Peter Galen Massey

clatter of dishes / clangor of the ancient bells / soft conversations

the tri-tone siren / wails through the quiet cloister / another passion

on the duomo wall / the pigeons and prophets stand / judging the tourists

this flesh and this stone / are too light for the rising / passion of my soul

life flows abundant / like the bright waters of all / the fountains of rome

I particularly like this poem because it breaks all the rules of haiku. It features five haiku instead of a single poem (which is wrong). Has a title (which is wrong). Makes direct statements rather that hinting at meaning (which is very wrong). Ignores the natural world (which is mostly wrong but allowable under limited circumstances). And best of all, offers something new (why have rules if you don’t follow them?).

I’m not opposed to traditional haiku, of course, and you’ll find poems I’ve written that follow the established rules. I just don’t feel the need to limit myself to the typical elements of haiku, and most of all I am interested in attempting to expand the form and write poems worth reading. You will judge for yourself whether I’ve succeeded.