Author: bryon

The Japanese ask us to knock it off

Posted on by bryon

Most of us learned all we know about haiku in an English class as children. What endeared it to many of us was that there was less work involved in writing a haiku than even a limerick, let alone a page of iambic pentameter. All we had to do was come up with 17 syllables about nature in a 5-7-5 pattern. Then it was on to fish sticks and cole slaw at lunch.

How little we understood haiku. And lunch.

Eight years ago, the Japanese haiku community asked the rest of the world to give up on the 17-syllable rule.

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Begin Captain’s Log

Posted on by bryon

“My son, the writer, thinks I should say something profound on this occasion. He even offered to write me a brief statement. I told him I’d take care of it myself. But, as it turns out, the only thing I can think of is: Begin Captain’s Log.”
— Captain Benjamin Sisko
“The Adversary”
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

We attach great importance to beginnings. We use silver shovels to turn the earth when an important building project begins. We smash a bottle of champagne across the hull of a ship to launch her. Cigars are traditionally given to friends at the birth of a child, and there are religious ceremonies that publicly connect the new child to God or the gods.

Because I am steeped in this human desire to mark a beginning, I feel that I should write something special for my first post. Like Captain Sisko, however, I think simplicity is best: Begin Catsignal.

And enjoy.