The words will come first for this one, the image last. The image won’t last but some of the words might.

NOTE: Like American Raku, American Haiku does not adhere to the rules of its Japanese namesake. I am a native-born citizen of the United States of America. The only rule I adhere to for my own “Haiku” is that it have a five-syllable line followed by a seven-syllable line followed by a concluding five-syllable line. They’re succinct!

the baggage unclaim’d
by conscientious thinkers
need not be opened

blink outside the box
sink rapidly to moisten
think or swim; you’re Choice

the fog is meringue
in the middle distance, a
surrounding scrim close

if life’s but a dream
then dreams are life subroutines
else life’s but a glitch

insomniac x:
why zee? DOUBLE you be, see?
just no-bud D saw.

the Road Less Traveled
may be dangerous or dull
better ask around

PAIN is not a gift
TORTURE is not an art form
Respect must be paid

unstressed syllables
are the sorbets of verses
they cleanse the pallette

friendly host zombie
chowing down on Ringo Starr:
who wants a d r u m s t i c k?

exclusivity
and loneliness may well go
hand in empty hand

5-7-5 is
an aggregate 17
–so QUICK: SAY something

Twin edifices
Tumbled down twelve years ago.
The Republic STANDS.