I recently came across this twitter account, Haikews Project. The project is simple: read the news, compose a haiku that essentialises what it’s about, and post a link to the story. I thought it was fun and decided to give it a try. The following are what I have come up so far.
For the first few haikus, I wasn’t aware that I needed to post a link to the story:
Vienna Boys’ choir/ in deep financial trouble; / best export destroyed. #haikunews
— Isaac Tan (@zacktan) July 31, 2013
New flats for singles/ with low incomes. Very good move/ to house a nation. #haikunews
— Isaac Tan (@zacktan) July 31, 2013
(Embarrassingly, I even got the hashtag wrong! Unfortunately, Twitter does not allow one to edit tweets.)
Fandi demoted/ plagued by egos and crown prince/ boss who wants results. #Haikews #SG #JB
— Isaac Tan (@zacktan) August 1, 2013
Arts Council head steps/ down after four-year tenure. / Search for new chief starts! #Haikews #SG
— Isaac Tan (@zacktan) August 1, 2013
After realising that I needed to add a link to my haikus, these were what I came up with:
SightLines saves one show / for Stroke Association. / A good cause indeed! #Haikews #SG @SightLinesProd http://t.co/iMnvx8vBaB
— Isaac Tan (@zacktan) August 1, 2013
First group of students/ touring varsity library / this new semester! #Haikews #SG #NUS @NUSLibraries http://t.co/sPdJIycimo
— Isaac Tan (@zacktan) August 1, 2013
At this point, I thought I should try to stick closer to the conventions of the form as possible. I felt that I was merely fitting words into word count. A quick search on the internet taught me that I needed to add a cæsura in the first or second line as well as a nature metaphor to provide a “sketch of nature” to those reading the haikus.
Obama observes / demise of newspapers; / sheets of autumn leaves #Haikews http://t.co/CwkVrQX6Tt
— Isaac Tan (@zacktan) August 1, 2013
Simon first-time dad/ with close friend’s wife – New bud/ blooms from murky roots. #Haikews http://t.co/yyDl2PwHbu
— Isaac Tan (@zacktan) August 1, 2013
Gunman kills neighbours.
Spooked by witchcraft claims he, as
winter dawns within. #haikews #Miami
http://t.co/ROgmOUJNJs— Isaac Tan (@zacktan) August 1, 2013
Family Council
writes pledge, no mention of love –
Leaves us feeling cold.#Haikews #Singapore http://t.co/tDNeGJYD5t @alfpang— Isaac Tan (@zacktan) August 2, 2013
Australian tax on
bank deposits: Stealing bread
from mouths in winter. #haikews http://t.co/2DoT46jP8o— Isaac Tan (@zacktan) August 2, 2013
I tried to come up with a nature metaphor for these two pieces of news but I failed. As such, I just stuck to the right syllable count.
P.E. syllabus:
more time and variety.
Different reactions.#haikews #Singapore
http://t.co/9NFqecCmwq— Isaac Tan (@zacktan) August 2, 2013
Girls shave heads for good
cause. Refuse wigs; break promise –
Principal flips out. #Haikews #Singapore http://t.co/vbAAGZLLLF— Isaac Tan (@zacktan) August 2, 2013
It is a really interesting exercise to capture the gist of the news in 14 syllables. It forces you to be straighforward with your delivery, and leaves no space for superficial flourishes. When I added the nature metaphor, I realised that I tend to use it as my personal commentary on the news and it really served me well.
If I had to pick my favourite “haikew”, it would be the one on Obama observing the demise of newspapers. “Sheets of autumn leaves” is very evocative for me as I could see tonnes of newspapers being tossed out of windows as they fall like autumn leaves. The sight of newspapers falling also reminded of the Chinese funeral tradition of tossing paper offerings in the air as the family walks around the coffin.
All in all, it really is a good warm-up exercise if you are gearing to write something bigger and longer. It’s akin to practising the scales before attempting a sonata.
Isaac Tan 