HAIKU Challenge
While attending the WOCP biennial Art Institute in Pueblo,Colorado in 2000, a Haiku challenge was offered up by some of the teachers. We are reproducing some of the submitted haikus with kind permission from the WOCP school staff.

A haiku is a form of Japanese poetry that follows these very strict guidelines: the first line must contain 5 syllables, the second line must contain 7 syllables and the third (and final line) must again contain 5 syllables.

Unfortunately, most of the submissions were made anonymously so I am unable to credit the authors in most cases.

Herein lies truth in 17 syllables! ENJOY!!!.............Marci
Wide asses we have...
Sweet natured, kind and refined.
We're china painters!
Flowers on china
Bloom in our hearts and our minds.
A gift of Beauty.
Rose, red, yellow, pink
Leaves in three, five and seven
Thorns down, stems up...rose!
(Peg Patton)
She picks up her brush
Takes a deep breath and softly
Starts shading her rose.
This art drives me MAD!!!
Paint! Wipe off! Paint! Wipe off! Paint!
Dare I fire it now?
(Marci Blattenberger)
Brushes and paint, turp
And medium. These small things
Add up to my joy.
A heart does not mend
Like the china that we paint.
Handle all with care!
Sketch it...paint it....Fire
Will give you your heart's desire:
A plate , cup or vase.
How can I find it?
That shady, illusive glade
Hidden in my brush.
The artist within
Released with paint and brushes
Bursts forth on china.
If I learn to paint,
As I most probably will,
A red rose will bloom.
China painters' day:
Paint, brushes, shadow and light
Yellows and red fight!
Little pats of paint
Decorate my china plate.
Dirty dishes wait!
God gave us talent
To create beauty to share
With others we love.
( Marty Meyers )
My glads are so sad.
My roses are atrocious
But look at my name!
I asked my teacher
Tell all your secrets to me.
She answered:"PRACTICE !"
I gaze at your plate
And see a lovely daisy.
You say it's a rose?
I came to learn more.
Back home, I will paint and paint
Till time to come back.
The mind is boggled.
The muscles are very sore.
My, but this is FUN!
Roses, roses, rose
They say to just paint one...OUCH!
Aren't we having fun?
(Maryann Clarin )
I sat down to paint.
No idea came to mind.
What a fix I'm in!
( The 5 Wizards )
I just LOVE to paint!!!
Some of it is just a mess.
Who cares! I LOVE IT!!!
Stroke, daub, stroke, daub, stroke
Blot, blot, smear, smear, stroke, stomp, blot
Stroke, stroke, wipe, wipe...Fire.
I came here to learn
Freestyle of painting china
Mission was complete.
These are additional poems that were submitted that don't quite fit the 5-7-5 syllable criteria but they were fun, so I thought I'd include them here:
I wait for two years
For the Art Institute
Now I say love to you.
(Jane Bowen )
Be at a loss
Which class shall I select?
I want all of!
I learned
Lots of things
Through classes.
Came again.
Be absorbed in painting
Sweet memories.