Highlander Haiku

The Holy Ground Highlander Forum Midweek Challenge

Archivist’s Note: The stories and vignettes offered here from various Rysher Forumlanders have not been edited or changed other than having a spell-check performed and being reformatted for this website.

A Special Head Start on the MWC: HIGHLANDER HAIKU

Posted by Leah CWPack on Monday, 19 June 2000, at 7:05 a.m.

What is Haiku?

Haiku is a very short poetic form, consisting of three lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables each, and must have a special word which evokes the season. It is probably the shortest poetic form in the world, and its development is native to Japan, with no influence from either the West or China. The poet must be concise because of the brevity, while concentrating deep spiritual understanding into the poem. The haiku poet usually takes up the changes of nature which have impressed him in order to express the intangible world of the spirit.

==============================================

SAMPLE: Richie, student worthy

A void where echoes only

The laughter of you

Your mission, should you decide to delight in it, is to create no more than 2 (TWO) HIGHLANDER-related haiku. You can disregard the part of the definition that requires the 'seasonal' reference. I am limiting the number to encourage the participants to select the 2 best of their attempts, in case they have more. The subject matter can be ANYTHING, as long as it's HL related.

Good luck!

MWC: Mai-ku

Posted by Leah CWPack on Monday, 19 June 2000, at 9:51 a.m., in response to A Special Head Start on the MWC: HIGHLANDER HAIKU, posted by Leah CWPack on Monday, 19 June 2000, at 7:05 a.m.

Stickboy flees Horsemen

Won't drop his burden, now

Sleeping beneath the dunes

===============================================

Forest wraith of Donan

Ancient green-eyed guardian

Who looks after *you*?

Re: A Special Head Start on the MWC: HIGHLANDER HAIKU

Posted by A. on Monday, 19 June 2000, at 10:22 a.m., in response to A Special Head Start on the MWC: HIGHLANDER HAIKU, posted by Leah CWPack on Monday, 19 June 2000, at 7:05 a.m.

Who are you, Methos?

Friend? Brother in arms? Traitor?

How can I trust you?

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

I light a candle

For a lost friend and mentor

Good-bye, Darius

MWC-aka Leah's school of creative writing!

Posted by angeleyes on Monday, 19 June 2000, at 10:56 a.m., in response to A Special Head Start on the MWC: HIGHLANDER HAIKU, posted by Leah CWPack on Monday, 19 June 2000, at 7:05 a.m.

I've never done this before so hopefully I did it right!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dark child of Solstice

Highlander, Everliving

Where will you find comfort?

HL Haiku

Posted by Ysanne on Monday, 19 June 2000, at 11:14 a.m., in response to A Special Head Start on the MWC: HIGHLANDER HAIKU, posted by Leah CWPack on Monday, 19 June 2000, at 7:05 a.m.

Fire banishing cold

And light eclipsing the dark

The Solstice child comes

----Another try----

Heather-purpled hills

Misty dreams of Highland sun

Memories warm me

----And a third attempt----

Splintered stars fall down

Cold earth receives broken dreams

Punishment for love

----Ysanne

A few more. Hey, this is fun!

Posted by Ysanne on Monday, 19 June 2000, at 1:24 p.m., in response to HL Haiku, posted by Ysanne on Monday, 19 June 2000, at 11:14 a.m.

"At Tessa's Grave"

Dying starshine falls

Burning briefly through heaven

Your light lives in me

"Methos"

Sarcasm and lies

Walls keep out the pain of love

Stones are cold comfort

"To Be"

Kneeling contrition

Soul-sick offering of love

Will it be enough?

"Amanda"

Twisting, turning life

Running through a maze of need

I rest here in you

"Joe"

Painful, halting steps

Music flowing deep and sure

Paradox of blues

"Anne"

Protector of life

With a sword or a scalpel?

I live with my choice

"Tessa Waits in Paris"

I'll strike a bargain

If you let him live tonight.

Would my life suffice?

