game piece

playing the
yin and yan
of home and self,
puts a game piece
into his pocket

What is a sherku?

Inspired by David Zinger's posting for Joyful Jubilant Learning blog this month, I found myself writing something very close to this in the comments.

Note: this is a new layout for sherku. I am deliberately deviating from the haiku-like origin of three lines and shifting to the more American 3-4 syllable phrase and running five lines to still reach 19 syllables overall. I'll acknowledge William Carlos Williams work as a key source for this change.

how 'bout that!

South Station
Hears his voice
“All half price papers
‘Cept for the Herald
How ‘bout that!”

What is a sherku?

This is a new format for sherku. I am exploring more of the common 3-4 syllable phrases that characterize much of American language following work done by William Carlos Williams. The nineteen syllable restriction remains but the lines will work out to be five or six instead of the original three.

legacy

goodbye telegraph

telephone

track side pole

arms spread out

standing wireless

What is a sherku?

This is a new format for sherku. I am exploring more of the common 3-4 syllable phrases that characterize much of American language following work done by William Carlos Williams. The nineteen syllable restriction remains but the lines will work out to be five or six instead of the original three.
 

This was originally posted to Twitter tagged with #twitpoem #140poets

Relationship Geek

There is a relationship geek named Phil

who lives on top of the hill

he’ll use his blue book

or tweet with a hook

for your need he will fulfill

A limerick for Phil Gerbyshak to celebrate our joint birthday. The full posting can be found here (link removed as it is no longer valid).

Bend and stretch to recycle

With apologies to your Romper Room memories, I rewrote a few lines to help remember to recyle while you walk.

Bend and stretch
reach for the can
while exercising
help your fellow man

One can at a time, you can come back from a three mile walk through your neighborhood with something like this:



Bend and stretch
reach for the can
while exercising
help your fellow man

You can take this challenge in two ways:

1 - Take a plastic bag along with you and remember these lines when you walk.

2 - As you walk, if you come up with better lines let us know via comment or email.

Fall in Franklin

something about the redness

of the leaves, the white fence 

and the morning sunlight

What is a sherku?


Originally posted with the picture that inspired this on Franklin Matters

I'll also acknowledge some resemblance to William Carlos Williams' The Red Wheelbarrow

sherku: missing touch

Apple bannered South Station

Apple could have provided

an iPod to touch

What is a sherku?
 
#twitpoem
#140poets

prototyping

prototyping - what counts is

moving forward achieving

some part of your goal

What is a sherku?

This is a "found" sherku in that Tom Kelley IDEO wrote most if it (perhaps without realizing it) in his book "The Art of Innovation"

good prototypes

good prototypes don't just

communicate, they persuade

and help shape your ideas

What is a sherku?

This is a "found" sherku in that Tom Kelley IDEO wrote most if it (perhaps without realizing it) in his book "The Art of Innovation" 

leaf herding

Blue mower, green rake. where are 

the leaves? Herded to a 

pile under the trees

What is a sherku?

leaf pile

Blue mower green rake pile of

brown leaves. I can see a

sherku at the bottom

What is a sherku?


Originally Twittered on 10/25/09 

outside the lines

go ahead, color outside 

the lines but try your best

to stay on the same page

What is a sherku?

This is a "found" sherku in that Tom Kelley IDEO wrote most if it (perhaps without realizing it) in his book "The Art of Innovation"

simple use

don't let the cloud of features
blur the simplest most common
use of your product

What is a sherku?


This is a "found" sherku in that Tom Kelley IDEO wrote most if it (perhaps without realizing it) in his book "The Art of Innovation" 
 

sherku: leaves dancing

time to rake the leaves today?

time to watch and pray 

the wind blows them all away

What is a sherku?


This was twittered on Saturday, a blustery day here in New England


#twitpoem #140poets

sherku: innovation verbs

as you step thru the

innovation process try

thinking verbs not nouns

What is a sherku?



This is a "found" sherku in that Tom Kelley IDEO wrote most if it (perhaps without realizing it) in his book "The Art of Innovation" 
#twitpoem 
#140poets

sherku: morning sky

horizontal ribbon bands

play pink versus blue

blue wins, today has arrived

What is a sherku?

Inspired by the sunrise along the tracks at Franklin/Dean Station


#twitpoem #140poets

found sherku: feel special

When people feel special

they will perform beyond

even your wildest dreams

 What is a sherku?

This is a "found" sherku in that Tom Kelley IDEO wrote most if it (perhaps without realizing it) in his book "The Art of Innovation"

#twitpoem #140poets

Two left feet

I have been told I have two 

left feet. When I look down,

I don't see what they mean

 What is a sherku?

