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The Haiku Un-Cliché Cliché Contest



THE HAIKU UN-CLICHÉ CLICHÉ CONTEST
(CONTEST DEDICATED TO SANDGODDESS/RACHEL AND CHIQUITA)

I think if there's one image that's most overused for poetry, it's probably the "rose," specifically RED roses, and we probably have William Shakespeare and Robert Burns to blame for that--Though it's not to say there aren't other image clichés which have been written into poetry time and again--(and again).  Now all this thinking caused me to think about haiku cliché-images and haiku non-cliché images, and I've compiled the following short lists:

   
A SHORT LIST OF CLICHÉ HAIKU IMAGES:

THE MOON
And it's always a FULL MOON!

  THE STARS
To accompany that FULL moon, of course!
 
ANYTHING THAT BLOSSOMS
It would take 100's of years to read all the blossom haiku!
 
CATERPILLARS/BUTTERFLIES/SOMETIMES MOTHS
 Or anything else involving a cocoon and/or fluttering!
   
FROGS
Whether croaking atop a cliched lily-pad or not...
 
PONDS
Because where else would you find a clichéd frog?
 
GRASSHOPPERS AND CRICKETS AND FIREFLIES
Unless in combination with gnats, roaches, horseflies, ants, etc.

 

 
    (NOTE:  Ladybugs are also considered haiku-cliché!)
             
SEA OF JAPAN
Unless you call it Sea of Kireji!
 
AND...

     
A SHORT LIST OF NON-CLICHÉ HAIKU-IMAGES:
SEA OF KIREJI
So long as you don't call it the Sea of Japan!

SUMO WRESTLERS
Preferably Japanese Sumo Wrestlers, though that may be cliché...
 
FIREWORKS
So long as they're not solely RED, WHITE AND BLUE!

BONSAI TREES
Preferably dead Bonsai Trees!
 
KOI FISH
Preferably dead koi fish!

FOOTBALL AND/OR RAVENS
Ravens/ravens always make for great haiku!!!

HAIKU WRITTEN IN JAPANESE
Only if WITHOUT the support of English-translation!
 
  I ♥♥ HAIKU!!!
(NOTE:  For purposes of this contest, please provide translation!)
 
MT. FUJI
Probably a haiku-cliche, but who can resist a Mt. Fuji haiku really?

  POETS AND CATS
Because this contest is dedicated to Rachel and her new kitten, Chiquita!

There you have it--My lists totalling 17 haiku cliché/non-cliché images--(Intentionally symbolic of 17 haiku-syllables).  Yes, I realize it's not necessarily the "image" but the means by which that image is expressed that make for cliché/non-cliché, but in the way of entries for this contest, you can:

1.  Write a haiku of 17 syllables-or-less using one of the above haiku-images whether it be cliché or non-cliché in new light without cliché--In other words, a stunning haiku.

OR...

2.  Write a haiku using one of the above haiku-images whether it be cliché or non-cliché evoking any-every cliché of that image to fill 17 syllables-or less.  For instance, a frog leaping from the "dead as wood log," a butterfly that alights on the "rose by any other name," etc.

THE CLICHÉD RULES:
 1.  Two-entry limit per-person/AP personality.  Haiku-chains are considered one entry and you are welcome to post a second entry, even a second haiku-chain entry if you so choose.
 2.  No 17-syllabled bashing of any other person unless you are writing about Sumo Wreslers!
 3.  Please note if you have written your entry as to Option #1--(CLICHÉ) or Option #2--(NON-CLICHÉ) or Option #3--(BOTH) within your Author's Comments.
 4.  And no cliché intended--HAVE FUN!!!  Beginner to experienced haiku-writers all welcome!

 
THE NON-CLICHÉ AWARDS-REWARDS:

TROPHY + 300 POINTS AND A
TROPHY + 200 POINTS AND A
TROPHY + 100 POINTS AND A
+ MANY HM REWARDS TOO!!!

