According to Poetry.com,
the definition of a haiku is: a Japanese verse form that relies on
brevity and simplicity to convey its message. It is usually three lines of five,
seven, and five syllables, and frequently includes natural images or themes. It
is believed to have been first written in the seventeenth century and is based
on a Zen Buddhist philosophy of simplicity and the idea of perfection that
excludes the extraneous.
So that Indianans (and
anyone else with an opinion about the Hoosier State) can express their
feelings for our little Midwestern paradise in a poetic way, HoosierGazette.com
is sponsoring a haiku contest.
For the next four weeks,
send in your Indiana-related haiku’s to
haiku@hoosiergazette.com with your name and address. The Hoosier Gazette
staff will judge all submissions and announce the top three winners on October
10. Winners will receive a Hoosier Gazette t-shirt and have their haikus posted
on our home page for all to appreciate.
Although different syllable
patterns are valid forms of haiku, to be eligible for the prize, your haiku MUST
consist of three lines of five, seven, and five syllables. For example:
