Something about haiku is very attractive:
there is the challenge of the 17-syllable form, in three rows of 5, 7 and 5 syllables respectively.
And yet that very shortness makes it seem less daunting than longer poems.
Whatever the reason, everyone seemed to give it a try!
Author Index - click on links
Setting is Bag End
Now, throw it into the fire
What is it you see
There is nothing here
Gandalf's fear is put to rest
Wait! I see something.
It looks like Elvish
But the words I can not read
Gandalf is fearful
No one knows, do they
Do they, Frodo asks again
Gandalf is silent
Take it, Frodo shouts
Do not tempt me, Gandalf says
What will happen next
It can not stay here
It can not Gandalf replies
What am I to do
You must leave the Shire
Stay off the road, dear hobbit
You must go to Bree
Something is outside
Staff of Gandalf hits its mark
Gandalf now finds Sam
Sam, what did you hear
Nothing that is of importance
Duty now calls you
Samwise, follow him
Do not let him leave your sight
Good friend of Frodo
So it all begins
Off before the morning light
Hope rests in small race
Nigette Kure!
Gandarufu itta
Mina naita
(Translation:)
Run Away! (command)
Gandalf said
Everyone cried
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Take the golden ring
to Mount Doom to be unmade
Frodo, humble hobbit.
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red eye in tower
searching probing longing hate
quailing hearts succumb
nazgûl on shadow's
wing darken the starlit sky
hearts burst asunder
hope in small heart beats
stops at doom's mountain doorstep
then begins again
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"Yrch!" Legolas says.
Unthinking slaves of Sauron:
Mutated ex-Elves.
Great, old Tree-people
Stay sleeping in the woods? No!
Look out, Saruman!
Ugly, stupid Trolls
Their lesson: Indecision
Will turn you to stone!
Bright, cheerful Halflings!
Small, carefree exterior
Hides great bravery.
Golden-haired Elf prince
Protects mortal Fellowship;
Maia Gandalf, too!
Friendship is his strength.
Left Rosie, Shire, garden
To protect Frodo.
Oh I am so lucky
My obsession's just begun
Merchandise to buy
Innocent Frodo
gets yet another haiku
courageous hobbit
Wide eyed hobbit lads
sit before Bilbo Baggins,
tales of hungry trolls
Legolas, elven prince,
keen eyes, light steps, swift arrows
guarding the mortals.
Fireworks display
At Bag End's birthday party
Look out, a dragon!
Merry and Pippin
caught red-handed by Gandalf
Stuck washing dishes
Dependable Sam
Gives everything for Frodo
Always my hero
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Frodo and Samwise
journey through evil Mordor.
The world awaits change.
Merry's valour shone
on the field of Pelennor:
Doom for the Witch King.
Frodo took the Ring
to save the Shire from evil
for all but himself.
Shadowfax takes flight.
A glimpse of a White Rider
flashes in the night.
So ends Saruman
in tainted Hobbiton, like
pipeweed, up in smoke
Paralyzing fear
as the Nazgûl screech above,
terror rules thought
Breathing slowly the
woods of Fangorn wait and watch.
Isengard falls soon.
"I will take the Ring,
though I do not know the way."
Frodo seals his fate.
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Solostara's off.
So, back to school tomorrow.
Join us at weekends?
Haiku About Haiku
You hooked on haikus?
Can't resist to add some more?
Seek medical aid.
Go immediately!
Don't wait to be told again
It may be too late!!
Rumble on Mount Doom
Your spawn awaits its return
Precious is death
Miss Sackville-Baggins
Likes the touch of silver spoons
Count them when she leaves
Androgynous Elf
Dressed all in grey and green
Walk slowly through time
Ages come and go
Again, men will fall and rise
As you pass them by
Greyhavens beckon
The long walk is finished. Rest,
your Silent Signal
To the West you sail,
Tranquil seas welcome you home
End of days draws nigh
Dwarf and Elf bicker
Arguing who is the best
Friendship is their test
Poor Ents still no wives
Fruitless searching in forests
Proves they're in disguise!
Aulë made the Dwarves:
Stone-stubborn, strong, mostly male.
Durin awakens.
