I hoped to find the most simple writing assignment today, but upon further investigation I realized my choice was more difficult then originally anticipated. Jack Kerouac is quoted as saying,
“The American Haiku is not exactly the Japanese Haiku. The Japanese Haiku is strictly disciplined to seventeen syllables but since the language structure is different I don’t think American Haikus should worry about syllables because American speech is something again…bursting to pop.”
I disagree with his position (I respect it, but disagree) I think when writing a Haiku the form is what makes it Haiku. If he were to keep a standard form in all his interpretations, then I could see his argument, but he uses a different number of words, syllables, and lines in his interpretations of Haiku.
I tried to follow form in mine, as a sign of respect to all the great Haiku masters of days gone by.
Pixels turned picture.
Come together in a dance.
Beauty is expressed.