So, submit a cliché-less or cliché haiku-or-two to the contest!!!
Jo

FIREWORKS_3.gif (4219 bytes)

IMAGE CREDITS:
http://www.gifs.net
http://www.scr8e.com
 http://www.uselessgraphics.com
http://www.sighco.com/Japanese-Kanji-Buttons-p-106.html




(GRAPHICS THANKS TO AZURE85/SUSIE!)


 

Contest is Over

  • Contest was judged on February 27, 2007
  • Rewards: Gold: 300, Silver: 200, Bronze: 100, Honorable mention: 23 people
  • Final notes:
    Thank you all for the great haiku-entries to this contest. You've all created some very uncliché haiku of very cliché haiku-images to be sure--AND I got the chance to read my first and some of the best Sumo Wrestler and dead-koi and dead-bonsai haiku ever written!!!

    The awards for Gold, Silver and Bronze are:

    GOLD--"Japanese/English" by RIP Whoever
    SILVER--"Half A Cat" by Tishu
    BRONZE--"Cliché Crammed Chain" by CatAuthor

    Thank you all always and again for the great entries to this contest. In no particular order, there are HM Awards-Rewards for the remainder of entries along with a clichéd red rose, of course!!!

    Jo

Contest Winners

  1. Japanese/ English
    by RIP Whoever 12 lines, 11 comments, on Feb 11 6:42 PM 2007. In Haiku, Love, Nature
    Gold trophy winner
    • Commented on by judge. [remove]
  2. half a cat
    by Tishu 13 lines, 11 comments, on Feb 13 8:16 AM 2007. In Haiku
    Silver trophy winner
    • Commented on by judge. [remove]
  3. Cliche Crammed Chain
    A chain of cliched haikus--contest poem.
    by Catauthor 20 lines, 11 comments, on Feb 11 6:24 PM 2007. In Haiku, Humor, Cliche
    Bronze trophy winner
    • Commented on by judge. [remove]
  4. Kathump!
    by sheltered 5 lines, 6 comments, on Feb 11 4:33 PM 2007. In Haiku, Humor
    Honorable mention
    • Commented on by judge. [remove]
  5. deep in the tower
    by Macey Muse 7 lines, 5 comments, on Feb 11 3:17 PM 2007. In Haiku
    Honorable mention
    • Commented on by judge. [remove]
  6. Sumo
    by pixxiepoetess 3 lines, 4 comments, on Feb 11 4:02 PM 2007. In Other
    Honorable mention
    • Commented on by judge. [remove]
  7. Me So Bunny
    by sheltered 6 lines, 6 comments, on Feb 11 4:15 PM 2007. In Haiku, Humor
    Honorable mention
    • Commented on by judge. [remove]
  8. LJ feeds
    LJ feeds
    the japanese koi in the pond
    by Pollycheck 2 lines, 4 comments, on Feb 11 9:22 PM 2007. In Haiku, Humor
    Honorable mention
    • Commented on by judge. [remove]
  9. [ fireworks explode ]
    by going nowhere 3 lines, 12 comments, on Feb 11 8:43 PM 2007. In Haiku, cliche
    Honorable mention
    • Commented on by judge. [remove]
  10. A Rose
    by Billbard 3 lines, 5 comments, on Feb 11 4:59 PM 2007. In humor
    Honorable mention
    • Commented on by judge. [remove]
  11. Belly To Belly
    Ponderous performance
    by Billbard 2 lines, 5 comments, on Feb 11 6:21 PM 2007. In Japanese sport.
    Honorable mention
    • Commented on by judge. [remove]
  12. [ taxi accident ]
    by azure85 3 lines, 4 comments, on Feb 11 6:26 PM 2007. In Humor
    Honorable mention
    • Commented on by judge. [remove]
  13. Error: Unable to find finalist item 2622066, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
  14. cool diamonds
    by Maya Lyubenova 3 lines, 6 comments, on Feb 12 7:50 AM 2007. In Haiku
    Honorable mention
    • Commented on by judge. [remove]
  15. Error: Unable to find finalist item 2632556, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
  16. Haiku 20 - Scarlet love apple
    by Shenton 2 lines, 2 comments, on Feb 12 6:20 AM 2007. In Haiku
    Honorable mention
    • Commented on by judge. [remove]
  17. Error: Unable to find finalist item 2623830, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
  18. [ foggy night ]
    by azure85 2 lines, 7 comments, on Feb 13 8:23 AM 2007. In Other
    Honorable mention
    • Commented on by judge. [remove]
  19. spitting stones
    by Tishu 24 lines, 6 comments, on Feb 15 5:39 AM 2007. In Haiku
    Honorable mention
    • Commented on by judge. [remove]
  20. A Slip
    WARMNESS WITHERS COLD CLIMATE
    by Purush 3 lines, 4 comments, on Feb 25 1:03 AM 2007. In Love
    Honorable mention
    • Commented on by judge. [remove]
  21. [ with soft glow ]
    by Kitesen 2 lines, 8 comments, on Feb 24 6:38 PM 2007. In Haiku
    Honorable mention
    • Commented on by judge. [remove]
  22. The only guarentee in life
    by fluofontis 4 lines, 2 comments, on Feb 22 12:01 AM 2007. In Haiku
    Honorable mention
    • Commented on by judge. [remove]
  23. Sweet Revenge
    by jasminerose 7 lines, 17 comments, on Feb 21 7:52 PM 2007. In Haiku, Humor, Non Cliche
    Honorable mention
    • Commented on by judge. [remove]
  24. Froggies' Karma (Haiku)
    by Tangled Angle 2 lines, 16 comments, on Feb 11 3:10 PM 2007
    Honorable mention
    • Commented on by judge. [remove]