'Cellar door' rolls off
the tongue like an Elvish phrase;
language is lovely.
Angry tree-shepherds
Avenge their children's slaughter.
Down, false Istari!
Aragorn's support
Signals fulfillment of fate
Return of the King
Head-strong Boromir
Ring and truth perceived too late
Gondor's horn silenced
Frodo's mighty quest
Seeks peace in Ring's destruction
Friendship strengthens will
Mighty bowman Elf
Keeps deadly aim with arrows
Piercing evils heart
Sound no more Gondor
the Horn which wakes to battle.
Silenced Boromir.
Sam's old pony Bill
Once sort The Prancing Pony
He's now soup du jour!!
The nine are abroad
There is terror on the road
Careful who you trust.
Precious, my Precious
Gollum sought his favourite
But death sought him too!
Starve not the discourse!
Much pleasure is still to be had
In the jewels of words.
Debates continue
Fresh opinions present
New revelations
Welcome one and all
Give you thoughts their full measure
Musings we'll treasure
Our ear and our heart,
Attentive to expression,
Never fear rancour.
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Gentle hobbit Frodo
with loyal Sam to Mount Doom
deadly dark journey
Elven Legolas
swift arrows, light steps, fair face
unlikely dwarf friend.
Boromir, dear friend,
fighting fiercely unto death,
valiant hero.
Gandalf, grey wizard
facing fiery Balrog
stands firm, unyielding.
Flying Shadowfax
willingly bearing Gandalf
defies dominion
Eowyn, the fair,
heart yearning for Aragorn
the king in exile.
Strider, dark Ranger,
Aragorn, King of Gondor,
love of Evenstar.
Rest, Théoden, while
patient evermind guards the
barrows of the Kings.
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Horn of Gondor sound
a paean for thy lost son
gallant Boromir.
Light of silver stars,
music like water singing;
the Elves have left us.
Dance merry hobbits
in the summer of thy days,
as Baggins watches.
Green Shire remember
the cost of thy peacefulness;
Doom passes from thee.
Legolas Greenleaf,
fierce warrior and merry friend,
loyalty thy crown.
Uncrowned king wanders
until Fate calls him forward;
destiny stands watch.
Gandalf grey and old,
both time and death pass by thee
until thy task is done.
Hear, O Elbereth,
your clear light guide in darkness,
Gandalf has fallen.
Arrow whispers slow,
string draws to latent power,
death snaps and flies true.
Music, smiles, and song
twirl 'round in laughing colors;
see the hobbits dance!
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Elves, fair and magic
Before leaving all behind
Stand with us once more
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In the Crack of Doom,
Gollum's teeth on Frodo's hand.
Sam is helpless now.
Two small friends, alone.
Bleeding, starving, poisoned, dead?
Eagles are coming!
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Old wounds fade little
But ships at Haven promise
Starlit elven peace.
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A tear falls softly
Aragorn shall have VENGEANCE
Die now Uruk-hai
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Man, Frodo is hot
He comes from the land of Shire
Back off, he is mine!
Pippin the hobbit
Can he not behave himself?
Be a good boy Pip!
Beautiful are elves
Graceful treasures are they not?
They love song and dance!
Murderers behind
They tried to leave Bree early
Not early enough
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Proud tall Boromir
He lusted for power
Died for forgiveness.
Great and wise Tolkien
A lifetime for a book
Paid off in the end.
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Haiku about Excessive Arguing
Does Jackson's fair film
slander Strider and Frodo?
What would Tolkien say?
Bring on the debate
through long posts passing measure:
Mind-numbing discourse.
Is the thread dead yet?
Can Cantseecantspeak kill it?
Praise him with great praise!
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Golden ring, heavy
in the heart of a hobbit -
doom, darkness beckon
Saruman's coming
out, so you better get this
party started now!
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Gandalf is now back
He is well-prepared this time
He will kick your butt!
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Fields that are golden
Much like the heaviest ring
The Hobbit a mule
He knows his burden
His hearth is in The Shire
That he leaves behind
Fingers brown with soil
A heart both loyal and stout
Wary of dangers
The west at their backs
Ahead, a shadow - growing
The way is still long
Galadriel smiles;
Living sun on mallorn trees
And eyes of Aman.
