Death Haiku
‘[T]he historical passion of Christ reveals the eternal passion of God ... the self-sacrifice of love is God’s eternal nature’
Jürgen Moltmann, The Trinity and the Kingdom, p. 32
I am absolutely loving this book; I cannot express how much pleasure it is giving me. I’ll stop now before I burst into poetry - and anyone who reads this blog regularly knows that that is not a good idea. This is certainly my favourite Moltmann volume thus far.
Too late, I feel a Haiku bursting out:
“Shouts: Mind the Bus,Undeniable genius. I’m calling this genre of poetry ‘death Haiku’, to read when listening to your favourite ‘death Christian Rock/hymns’ etc.
Answers: ‘What Bus?’
... Splat”
----
UPDATE
One reader has pointed out to me that Moses stipulates that a Haiku must mention an aspect of nature.
*Mutters*
So, I’ve written a new ‘death Haiku’, which I’m calling ‘John takes a walk near Dover’ (the first one above I’ve decided to call ‘Ron left his glasses at home’):
“John and the cliff edge. Trips.
AWwhhhhhssshhiiiiiiiiittt.
Splat”
With talent like this it is sometimes difficult to remain humble.
posted by Chris Tilling @ 1:01 AM
11 comments
11 Comments:
The ground came rushing up
A horizon of pain awaits
oh Crap!
I can't remember the rules to Haiku so this is my effort at pseudo death haiku.
TTK is one of my favourites as well. I loaned it out for the Christmas break though. I hope it returns home, otherwise I might just cry.
Well, Frank, that is a beautiful and moving pseudo Death Haiku.
This is the one Dan got me for my birthday, one of the best gifts I've ever received!
I would add: I'm also not entirely sure of the official Haiku rules, but last time I looked it wasn't Moses who wrote them, so what the hell, let's be flexible.
Now I read it again, your Haiku is quite literally 'moving'.
Chris, in true Haiku, some aspect of nature must be mentioned.
TTK is wonderful. Moltmann is wonderful. I still remember to this day how completely blown away I was during my first year of seminary when I read _The Crucified God_. I have never recovered and now read everything ol' Jurgen writes--usually in translation since my German sucks, but I do work on the original from time to time--and I don't have a beautiful German wife to translate for me!
Michael,
I have a beautiful wife who lived in Germany. But her German is only slightly more existant than mine. Chris scored in that department.
I have something of nature in each line: ground, horizon and crap. Of course most of the crap in nature is our doing. But maybe I've been on too many eco-rants lately. How about another attempt:
The beautiful flower sat
idly by as I
dropped dead
That one ok?
"Chris scored in that department."
Flippin right.
Michael, an aspect of nature, huh.
Hmm. The word 'cliff' in the following is a bit of nature.
"John and cliff edge
Trips. AWwwwwwwhhhhhssshhiiiittt.
Splat."
Nice attempt, Frank. I just fel that death needs a lager role in the beginning. Perhaps the flower dies too?
How about:
The wilting flower realizes
The thud was my body
dropping dead
It has got to be said, Frank, that is brilliant! Had me laughing, anyway - not that that is a good thing ... I laughed all through Titanic and Platoon.
Of course, I don't know Chris' wife. I'm taking his word that she's beautiful. (I spent time in Germany many years ago so, as long as one is into blondes, I don't find that hard to believe. I prefer brunettes.) My beloved is also beautiful, but her brilliance lies in other areas than languages. (Except that she made better grades in Hebrew than I did!)
I'm not debating Haiku with any of you anymore--mostly because I'm a lousy poet.
"I'm not debating Haiku with any of you anymore--mostly because I'm a lousy poet."
Michael is a lousy poet,
and we all know it
But don't give up yet
You'll improve, I bet.
I so inspired I
can't stop rhyming,
oh yes I can. Oops.
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