Remember when I got to stay in the Mystery Room at the Library Hotel so that I could earn my title of Poet in Residence by actually residing in the hotel for a night? It was an evening of literary fabulosity that included a short stroll to the Morgan Library to take in the Edgar Allan Poe exhibition (free admission Friday nights!), dinner at one of those scrumptious little Indian restaurants that have given Madison Avenue in the low Thirties its nickname of "Curry Hill," and a sweet night's slumber on crisp white linens in a king-sized bed, whose pillow, bearing the embroidered legend that Book Lovers Never Sleep Alone, I had prudently preserved from the possibility of unsightly stains by first removing and gobbling up the tasty little chocolates in gold wrappers with erudite literary mottoes on them.
Remember the next morning, with all the free Breakfast Bar yummies, like the fresh fruit salad and the almond croissants and the very impressive espresso machine that looked like something out of Doctor Who, and that charming couple from Brighton at the next table, who invited us to come see them at their country cottage if we ever found ourselves in the U.K.? And how we meandered over to the main branch of the NY Public Library and took in the enchanting exhibition of children's books - which we knew was on display that day, because we could see the big yellow banner from our big bay window in the Mystery Room?
Well, Gentle Readers...all these delights can be yours.
The Library Hotel is holding its annual Haiku Challenge, and the Grand Prize Winner will be awarded:
- A two night weekend stay in the Poetry Room 800.003. The Poetry Room is 200 sq ft with one full size bed that accommodates up to two guests
- Complimentary continental breakfast buffet, evening wine & cheese reception, Wi-Fi, guest passes to New York Sports Club
- Dinner at Madison & Vine for up to $100 including alcohol and taxes. (Gratuity is excluded and should be based on full amount)
- A copy of How to Read a Poem, by Tania Runyan (based on the poem by Billy Collins)
- A copy of The Best of the Best American Poetry, with Guest Editor Robert Pinsky and Senior Editor David Lehman
You must submit your haiku entry by April 30, 2014, 11:59 p.m.; for the full list of contest regulations, please go to http://www.libraryhotel.com/download/18821
Just in case you are not familiar with the format of haiku composition, here is a general outline for English speakers (and I am putting in the English speakers disclaimer because there is always somebody who quibbles that this isn't how a real Japanese haiku is composed. To which I patiently respond, "Yes, you're very smart," as lovable old Peter Falk said to know-it-all little Fred Savage, before going back to reading aloud from The Princess Bride.)
A haiku written in English is usually composed of three lines. The first line has 5 syllables, the second line has 7 syllables, and the third line has 5 syllables. A traditional Japanese haiku usually has some reference to nature & man's place in nature. There is a kigo, or "season word" that gives the reader a sense of what time of year it is in the poem. Sometimes there is contrast between two images or ideas, and in the Japanese form, there is a kiregi, or "cutting-word" that separates the two. When composing a haiku in English, one can separate two juxtaposed images with punctuation. A haiku conveys the poet's message in a few simple, carefully chosen words.
As you have, no doubt, already said to yourself, "Goodness! That is a very short format, indeed! 17 syllables in its entirety? Why, that means that a haiku is probably...Tweetable!"
Yes, Gentle Reader - once again - I congratulate you upon being very smart! And for this very reason, all you have to do is log onto your account and tweet your 5-7-5 syllable masterpiece to:
https://twitter.com/LibraryHotel
Keep it short, and tweet!
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