Entries [24]

1 - 24 of 24

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Comments

1 - 13 of 13

  • Tangled Angle
    February 11, 2007
    Edit | Reply
    I love this.
    I'll probably enter.


  • azure85 gold member
    February 11, 2007
    Edit | Reply
    Oh, you mentioned moon!



    I am going to have fun thinking of this!

    And for Chiquita and Rachel, how sweet!

    • NoWayJo
      February 11, 2007
      Edit | Reply
      Yep, I included the moon, probably one of the most overused or underused haiku-images depending on which way you look at it! I still have a lot of those "moon" images we gathered-up for a contest a while back if you need 'em for your entry, Susie!!!



      Jo


  • heartnsoul
    February 12, 2007
    Edit | Reply
    Ah....Jo....only you could think of something this challenging. I HAVE to try for this one. I will bookmark it.


  • grannyeri gold member
    February 12, 2007
    Edit | Reply
    A bit of work you have gone through just to create this wonderful contest page - very unque contest. Thanks for hosting.


  • seraphim shock
    February 24, 2007
    Edit | Reply
    oh man, I have a perfect prewritten one about the moon...


  • Yazhi
    February 24, 2007
    Edit | Reply

    lol

    Looks like another great contest Jo!
    All I can say! You're the cats meow for doing this for your friend!
    Good luck in judging!
    Yazhi


  • sheltered
    February 27, 2007
    Edit | Reply
    Seems entering your contests is the honorable thing to do not to mention a lot of fun. Thanks.


  • Tangled Angle
    February 27, 2007
    Edit | Reply
    YAY! *does the pancake dance*


  • azure85 gold member
    February 27, 2007
    Edit | Reply
    Thank you for the HM, Hooray for the winners! They are great ones! And thanks for such a fun contest!


  • Tishu
    February 28, 2007
    Edit | Reply

    Cheers!

    Thanks a lot for the awards and congrats to all the other contestants - a fun contest

    Alan

1 - 13 of 13