A Hard Day's Night
Kasen-no-renga

Global Haiku Tradition--Kasen-no-renga, Spring 2007

 

A Hard Day's Night
Tribute to Beatles & Haiku

May 12, 2007

by

Amy Hofstetter
Keith Chandler

The purpose behind our haiku project was to create a kasen-no-renga that is a tribute to the Beatles and their monumental place in musical history. By incorporating our own words into original lyrics of the Beatles songs, we have designed a layout that intertwines pictures of the two of us with the Beatles and capture the message they tried to portray. We included lyrics from such songs as Hello Goodbye, Blackbird, Yesterday, and Because. However, the fun for the reader is recognizing the songs and observing the new directions that we took some of the lyrics. What is also interesting is that we could take a diverse group of Beatles tunes and weave them together to make a unique piece of art. Take the time to let these lyrics and our words speak to you they way they spoke to us.


Beatles kasen graphic

A Hard Day's Night
tribute to the Beatles & haiku

November leaves
because the sky is blue
it makes me cry

wrinkled road map
the long and winding road

in the town
where I was born
rock skipping

manicured lawns
all the lonely people

because the world is round
it turns me on
star gazing

I believe in yesterday
get back to where you once belonged

high school reunion
you say goodbye
and I say hello

"There's a story of a dirty man"
same old shit

English class—
he says I want to be
a paperback writer

three wise men
every one of us is all we need

seven shots . . .
I should be sleeping
like a log

I am the walrus
googoozajube

crescent moon
Lucy in the sky
with diamonds

love is old
love is new

crimson heels
something in the way
she moves

Sunday morning
creeping like a nun

a quiet sneeze
strawberry fields
forever

she's got a ticket to ride
but she don't care

the last dance
take a sad song
and make it better

in my ear . . .
you say you want a revolution

windows down . . .
thoughts meander
like a restless wind

kicking off her heels
it's been a hard day's night

whisper . . .
words of wisdom
let it be

come together right now
over me

delicate lips
you were only waiting
for this moment to arrive

heavy heart beat
don't want to leave her now

curtain drawn
because the wind is high
it blows my mind

deja vu in the town
where I was born

cherry blossoms pop
please, please me
like I please you

setting moon
half of what I say is meaningless

blackbird singing
in the dead of night
the screen door closes

cold coffee
while my guitar gently weeps

light creeps
through the blinds
this bird has flown

I know I'll never lose affection
flawless mattress imprint

I saw her yesterday
cherry blossom perfume
remains

and life flows on
within you and without you

• • •

Beatles kasen graphic 2

 

   

© 2007, Randy Brooks • Millikin University • last updated: May 15, 2007
All rights returned to authors upon publication.