The Paris Traveler

Paris Haiku

by Kim on April 10th, 2008

I suppose I should get together with The Tokyo Traveler on this one since it would be more appropriate to have Haiku coming from her neck of the woods.  The other night as I lay awake struggling to find my sleepy place, I foolishly worried about everything, including what some upcoming posts should include.  Hence, Paris Haiku, a little game to see if you can identify people, places or things you might find here in the city,  revealed through this Japanese style poetry.

Haiku consists of three tiny lines,  the first line contains 5 syllables, the second line 7 and the third line 5.  It doesn’t rhyme but it should “paint a mental image” in the readers mind. It could be a riddle as well.

Obviously, one needs to be fairly succinct which is something I am not.  The more words the better in my books.  Anyway, as I was lying in bed thinking about this and “writing” a few in my head, I was back in Mrs. Sisilak’s third grade class (circa 1960 something in suburban Chicago) learning all about Haiku during our social studies section on Japan.  Back then, I think I wrote about cherry blossoms–it seemed like the thing to do.  I wish I could remember it!

Ok-so let’s just jump right in here and see what you’ve got–just how well do you know Paris…..Japanese style?  Hint: The photos have nothing to do with the Haikus–I just think they’re pretty.  You didn’t think I was going to make this easy did you?

1.  out of reach and cold                                                                                                    tortured visions please me                                                                                          i keep all things in place                                                                                            

2.  gravel dust on my boots                                                                                              grass and marble soften the sound                                                                            of a thousand feet                                                                                                        

3.   squint to multiply                                                                                                         the stars falling from the sky                                                                                       that die at midnight                                                                                                    

4.   rubies and garnets                                                                                                         mingle with heady fragrance                                                                                       mans toil unearthed                                                                                                  

5.   the one we don’t know                                                                                                 smiles so beguilingly                                                                                                     L.H.O.O.Q.

So, there you have the first edition of Paris Haiku.  These aren’t that hard really–the last one has some French slang involved (courtesy of my daughter) so that might be a bit more complicated.  I would love to do this as an on-going feature but I don’t think I have thousands of these in me. I am hoping that some of  you fellow Paris Travelers might be interested in sending me some of yours and when I have enough I can post them.  We can tour Paris together based on riddles if you like.  I’m sure there are many creative souls out there–don’t be shy.  If I can write one after 40 odd years and lay it out there for the whole world to see, you can too.  Just send them to my email. This could be a fun group project!   By the way, you have to come back tomorrow to see the answers!  

Here is some reference to get you started: 

Aha Poetry.com

Haiku-os.org

Photos:  Personal collection, Dreamstime 

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