I don't know why, but the idea for a Cairn Haiku contest suddenly popped into my head last night. Here's the concept, and the rules.

• Write a haiku with the Cairn Terrier as your inspiration.
  
• Give your haiku a title - the title is not judged - it's only used to identify your haiku from others. No title = no entry and deletion.
  
• A valid entry post contains ONLY a title and a haiku in the 5-7-5 syllable format. Invalid format = no entry and deletion. Additional comments in post = no entry and deletion.
  
• You must be registered on Cairn Talk (not just 'validating') and logged in for your entry to be valid.
  
• Posts that are comments about the entries are fine - just understand that you can't combine comments WITH an entry.
  
• I will post a valid entry to use as a sample. You bet it's entered in the contest, too.
  
• The contest ends at midnight, server time (Pacific DST), on July 31.
  
• After the contest ends, I will create a poll (or series of polls) listing each entry in this thread by title for voting. Since polls are limited to 15 items, if there are more than 15 entries, I will create multiple polls and run the winners of each sub-poll in subsequent polls, until one haiku reigns supreme. Each poll will list the deadline for voting.
  
• The prize will be a $15 gift certificate to a dog-related online emporium, donated by an anonymous but somewhat dim Cairn fan who didn't think to have the emporium donate the darn thing before starting a contest.
  

Gather your Cairn close to you, light a candle to summon your muse, and post those haikus. More importantly, have fun!

Edit: Clarified that contest is for registered, logged-in CTF members

Edited July 14, 200520 yr by bradl

Alarm Clock

Who stands on my chest?

Asleep, a loud sigh intrudes

Haggis is awake

Bon Appetit

Steel bowl full with food

Seconds pass, food gone, silence

Loud burp! Dinner good!

Diving Diva

The water calls her

She sees her beloved float

Now she takes the plunge

Hot-Diggity

He sniffs the area

"What's this....?" scratches the soft ground

Soil flies all around

The hang-out

Treat jar has no name

But it always looks the same

Twelve paws beneath it.

Guard Dog....

Sleeping in my bed

I hear a noise so I bark

Oh it's just Mom, Sigh......

Stinky Pup

My stinky puppy

To bathe or not to bathe him

That is the question

Enticement

I have a Cookie,

Won't you come my little one

NO not til I'm done!

The Alarm Sounds

Sitting in the window

Vexed by passersby

Soundeth the bark, the battlecry!

My home is your home

Lizards, Mice, Crickets

too! Wes sneaks 'em all inside.

"Hide under my couch!"

Tranquillity

Deep silence

in the room

the cairn sleeps

While We Try To Sleep

Voices bark, cairn ears

Hear faint rumbles, thunder comes

The boys protect us

In the yard

Holes dug, plants watered

Cairn commandos stand on guard

Cairn ears listening

Excuse me, but what's a haikau?

Who me????

My chewed up new shoes

Savannah looks innocent

"I didn't do it, Mom!"

A haiku is a Japanese poem that is written using 5 syllables in the first line, 7 in the second line and 5 again in the last line.

A haiku is a Japanese poem that is written using 5 syllables in the first line, 7 in the second line and 5 again in the last line.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

descriptionofhaiku

In the beginning is the form. In Japanese a haiku is traditionally 5-7-5 sound syllables. All languages cannot duplicate this method of counting syllables so foreign language writers must decide to either follow the method by writing 5-7-5 syllables in their own language. However if they prefer to imitate the product, the translated Japanese haiku, their poems must consist of less words. In English we cannot have both method and translated product correct in one poem so each of us must choose one system or the other. Beginners (especially if better acquainted with Western poetry) often do well to follow the 5-7-5 discipline at first. Later, when they become comfortable with saying what they want said in the least words, as it is easier to switch to the shorter styled haiku in a natural movement. This does not mean that 5-7-5 haiku are beginners' work; many, many very good writers insist on remaining with the form scheme.

A New Day

Awakened to noise

a paw bangs on the crate door

the day has begun

Edited July 15, 200520 yr by toomanypaws

Life in Our House

Brody come, good boy

Mia come, Mia, Mia?

Oh how we love it

Our Cairn Terriers

Playful and happy,

Best little pals in the world.

Our Cairn terriers.

Is there a limit to how many we can post ?

The Aloof Cairn

The stooge ball is thrown

Look at that Lab run and fetch

I, with pride, refuse

Earthdog

The prey hides below.

Come out, Come out, my sweet toy!

Earthdog has your scent!

Dreams

Playtime is over

Cosmo lays on cold cement

Dreaming biscuit dreams

Hi Wellygoogles. I'm sure we've corrupted the form, but in common use in the US at least it's often just a short verse in the form of three lines ...

5 syllables

7 syllables

5 syllables

Wikipedia (as just one resource) gives some good context: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haiku

Is there a limit to how many we can post ?

Nope! The more the merrier.