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nice master hobbit
says the creature to himself
gollum likes frodo
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In Moria Deep
Where The Dwarven Lords do sleep
I lost my car keys
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Shades of greatness lie,
Within a scabbard of doubt.
Aragorn, believe.
"Why was I chosen?"
"Not for power or wisdom,
But for strength of heart."
Gimli, son of Glóin
Your enemy becomes friend.
Wield your ax with care.
Son of Denethor.
Overwhelmed by temptation.
Thy honor redeem
Knight of the City.
Ernil i Periannath
Thain Peregrine Took
Merry Brandybuck
Wielder of the Barrow- Blade
Master of the Hall.
Anor's Flame you keep.
Standing at the bridge alone.
In the chasm falling.
Oh, Elven Prince,
for the Grey Havens you yearn.
Remain yet awhile.
Assume the burden.
Go on to fulfill the quest.
But wait, Frodo lives.
Last page of the book?
I want more of Middle-Earth!
Turn back to page one.
Among elanor,
Near the golden mallorn trees,
future King and Queen
Flights of butterflies,
Dragon swooping through the air.
Gandalf's fireworks.
The Prancing Pony
Meeting Place of Tolkien Fans
Welcome One and All
Modern Palantír
Allow us conversation
Across cyberspace
the Prancing Pony
Butterbur's establishment
Home of Pony Stew
Ring for his finger,
Never for his nose or toes,
No pirate, Frodo.
Morgul blade most foul.
Destroys the spirit within.
Resist its evil.
A winged shadow.
Falling into Moria.
Brings grief to our hearts.
Racing through the night.
Leaping from each mountaintop.
Signal fires of doom.
Haiku About Haiku
Counting syllables.
Trying to stick to a theme.
Haiku addiction.
Do you think there's
a 12 step program
for this addiction?
Or would that be
a 5 -7 -5 program?
I'm in denial
Addiction is for the weak
No stopping me now
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Númenor's one heir
he afterwards came to be
but first named "Trotter"
he wore wooden shoes
a click-clacking down Bree's streets
so given his name
a hobbled hobbit
with long nose and broken pipe
speaks Aragorn's words
"Who is this Trotter?"
Tolkien so often queried
in note-filled margins
down through many drafts
rewritten over dark years
of a son at war
Thankful all are we
Tolkien forwent the comic,
gave his son Estel.
Odo, Falco, Pip,
changing lists go ever on
lots of hobbits' names
"Pippin" was "Odo?"
"Meriadoc" "Marmaduke"
"Frodo" was "BINGO?!"
"Too many hobbits!"
Tolkien always wrote in notes
"Get rid of Odo!"
Oh no, poor Pippin
nearly died before was born!
Doom for Faramir!
No cute Legolas?
Whose a** would Nazgirls covet
if not Mr. Bloom's?
Boromir was hard.
No nobility was seen
in the pride-filled man.
Anger in his speech,
disdain for Gandalf's choices
and an iron hand.
No! I want tension
of opposing impulses,
informed moral choice.
Who would represent
the inner struggle we face
with good and evil?
Tolkien's drafts full of
genealogies and maps
revised many times.
Help! I'm dizzy with
keeping track who begat who
where is Redhorn Gate
Too many details!
Are all known philologists
labeled OCD?
Treebeard the old Ent
held sway in Fangorn Forest
kept Gandalf captive
Not the kindly old
gentle Ent that Merry met
but Sauron's jailor
Oh, I would have missed
the Ent brew and curling hair
laughter in the rain
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Haiku about Excessive Arguing
Thread of contention
Do we really want it dead?
Then feed it no more.
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The hand clasps the ring
Though it trembles it is firm
The hobbit accepts
Grace silky as night
Swift movement of the body
Arrow flies true...kills
Clarion call of death
Fills the heart of every heart
But courage withstands
Close my eyes and dream
Of tomorrow, one more day
Here at the pony
Wish I'd be reborn
And wake up in Middle-earth
A creature of dreams
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The Elves must depart
To the unknown lands far away
Across the Great Sea.
