Haikus, poems that surprise

At its simplest, a haiku is a Japanese verse 3 lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables on nature or one of the 4 seasons. But haikus are defined many ways, e.g.,

• Haiku Society of America
• How to write a haiku poem

I've written haikus for years now. An early example:

Campground ©1991 Peter A. Letendre

A blush of colour
washes clean upon a lake
dirty with acid.

Ideally, a haiku should create a surprise, a contrast between juxtaposed ideas.

Haikus are not to everyone's taste but I love their simplicity.

Ode to tarts

I should never have brought them home. I'm talking about pecan tarts.

After an initial nibble, I was hooked. Now I can't stop thinking of them. Especially as the wife took one look at them and exclaimed, "Are you nuts?" 


Then, with that piercing glare I've become all too familiar with over 40 years, she infiltrated my brain, as if by osmosis, with the terrible thought that the tarts would have to go.

Go where, you ask? Why into our apartment's trash shute, of course. The graveyard of all snacks that constitute the caloric content of an entire meal but with minimal to zero nutritional value and loaded with no-nos like sodium and sugar. The resting place of my impulsive, edible purchases.

 After the funereal disposal of the 'forbidden fruit,' I awoke in the middle of the night with a craving. A sinful obsession with tarts - pecan tarts - overtook me. Who would notice? Who would care? When recalling the sugar and salt content, "So what!" says I. Then reality dawns. They're gone. The tarts are no more.

Sadly shuffling into the kitchen, I stealthily open the fridge searching for a suitable substitute. After contemplating the choices on offer, I finally opt for a zero fat plain yogurt and toss in a few blueberries.  

Surprisingly, the yogurt and fresh berries taste great. Who knew?

Next I'll be snacking on melba toast, and horror-of-horrors, the dreaded asparagus, brussel sprouts, celery, the whole veggie crew.

I feel like composing an ode to tarts:

Ode to Tarts
©2012 Peter A. Letendre 

Chewy and gooey,
not healthy nor smart,
sugars and pecans
make a lively tart.
Oh, they have to go!

Yummy and gummy
these sly crunchy treats
seduce and entice
with fattening sweets.
Oh, why must they go?

I fell for their spell
when inside the store
they slipped in my bag
like old pals of yore.
Tomorrow they'll go!