Inspired by Amy Palko's Do You Dare? post

slow start

glossy new system ready

cruise control in force

account access not yet done

 What is a sherku?

Originally posted to Twitter:


sherku: slow start - glossy new system ready/ cruise control in force/ account access not yet done// #twitpoem #140poets

barefoot dash

so determined she stopped

did a little two step out 

shoes in hand caught her train

 What is a sherku?


Originally posted to Twitter:

sherku: barefoot dash - so determined she stopped/ did a little two step out/ shoes in hand caught her train// #twitpoem #140poets

realization

mechanical voice drones

footsteps quicken then the

race is on to catch the train

What is a sherku?
 

Originally posted to Twitter:

sherku: realization - mechanical voice drones/ footsteps quicken then the/ race is on to catch the train// #twitpoem #140poets

Marty Baron said

ad revenue produced

the printed newspapers 

readers never paid full cost

What is a sherku?

Originally posted to Twitter:


sherku: Marty Baron said - ad revenue produced/ the printed newspapers/ readers never paid full cost// #twitpoem #140poets

Inspired by the Ford Hall Forum on October 1

sherku: commuter passage

she swayed left to the seat

shifted purse and coffee right

resumed walking the aisle

What is a sherku?


originally posted to Twitter:

sherku: commuter passage - she swayed left to the seat/ shifted purse and coffee right/ resumed walking the aisle//

sherku: name fishing

running into people 

so familiar yet needing

to dig deep to recall names

What is a sherku?




Originally posted to Twitter
sherku: name fishing - running into people/ so familiar yet needing/ to dig deep to recall names//

South Station

back in the working saddle

riding commuter rail

watching the people flow

What is a sherku?


originally posted to Twitter:

sherku - South Station: back in the working saddle/ riding commuter rail/ watching the people flow// #twitpoem#140poets

today's traveler

hands free she's fully loaded 

big pack on her back

day pack on her front

What is a sherku?


originally posted to Twitter:

sherku - today's traveler: hands free she's fully loaded/ big pack on her back/ day pack on her front// #twitpoem #140poets

by shersteve (Steve Sherlock)

kite

Kite soars because

Tension in the line controls

The lifting breeze from below


What is a sherku?

inspired by a Sunday afternoon at Castle Island, South Boston, MA

Wind shifts

Winds have shifted, jets now

Blazing overhead on their

Way by Castle Island


What is a sherku?

inspired by a Sunday afternoon at Castle Island, South Boston, MA

trust agent difference

Difference between

Shaded green and sunny green

The light of a trust agent


What is a sherku?

inspired by a Sunday afternoon at Castle Island, South Boston reading Trust Agents

Momma

One boy called “Momma, Momma”

Dozens of women turned

To look if it was hers


What is a sherku?


Inspired by a Sunday afternoon at Castle Island, South Boston, MA

sherku: young girl riding

there is great joy riding
her bike down the grassy hill
knowing the brakes work well

What is a sherku?

inspired by a Sunday afternoon at Castle Island, South Boston

just sound great

You can squeeze, strum, pick
Bang, slide, or blow ‘em; played
Together they just sound great

What is a sherku?

his touch

The walk was crowded, the
Music too good to pass up
His touch led her along

What is a sherku?

Inspired by the dancing of this couple at the Lowell Folk Festival

full suit glory

Brass is class, banjos dandy
Bass sets the pace for
Piano full suit glory

What is a sherku?

Inspired by the performance of Dr Michael Walker and the Original Liberty Jazz Band at the Lowell Folk Festival

how hot is it?

No matter how hot it feels
It is hotter back home
Our jackets keep us warm

What is a sherku?

Inspired by the performance of Dr Michael Walker and the Original Liberty Jazz Band at the Lowell Folk Festival

seeing is believing

Wouldn’t believe that those
Mandolin picking fingers
Could play so but I see

What is a sherku?

Inspired by the performance by Sierra Hull at the Lowell Folk Festival

You just know

Know you are at the right
House for party when you
See furniture in garden

What is a sherku?

This is a "found" poem in that Niamh Ni Charra mentioned this during an intro to one of her songs at the Lowell Folk Festival. I crafted it to fit the sherku format.

opening number

Greek salad, lamb kabob
Irish fiddle music
lots of sun at Lowell Folk

What is a sherku?

Inspired by the Lowell Folk Festival experience!

rhythm and beat

rhythm and beat of the dance
crosses the cultural lines
Puerto Rican joy

What is a sherku?

