Cuckoo for Haiku

When did haiku become hip? Don't know exactly how or why but all of sudden, I'm being bombarded with news about the pithy li'l poems.

First I get a press release that Gnarls Barkley has announced a contest looking for the best haiku about (don't ask me why) pineapples or solitude. See press release below and check out the band's My Space page for their fans freaky attempts.

Then I hear that Uncabaret diva Beth Lapides has a new book out called "Did I Wake You? Haikus for Modern Living," on Soft Skull Press. You can buy it here…. but why?

And finally, when I saw this and it was all over. Sooo witty. Not!

Note: I tried to come up with my own 3 lined, 5-7-5 syllabled ditty for this post but each one sounded so disgustingly pretentious, I decided to pass. There's enough for you uh, enjoy in the links above and below.

(St. Elsewhere, February 2, 2007) A.B. Vidal, the CEO of St. Elsewhere, announced today he is running a Haiku contest on Gnarls Barkley's website. You can find the contest on the home page of www.gnarlsbarkley.com/haiku.

Samples:
I woke up alone
I turned on the radio
In search of some peace

Some doctors may say
That a pineapple a day
Keeps the hemlock away

Lonesome pineapple
How much faster do you roll
When you roll alone

In addition to bragging rights, the winners, chosen by Vidal himself, will win 3 different limited edition Gnarls Barkley lithographs ('Crazy' lithograph, 'Smiley Faces' lithograph, and 'Gone Daddy Gone' lithograph) from the Gnarls Barkley vault.

The contest winner(s) will be announced on February 11th, the same day Gnarls will be performing live on the Grammys.

For even more info, please go to www.myspace.com/gnarlsbarkley

--------