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Expected party
Unexpectedly ended
when host disappeared
Elven boats do sail
down the mighty Anduin
Middle-Earth aboard
Erebor stood fast
as Smaug the Golden dragon
tore at her treasures
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Read in stunned silence
I'm the wind beneath your wings?
Flattered and honored.
Varda, star-lighter
Dearest to the hearts of Elves
Melkor, fear her most!
Lovable Gandalf
In Khazad-dûm fell his star
Rekindled, brighter.
Cloaked in mystery
Strider he is called by some
Rides to wake the Dead
Son of the Steward
Subject to mortal failings
"Such a little thing!
From Northern Mirkwood
Bearing ill tidings he came
Wood elf, protector
Gimli Glóin's son
With eager axe he pledges
To the Fellowship
Came along by chance
Followed Frodo to Mordor
Famous Sam, back home.
Saved by Boromir
Soldier to repay the debt
Returned the favor
Healing, now restless
Meriadoc waits for war
Finds relief instead
Smallest hands conceal
Wise heart, and discerning eye.
Revealed - Frodo lives!
Elrond Half-elven
Fights evil in his own way:
Sent off Nine Walkers
Seen the film a lot
Hey, what do numbers matter?
Again tomorrow.
A plain golden band
Heavy with years and power
Who shall bear the ring?
Lady of the Wood
Magnificent chestnut hair
From which chestnuts fall
Counting syllables
Write on, all you fair poets!
Poems for Tolkien.
"Nino Chithaeglir!"
Shouldn't that be Glorfindel?
Arwen stole the part.
Servants of Mordor,
Forth thunder the warg-riders.
Hang on, I like wolves!
Too strong to resist,
"I'll carry you and it, too!"
Only way to help.
Silent facing West
Before the meal, remember
Númenor, faded.
The world is changing.
I feel it in the water.
Han matho ne chae!
Grey beard, pointy hat
Quick to laugh, slow to anger
Mordor's nemesis.
Heir of Isildur
Yet wise by his own travels,
Éstel of Mankind.
The Ring corrupted,
Deadly arrows cleansed his soul
Boromir the Tall.
Legolas Greenleaf
Journeys with mortal children
Keen eyes, swift bow.
Dwarf of Durin's folk
Unlikely friend of an elf
Slayed forty-two orcs.
Youngest Pippin Took
Itching hands could not lie still
Looked into the Stone.
The smallest esquire
Rides in secret with Dernhelm:
Merry's sword bites deep!
Jester, truest friend
The last of the Ring-bearers
Sails at last: Samwise.
Frodo uses well
The time that is given him;
Fades with the burden
Ai! Namárië,
Solostara! And may thy
Schoolwork be little.
The Races of Middle Earth
Under Varda's stars
Never dying, ever young
The Firstborn awaken
Númenoreans
Prosperous, envying Elves
Break the Valar's Ban
Sons of Young Eorl
A language like rolling plains
Deep rooted and strong.
Aulë made the Dwarves
Stone-stubborn, strong, mostly male.
Durin awakens.
Hobbits of the Shire
Rarely appear in story;
Hungry as hunters.
Not a hasty folk
Shepherds of the Trees are we,
Ents guarding forests
Hating Yellow Face,
the cruel orcs hide underground -
Twisted false creatures.
Five Wizards appeared
From whence they came, Ents know not
First among the Wise.
Some free peoples fly:
Great Eagles, friends of Wizards
But servants never.
Never meet again
Until creation's last day
Elrond and Arwen
"I gave my today"
Frodo said, "For your Tomorrow."
"Now I say farewell."
Unlikely hero
For Pippin, dinner comes first
"Where are we going?"
Merry, Eowyn
No man may slay the Captain
But they are not men.
O Théoden, King
A father you were to me
For a little while.
Beautiful blue eyes
Dark curling locks, pretty face
'Lijah flees his fans
happy companions
Sometimes hard to tell apart
Cheerful despite doom.
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Frodo at Mithlond!
Its a shame you are leaving
On this sunny day.
Sweet songs are playing
through the lands of Valinor
Sky high, Manwe smiles
In Angband he dwelt
He wore a crown of iron
His heart was deep black
Out of grim Mordor
High on the wings of Gwaihir
Sauron is no more!
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