"Watching"

Boredom and secrets

Years of damp, cold alleyways

Then, a quickening

"The Princes"

Taste of mortal life

A banquet of forever

Immortality

----Ysanne

OK, my first attempt at a MWC.

Posted by tirnanog on Monday, 19 June 2000, at 11:31 a.m., in response to A Special Head Start on the MWC: HIGHLANDER HAIKU, posted by Leah CWPack on Monday, 19 June 2000, at 7:05 a.m.

Number 1:

Dim-lit, ancient stone,

Wafted incense soothes the mind,

Safe on Holy Ground.

Number 2:

Mead, nectar of gods,

He who made this gift is gone,

Bitter now the cup.

Here are mine.....

Posted by SwingGirl on Monday, 19 June 2000, at 12:09 p.m., in response to A Special Head Start on the MWC: HIGHLANDER HAIKU, posted by Leah CWPack on Monday, 19 June 2000, at 7:05 a.m.

Methos drinks his beer,

Sprawls on Duncan's couch with ease.

How we love that sprawl.

-------------------------------------

It's the Gathering

And the lightening does strike.

Then there is but one.

Two more HL haiku...

Posted by tirnanog on Monday, 19 June 2000, at 2:01 p.m., in response to A Special Head Start on the MWC: HIGHLANDER HAIKU, posted by Leah CWPack on Monday, 19 June 2000, at 7:05 a.m.

When you strike at last,

My brother, my enemy,

Make it quick and clean.

AND

Bridges of the Seine,

What strange trysts you have witnessed,

Blade kissed blade, then fire.

some more haiku

Posted by A. on Monday, 19 June 2000, at 3:35 p.m., in response to A Special Head Start on the MWC: HIGHLANDER HAIKU, posted by Leah CWPack on Monday, 19 June 2000, at 7:05 a.m.

I realize that we were only supposed to write two of these things. Creativity cannot be stopped though, sorry.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Where do they come from?

A race with no origins

Where are they going?

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Does love conquer all?

Not illness. Not age. Not death.

Time cannot stand still.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Friends must fight to win

Blade to blade then blade to flesh

Is the prize worth this?

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Over the sand dunes

Horses' hooves beat like a heart

Death, Plague, War, Famine

Haiku! cool, haven't done those since jr high English...

Posted by Ghost Cat--looking silly counting syllables on her fingers on Monday, 19 June 2000, at 6:44 p.m., in response to A Special Head Start on the MWC: HIGHLANDER HAIKU, posted by Leah CWPack on Monday, 19 June 2000, at 7:05 a.m.

I actually like this format, it is surprisingly enlightening. Only 2 though? I'll try to restrain myself.

These are writen as if by DM himself. Hideo probably taught him the form between kendo lessons.

In Memory of Tessa:

My love, my artist

Taken away in Darkness

She will haunt my soul.

-----------------------

Climax:

The Quickening comes

I feel the power building

My strength grows once more

----------------------------

Well that was fun. Leah, please reconsider the 2 poem limit, pleeeeeeeeeease?

Carpe Noctem, seize the night

The Ghost Cat

Sad reflection on MWC.

Posted by Leah CWPack on Monday, 19 June 2000, at 7:45 p.m.

"Post two", I told them.

Ignored, they all exceeded.

Talking to myself!

=======================================

(Just kiddin'. I'm lovin' every one of the entries, overrun and all! You guys can color past the lines all you want.)

MWC HL Haiku

Posted by Celedon on Monday, 19 June 2000, at 8:54 p.m.

For Connor __________

Heart's passion beats

but walls surround you.

Dare you break the loneliness again?

Fitzcairn ___________

So many to pluck, so many to taste.

Do you see behind my smile?

MWC-Darius & Deliverance

Posted by lynnann-a heart thats true on Monday, 19 June 2000, at 8:41 p.m.

Thanks Leah for lifting restriction. If I come up with something really inspiring later, I will post (don't know how I will get any work done tomorrow...*g*)

*****

Darius

------

Ancient of Paris,

In winter's battle you find

Your student of Peace.

******

*Deliverance*

God, I killed my friend.

In Darkness, I felt Nothing.

