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Grotius -> RE: 俳句 : グロティウス v. マィかラヌッ テ (AAR by Haiku: Grotius v. Maikarant) (1/27/2010 10:12:34 AM)
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For reasons that remain mysterious to me, the Emperor has asked me to oversee the Empire's ongoing response to the China Incident, as well as the advent of the East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere. It is, of course, my duty to comply, even though I am only a humble poet (詩人) who hardly makes a living at his trade. The Emperor has given me strange tools for the coming task: a mouse that clicks, and keys that stick. I hear no bombs overhead, no soldiers outside, no warships in the port, but I trust there is a war on, and I will do my best to bring us glory. I am further hobbled by the curious fact that my Japanese is weaker than my English, as I was educated abroad; thus I hope the reader will forgive the use of English, and only occasional embarrassing ventures into 日本語 .
I will recount many events in verse, but I will also make recourse to prose, for haiku (俳句) is sometimes unduly economical with words. My honorable adversary, Maikarant, may make one appearance here to submit a haiku of his own. Then he will follow his own path.
I invite (but do not require) the reader to comment in haiku, if the spirit moves. Recall that the English form often (but not always) features a phrase with five "syllables", then one with seven, then one with five. Often (but not always) there is a seasonal reference, and often a reference to nature. But I am not fussy about such things. I also welcome ordinary conversation, as I am a rather incompetent commander, and I shall doubtless need guidance from time to time.
Our little conflict has already made some small progress, upon which I will report in due course, perhaps after Maikarant has had an opportunity to post a little poem of his own here. In the meantime, thank you for visiting me in this place.
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