Inspired by the music of Yomo Toro at the Lowell Folk Festival

tears of joy

fiddle bow keeps flying
his feet tap the double beat
Québécois heritage

What is a sherku?

Inspired by the music of Genticorum at the Lowell Folk Festival

gospel soul

musical notes transport
the spirit to places
where all words find their meaning

What is a sherku?

Inspired by the music of Sierra Hull and Highway 111 at the Lowell Folk Festival

First view

Round the bend, view opens up
Ridge not green, it’s blue and
Flat, must be Lake Erie

What is a sherku?

A pancake

When the question was asked
If she wanted pancakes she
Said "Yes, a pancake, please."

What is a sherku?

sherku: Ohio

Cluster of farm buildings here
Tree oasis there
Fields of grain everywhere

What is a sherku?

sherku: silence

Into the void, thoughts come
Of their own free will and dance
With imagination

What is a sherku?

This was originally posted as part of a comment on listening as a key skill in communication on the Joyful Jubilant Learning blog here

Updated 8/2/09 - to correct the syllable count and meet the 19 required for sherku

sherku: cell reception

Devilish cell reception
Is best picked up by the
Graveyard near Weikert’s church

What is a sherku?

sherku: wood burning

Porch wood takes some time
Stories of those that crossed
The threshold burn to be told

What is a sherku?

sherku: snack time

Today’s snack time home brew,
Grapes, and red wine cheddar
Spread Ritz cracker sandwiches

What is a sherku?

sherku: summer brew

Beer bottle sweat spread over
The bench marking the spot
For the return each swig

What is a sherku?

sherku: two newt morning

Smoke wafts from the fire’s
Embers; tingle of the fly
Landing on my bare leg

What is a sherku?

sherku: tiger lillies

Orange welcoming torches
Or fierce "don't you dare
Stray from this road" warnings

Dolores stopped

Cotton candy clouds casting
Pine tree shade only six
Pages to finish her book

What is a sherku?

2009 Massachusetts Poetry Festival Expanding

Dear Poets & Lovers of Poetry, The 2009 Massachusetts Poetry Festival is growing, spreading, positively exploding... We are thrilled to announce that there will be simultaneous kick-off events Thursday, October 15th, in Boston, Lowell, Salem, Worcester, Amherst, and the Berkshires. Then on Friday and Saturday, the Festival returns to the classic red-brick mills, galleries, museums, National Park sites, churches, restaurants, cafes, and cobblestone streets of downtown Lowell. Applications are now open for small presses wanting to participate in the Festival's Small Press Fair on October 17. Click here to go to our website for documents Afaa Michael Weaver will be participating in the 2009 Poetry Festival Anne Waldman founder, with Allen Ginsberg, of the Jack Kerouac School of Writing at Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado,will be participating in the 2009 Poetry Festival Friday, Oct. 16, over 200 high school poets will be reading and participating in events at Lowell High School; there will be an intercollegiate poetry showcase with student poets from 14 colleges and universities, and a special MPF edition of the Urban Village Arts Series on Friday evening. On Saturday, Oct. 17, the packed schedule will include a small press fair, readings by regional poetry groups, a Favorite Poem Project session, writing workshops, and a late night poetry slam with notable participants from Massachusetts and New York -- and much more. Just a few of the poets appearing for the Festival this year include: Afaa M. Weaver James Tate Dara Wier Louise Gluck Ann Waldman Jericho Brown XJ Kennedy and the Light Brigade Robert Pinsky Lloyd Schwartz And many more! Louise Gluck , former U.S. Poet Laureate is participating in the 2009 Poetry Festival Robert Pinsky is participating in this years Festival On Sunday, Oct. 18, Harvard University will host a poetry and jazz program with Robert Pinsky and musicians. To keep up with the events being scheduled regularly check in at www.masspoetry.org The Festival is expanding. The Festival is growing --- despite the financial hard times. Because all of us believe, especially in these hard times, that people need poetry more than ever. But to do all this we also need you to participate ! Please donate to the Poetry Festival. We need 100 people to step up and donate $50 dollars or whatever you can to make sure we can keep expanding the Massachusetts Poetry Festival. We need to rely on lots of small donations from individuals who want to support poetry. We need you. Click here to make your tax deductible donation now. Stay tuned for more announcements shortly. Thank you. §¨© Michael Ansara For the Festival Planning Committee You can watch videos of some of the readings from the 2008 Festival by clicking here. Massachusetts Poetry Festival http://masspoetry.org/ Office of Cultural Affairs & Special Events 375 Merrimack Street, Lowell, MA 01852

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sherku defined: reprise

focus your message, say it
all concentrated in just
nineteen syllables

What is a sherku?

doing good

Doing good means your
customers will hasten their
demand for you to do better!