Change me, or Stop me.

******

_______

lynnann

MWC Quickie

Posted by midnyte rumour on Tuesday, 20 June 2000, at 4:07 a.m.

Death & Warrior

Hazel gaze met Oak Unspoken challenge answered The heart's strength renewed

MWC....

Posted by T Rose/Tikasmom on Tuesday, 20 June 2000, at 6:07 a.m.

End of series has come

Desolation soon to be relieved

When movie premiers.

____________________________________________

The last one stands

All foes and friends are vanquished.

In final victory he is forever alone.

MWC: My humble submission...

Posted by Red Hunter on Tuesday, 20 June 2000, at 10:44 a.m.

Headless Death by sword

Holy Ground is Refuge There

Can be only One ________________________________

Tessa is no more

Richie is no longer here

Duncan is alone _______________________________ I think I got it right....

Red

My Haiku...please bare in mind.....

Posted by Harmony on Tuesday, 20 June 2000, at 2:32 p.m.

....I'm not good at this kind of thing.

*************************

The Highlander pride

shields a champion soul

amid a wounded heart

********************************

As Always,

Harmony

movie haikus

Posted by wendy on Tuesday, 20 June 2000, at 3:16 p.m.

***

Testosterone-fest

Male immies, male k'immies,

Joe Wherefore Amanda?

***

Premiere approaches

Only two more months to go

Anticipation

***

More "High"-kus

Posted by Ghost Cat on Tuesday, 20 June 2000, at 5:20 p.m.

Inspiration strikes again (though I'm still counting on my fingers!)

---------------------------

Strength without control

is nothing; his discipline

banks an inner flame.

--------------------------

Is life meaningful

without Death? Ask the Eldest:

sad smile his answer.

------------------------------

Amanda: Lady?

Thief? Or something more?

She is what she is.

--------------------------

The Ghost Cat

More MWC

Posted by midnyte rumour on Tuesday, 20 June 2000, at 5:20 p.m.

“Live & Let Die”

Immortality!

Curse: There Can Be Only One

Nightmare of the soul

* * *

“ROG”

Grand and impressive

Jutting proudly from its plane

Magnificent nose

My MWC attempt...

Posted by Lovie MacFru on Tuesday, 20 June 2000, at 6:15 p.m.

Never tried this before.. but here goes..

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Rose grows shining white

Blood red beneath the surface

Evil touches all

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Honor above life

The path so few can follow

He at best will fall

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

MWC--haikus?

Posted by vixen69 on Wednesday, 21 June 2000, at 4:33 a.m.

Tough one for me. To much western poetry on my end--dealing with odd syllables makes me anxious to close the foot--I *like* iambs, okay? So I did what I always do in a jam--turn it over to my alter ego--Genevieve (she's immortal, I'm not, and she doesn't know the first thing about poetry.) I was hoping for beginner's luck, which, her being an OFC and all, I figured she'd be long on. Here's her entries:

The first death ensures

Youthful face and strong body,

Closed casket at death.

***

To be only One?

Sounds like a massive rip-off.

Being alone sucks.

(Of course, those were the clean ones.)

Arggh, my Haiku came out as a single line, let me try it again...

Posted by Viking Lass CWPack Chief MCR on Wednesday, 21 June 2000, at 10:01 a.m., in response to MWC Haiku - it is *NOT* a Methos/Cassie pairing - also more info on Japanese Poetry...., posted by Viking Lass CWPack Chief MCR on Wednesday, 21 June 2000, at 9:58 a.m.

Remember "Studies in Light" ep? Well, Gregg Powers is an immie that intrigues me, ya wonder, has he gotten his life back together, tossed that Nihilism/fatalism aside to view life in a happier tone? So in order to break out of a Methos/Cassie ditch that I've dug in regard to MWC's here's a Haiku for Gregg.

Photos, Images

Memories of events past

And future revealed

MWC haiku...

Posted by LA-LA lander on Wednesday, 21 June 2000, at 11:45 a.m.

