EN170 Haiku Writing Roundtable • Fall 2005 Dr. Randy Brooks

Joanne Weise

Pleasantly Abnormal Selected Haiku by Joanne Weise As I near the end of my college career (at least the undergrad portion), I'm finally feeling a sense of completion in my life, and I think that my haiku have really started to reflect that wholeness. My haiku have always taken up many random topics and as many random forms, and the batch from this roundtable class are no exception. I think that my haiku will forever jump around as such, and I'm very happy and proud to write about those random things. I am and have never been "normal," and really, I think all people are equally abnormal... they just don't want to admit it. Though I have no idea what will happen to me after May 21, 2006, I surely hope that haiku and the haiku community will be a part of that life yet to come. (Dedicated to my great friends, especially the Spunky Punks and Millikinites. I don't know how many of these haiku wouldn't be here today without you all. I love each and every one of you (c'mon, stifle your "aww!"s).

reader's intro Joanne’s work has an everyday sensibility that really appears to readers. Most haiku writers feel that when they take on such an old tradition that most of their work needs to be mimetic. Joanne has instead kept her haiku in step with today, and infused wry humor to delight her readers. I hope to see more collections from her in the future. -D. Fields

texas hold-em until i'm dealt suited aces

singles bar the jukebox plays our old song

peanut butter lid on the counter-- no longer newlyweds

after work remembering i was hungry three hours ago

our first Christmas i hate all the gifts

girls' night in-- squishing cotton balls between our toes

aroused-- you brush your teeth before coming to bed

© 2005, Randy Brooks • Millikin University
All rights returned to authors upon publication.