku –
or add a couple of lines
and it becomes a Tanka.
Or make it funny,
and, by definition, you,
have a Senryu.
Graeme Sandford 