This is very curious. When I first moved to the area, and heard about Luton Haiku, I didn’t have any clue or inkling what they were about, or even what they were.

Then I saw these little books.

Often, they would appear in close proximity of legendary local band “The Knockouts”. I once shared the stage with them on a High Town Fun Day gig in People’s Park. “The Knockouts” had brought their merchandise table along.

And amongst the bunches of Clod Magazines* I saw them – The Luton Haiku books.

Basically, somebody in the band (though the ‘identity of the Haiku writer is’ apparently ‘a loosely guarded secret’), churns out more or less daily Haikus about the High Town area and Luton in general.

They’ve been published as annual collection of poetic commentary of  everyday politics and observations.

Here some recent favourites  from their facebook page:

“The Olympic flame
could yet be put to good use
BURN DOWN THE ARNDALE”

or

“Monday kite sighting
Over airport landing lights
Hunting easyMice?”

and

“Seen that new mural
of High Town, near the station?
It’s nicely quirky”

You get the idea.

I find the Luton Haiku absolutely brilliant. It allows people to speak about daily life and things that are going on, but it is more than just a ‘rant’ or ‘plug’. It somehow elevates gossip to a much higher level.

Haiku is a Japanes form of poetry with strict rules, I think it has to have 17 syllables, but here’s more to it. See what Wikipedia has to say: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haiku

You can experience the Luton Haiku in action on the Luton Haiku Facebook page:

 

And find out more on the Luton Haiku website

 

* That’s a whole different story