2011 review Haiku

Twenty eleven,

what an interesting year.

Tell us about it.

Ah, the haiku. A simple, three-line, 17-syllable poem that can express anything you want. You don't even have to rhyme.

Around this time of year, people usually start to look back at the year that was and re-evaluate everything that happened. This year, The Post and Courier wants to hear what you think about 2011. The catch? It has to be in haiku form. We'll print some of the best offerings on New Year's Eve in the People section. The deadline for submissions is Dec. 19.

To be fair, we got this idea from another paper: Pam Platt and The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Ky. They've been doing it for a while with great success, so we thought we'd give it a try.

Some guidelines:

You can write about anything you like. It can be serious, silly or anything in between. It can be related to something that happened in the news that everyone knows about, or it can be something that happened in your life that only family knows about.

You must stick to the 5-7-5 haiku form: five syllables in the first line, seven in the second and five in the last. You don't have to rhyme, but be sure to count those syllables!

As this is a family paper, please stay away from the R- and X-rated language.

Your submission must include your first and last name, address and daytime phone number. Send your entries to Features Editor Laura J. Gough at lgough@postandcourier.com. Again, the deadline is Dec. 19.

Happy haikuing!