Lemme jes' say how much fun we had down Louisiana way readin' yore Haiku entries. In between bowls of gumbo an' foot long Po'Boys, Aunty would take a peek at each new submission--only, them Bayou Boyz admitted they ain't that familiar wif' the rules of Haiku: "Ya mean it ain't what ya' scream, "HAI-KU!" when ya' jomp up Japanese style to plant yore feet in some other Coon-ass' chest? "
Meanin' of course, that the judgin' fell by default to Uncle on account of Aunty bein' too indecisive--translation, Aunty an' Uncle argued about the number one an' number two spots, Aunty thinkin' thar's two number ones. (still wif' me?) But, Uncle, resortin' to football cliches, insisted y'all din't want no sister-kissin' verdict. So, despite Aunty havin' TWO top slots selected an' one VERY close second, Uncle muscled me aside to insure a single victor.
Eve'rbody did a fine job--an I jes' need to tell ya' I'se so charmed at how ya' worked this theme!
Now fer the meat of the matter--when I explained to Uncle that the rules is Old Skool Rules, he took it too literally--arrgggh! The whole idea of "tellin' a story in 17 syllables" an' the requirement to have some allusion to a season, well he stuck to that like glue. The main frustration fer Aunty be the definition of allusion. For Aunty this can be pretty loose, but Uncle be literal minded.
Karl's direct to the matter entry "You know how to whistle, don't you" made a fine lead in.
Czar's denizens (PERfect word) whistling past graveyards paints a painful story, one we's all watchin' in fascinated horror as the Hill dithers.Fleurdeleo's Summer midnight train whistled a story we all has heard, an' found our peace disturbed.
Uncle an' me both gave a hoot at Troll's homage to GATORS! Oh yeah! The first game is clearly Fall. An' that shrill call? We's all heard that. Story told? Check.
Moi's trill tattoos air paints a vivid image, an' the visual at her blog is amazin'!
PamOKC's disaster preparations signaled by that noon whistle is a panic familiar to anyone who lives in a disaster zone or who done hid under their desks in the 60s because the Russians wuz comin'.
Karl's secondary entry, Bosun's piping, pullin' in the sails afore a tempest is a strong story, an' conveys urgency--a distinct "in the moment" feelin'. Aunty howled wif' Karl's smug little jerk second entry--oh I feel yore pain!
Fishy's Idgie an' Hank entries brought nods of recognition--Iffin' ya doan know the mistress of the Whistle Stop Cafe, Idgie Threadgood of Fried Green Tomatoes, git the movie posthaste. As fer Hanks' lonely whipporwill, that led to a discussion of bird calls--for the whipporwill's call is whistling par excellence.
But Uncle-- of course!-- had to show mah woeful lack of woodswomanship by claimin' that I had conflated two different birds, as the Whipporwill ain't the same as, only cousin to, the Chuck-Wills-Widow, whose call is similar, but not as whistle -y.
Chickory's secret for conjurin' dawgs brought a smile to Uncle's face on account of wishin' he had such a secret fer callin' up gators from the swamp. Well, I DOES need a new pair of penny loafers.
We missed what I know would be a smackin' good Haiku from some others--names withheld to protect the guilty--who wuz so weary from Eggy's revived Smackdown. But we's a forgivin' sort, an' jes' expect y'all to send in superior entries next week!
An' jes' a note afore we name out the winners. The next day wolf whistle entries is giggle good THANKY to y'all who tossed those gems out.
An' the winner is ....TA- DA!!
Fleurdeleo wif':
Summer's midnight lull.
A distant train splits the night
from peace to longing.
Fer Uncle's money, a summer night "split" by a train whistle, leaving peace on this side, an' longing on t'other, is a story an' feelin' ever'body has known at some point.
Congratulations Fleur!
Ya' can proudly affix another notch on yore Haiku badge, an youse entitled to choose a theme fer next week, host Haiku Monday an' judge--or iffin' life be too bizzy or youse headed to the Greek Isles, ya' may default the hostin'/ judgin' to Troll.
Please email me yore address fer Uncle's promised prize.
Thanky one an' all fer playing Haiku wif' Old Skool Rules.