I wasn't even going to attempt this one, but this morning as I laid there trying to remain in denial about having to get up, these came popping into my head. The muse alarm strikes again.

"Quickening"

Lightening, fire, wind

A thousand voices cry out

Then stillness returns

_____________________________________

"Movie Movie Movie"

The Movie cometh

Anticipation rises

It will rock they say

MWC-Any red blooded woman’s dream*eg*

Posted by angeleyes on Wednesday, 21 June 2000, at 12:25 p.m.

Brisk Spring breezes blow,

Flipping Highlander kilts high!

Gives questions answer.

My 2nd Haiku MWC *again* it's not Methos/Cassie it's...

Posted by Viking Lass CWPack Chief MCR on Wednesday, 21 June 2000, at 12:31 p.m.

for Marcus Constantine.

Days of Glory gone

History must be preserved

The museum waits

My humble MWC efforts...

Posted by SBO, really enjoying everyone's creativity! on Wednesday, 21 June 2000, at 4:44 p.m.

I haven't done a haiku since high school, so be gentle!!

The first two are about ONH:

Proud warrior moves

Silently through the ages

Will he gain the Prize?

Four hundred years

Gentle lover, trusted friend

So much loss and grief.

These other two came out of a long think about Paris:

Barge on the river,

Restful haven, shelter there

for a weary man.

Sinners, saints visit

Peace, Quiet, Sanctuary

St. Julien's Church

Hope to be back on the Forum full time on Friday.

Giggles--SBO

oh dear a Methos haiku just flew out of the ditch and landed under the new tree...t

Posted by Viking Lass CWPack Chief MCR with shovel and pruning shears on Wednesday, 21 June 2000, at 3:07 p.m., in response to Very nice and leafy, thanks., posted by Leah CWPack on Wednesday, 21 June 2000, at 2:32 p.m.

Methos Haiku:

Prisoner and slave

Her soft caresses I craved

How wrong I was then

Ya want hot? A Cassie Haiku flew out of the ditch, now my orchard is on fire....t

Posted by Viking Lass CWPack Chief MCR with shovel, pruning shears and water hoses.... on Wednesday, 21 June 2000, at 3:40 p.m., in response to Oh. My. Is it getting a bit warm in here?, posted by Leah CWPack on Wednesday, 21 June 2000, at 3:19 p.m.

A Cassie Haiku

Fanning the hot flames

Pain, Desire coexist

I belong to him

More MWC Haiku

Posted by Jo Raumo on Thursday, 22 June 2000, at 11:35 a.m.

Three for Cassandra by Jo Raumo (inspired by the works of Janeen Grohsmeyer)

---------------------------

Winter cold her soul

History is not her friend

All hope forgotten

-------------------------------

Rage like summer heat

Guides her hand to banish Death

In hope remembered

-----------------------------------

The year turns again

From beneath her pain she rises

This hope triumphant

----------------------------------

Ode to Haiku on the Forum

Posted by Jo Raumo on Thursday, 22 June 2000, at 12:16 p.m., in response to LOL!!! I agree about the formatter., posted by Leah CWPack on Thursday, 22 June 2000, at 11:45 a.m.

Where is my line feed?/ Tab? Space? Gone! My random thoughts/ Run on like water

MWC attempt:

Posted by Rab on Thursday, 22 June 2000, at 9:42 a.m.

OK, haiku has long been my poetic frustration, just never could get the knack for it, so these are probably pretty feeble. If you ever want limericks, though, give me a holler.

"Duncan's Hands"

Touching with love and comfort,

Building, repairing, restoring;

Grasping death-dealing blade,

Slaying the dragons.

Dichotomy.

"Duncan and Methos"

Sons of light and darkness;

Two sides of a single coin;

Joined and ever opposite;

One gives what one needs.

Who teaches the teachers?

"Amanda"

Light-fingered lady,

Mischievious, sexy sprite;

Voice of older experience,

No fair-weather friend.

Be merry and wise.

"Joe"

Not on the sidelines,

Only Watching the Game;

To close to the players,

Not seeing abstracts.

There can be only one?