What is a sherku?

This is a "found" sherku. Little did Scott McKain realize when he wrote this in his book "Collapse of Distinction" that he was also creating a sherku.

twilight white

As the twilight arrives
The greens all blend together
Dogwood blossoms bright white

What is a sherku?

greetings

Greetings from sky blue sandy
Sunny beaches sticks out from
The horror story

What is a sherku?

dogwood blooms

Dogwood blooms dance in sun light
Lifted by the breeze; weight
Of the rain water gone

What is a sherku?

charging time

The double a batteries
Took a long time to charge
Resisting the green light

What is a sherku?

summer breeze

Children’s voices blend with
Distant music powering
Kites and swaying birches

What is a sherku?

His legacy

The finesse in pitching
A horse shoe and always
Measuring twice to cut once

What is a sherku?

In memorium: Armand Joyal

Batting average

One for three is pretty darn
Good especially when
It is the one that counts

What is a sherku?

Memorial Day 2009

Franklin_WWI_Doughboy
Originally uploaded by shersteve

The doughboy bows his head
He fought 'the war to end all wars'
Yet wars continue



What is a sherku?

Gov Patrick stood tall

Deval Patrick came to us
Better yet, stood ground
For respectful dialog

What is a sherku?

Reflection upon the visit by Gov Patrick to Franklin on Sunday (5/17/09)

Gov Patrick says

My Grandmother forbid us
To say we’re poor; “you’re broke,
Broke is temporary.”

What is a sherku?

This is a "found" poem - Governor Patrick said this during his visit to Franklin on Sunday (5/17/09).

Gov Patrick says

Tough state budget choices
Most of these things we will
Pay for sooner or later

What is a sherku?

This is almost a "found" poem as it an amalgam of Gov Patrick's remarks when he visited Franklin on Sunday (5/17/09).

Gov Patrick says

We better start behaving
Like we are members
Of the same community

What is a sherku?

This is a "found" poem - Governor Patrick said this during his visit to Franklin on Sunday (5/17/09).

overheard

Every month we get
Smarter and wiser, if
Only our children knew that

What is a sherku?

hurrah!

To the concept of the waste
Basket, and better yet
Someone emptying it

What is a sherku?

Question

If we make their old favorites
When they come home, how will
They learn any new?

What is a sherku?

sherku: Wind chimes

Wind chimes dancing dogwood leaves/ Swinging baby robins/ Stretching on Mother'
Originally uploaded by shersteve

Wind chimes dancing, dogwood leaves
Swinging, baby robins
Stretching on Mother’s Day


What is a sherku?


For Dolores, Mother's Day 2009

poetry by hand

By Hand: Lines for Mother's Day

"I didn't care about the gift. / It was the note I wanted, / the salt from his hand, / the words," admits a woman awaiting a Mother's Day package from her son away at war, in Frances Richey's poem "Letters."

There is no substitute for the intimacy of a handwritten note, no gift as singular as words carefully considered and chosen. Like a fingerprint, handwriting can identify its owner, even mood and intention can be revealed in the bends and crosses of letters, hidden in the slant of cursive.

This Mother's Day, choose meaningful lines from a poem, pick out a blank card, take a quiet moment and a smooth pen, and write with your heart in your hand. Find six lovely blank cards and a selection of lines about motherhood by E. E. Cummings, Mark Doty, Sharon Olds, Robert Duncan, Walt Whitman, Anne Sexton, and many others, on Poets.org.

On the web at: www.poets.org/byhand

If one of the many selections does not suit you, feel free to compose your own!

For instructions on how to write your own sherku form of haiku, check here

chalk

White chalk brings back memories
Kids filling the driveway
Their own world in colors

What is a sherku?

SOBCon: e-commerce

customers number one
favorite thing, free shipping
retail is details

What is a sherku?

SOBCon: spy

unless you are a spy
going into a room
unnoticed is waste of time

What is a sherku?

SOBCon09 - Day 1

Might as well chase unicorns
It’s all about people
Build a relationship

What is a sherku?

SMB13: Earth Watch

Earthwatch is rocking the
SM boat by not jumping
Into Twitter just yet

What is a sherku?

Inspired by the discussion at SMB13 in Boston on 4/28/09

Poem in Your Pocket Day!

a sherku would fit nicely!

SMB13: Roger Wu

Klickable took a thirty
Second ad and made it
A three minute event

What is a sherku?

This is a "found poem". It is a paraphrase of Roger Wu talking about Klickable at the SMB13 in Boston on 4/28/09.