Like any art medium, poetry is a manifestation of the culture that engenders it, and traditional forms can provide an especial understanding of a society’s beliefs. For instance, the English heroic couplet, with its solid end rhymes, reflects the British values of propriety and order. The three-lined Italian terza rima stanza (think Dante’s Divine Comedy ) highlights the importance of the number three, a celebration of the Holy Trinity.And haiku, the most economic of forms, conveys a Japanese Buddhist understanding of nature as eternal, with humans as a component but not the star. Then these forms come to America, where their hard rules are liquefied in our melting pot of freedom before they are deep-fried and super-sized, served on a Styrofoam plate of cultural appropriation.We here at the Alibi are nothing if not champions of bastard art forms, and really, bastards in general. So, we present to you the winners of the 20th annual Haiku Contest. Thousands of American-style haiku from hundreds of entrants made their way to our special underground poetry lair where each poem was lovingly touched and considered, regardless of its parentage. During this process, a few things became clear:One: It is almost impossible to write a good erotic haiku but entirely possible to write really very icky ones.Two: A disturbing number of high school students who were forced to enter the contest don’t know who Mitt Romney is. Because information is so hard to access these days. C’mon, kids! I wore a Mondale button to the third grade. Get it together.Three: More haiku should be written about early ’90s rap because it cannot NOT be good.A heartfelt thank you to all who took the time to share your work. Each winner will receive a $20 certificate to ABQ Brew Pub, a $10 certificate to Purple Pink Rhino and a $10 certificate to El Norteño Restaurant. To claim your prize, please go to the Alibi offices at 413 Central NW and do a dance.
Winners Of Alibi’s 20Th Annual Haiku Contest
Traditional
Oh collect your tearsIn the vase by the window—The spring flowers bloom —David Naquin Willow of the ReedMakes line drawings in WaterGive thanks to the Breeze —Paula Singleton Cicadas in treeswill sing their cosmic chorusthen suddenly stop —Sean HallFeature
Bath Salts
APD frisking She just asked for Epsom salts Grandma at Walgreen’s —Peter B. Ives When I get hungryI like a side dish of faceSprinkled with bath salts —Pamela Frank I melt in silence. The world drifting from the sea, Is no way to die. —M. LukeFeature
Mitt Romney
“Romney’s To Do List” Places to foreclose:Sesame Street and MisterRogers’ Neighborhood. —John Orman The Grand Old Party Puts a lampshade on its head Empty suit, lights out —Peter B. Ives “Anagram Haiku” Mormen Tim TromneyMet yom troy trim rote mimerYen term more money —Gloria HajdukFeature
Local
Clouds form in the westBaptizing the horizonIn the hue of God —Michael Kear Oh, hot, soiled diaper!Who threw you on the sidewalk?Maybe Satan’s mom. —Rachel Langer Spring moth invasionswatted in bathtub with aGreenpeace newsletter. —Beth CohenFeature
Sci-fi / Fantasy
Arnold’s replacementfor Total Recall needs toGET IN ZEE CHOPPAH!! —Jordan Ganz don’t colonize Marsfirst we fucked up planet Earthlet us rot in place —Keith Szudarski What has a Ring ofPower and loves The Hobbit?This guy! (disappears) —Chris ChapinFeature
Apocalyptic
Fat man with a beardEats baked beans and cream corn slop Out of my body —Rachel Satz Yo mom’s so metal,the Four Horsemen are all like,“Hey girl, need a lift?” —Jordan Ganz De End is near, Mon.Steel drums vibe dat reggae beat.Apocalypse-oh. —Bob RakoczyFeature
Miscellaneous
“Young MC Jams, Made Smaller” 1.A high-class luncheon?Mass consumption scares ladiesDo not just stand there2.Standing on the wall?The joke’s on you, PoindexterDo not just stand there —Mike Lensi Years now of chronicIllness – like a ghost, I hauntMy own memories. —Richard M. FyeFeature
Eroticism
The sound that triggersskin to lift like sloe-boned silk:your voice through poems. —Erin M. Daughtrey long and lonely nightgrind myself thinking of youpolka dot panties —Chloe Makowski May I please have sexWith your skeleton when youAre finished with it? —Kevin WetSpotErin Adair-Hodges teaches English at Central New Mexico Community College. She is a former arts and copy editor for the Alibi.
