[Dixielandjazz] "police" & rules - was Watch Your Back - was haiku

[Steve barbone]

on 10/22/04 7:31 PM, Bill Gunter at jazzboard at hotmail.com wrote:
See my comments in the body of his message, if interested.

> Listmates,
> 
> Steve B. broke a Haiku rule when he wrote:
> 
>> What Is This Thing Called
>> Love I Can't Give You Anything
>> Butt Love Careless Love
> 
> and Phil O'Rourke wrote:
> 
>> Isn't that illegal in most states of the US??
> 
> To which Steve B. responded:
> 
>> Heck no. Not only that but in some areas, like where Romans, Ringwald,
>> Wiggins and Gunter reside, it is prevalent. I think that's where the
>> expression "Watch your back" originated.
> 
> Now . . . being one of the "police" mentioned by Steve I can only reply:

"Police? I didn't mention any police. Rather an "area". :-) VBG
 
> Hey - while I don't actually enforce rules I don't make 'em either.
> 
> The rules for Haiku are rigid and any violation destroys the simplicity,
> beauty and balance of the art form. Following the rules exactly to achieve a
> free and flowing slab of prose is part of the deal.

Yes, of course, It is just like jazz. When Louis, Bix and Bechet broke the
rules, they destroyed the art form. ;-) VBFG
 
> To add but a single syllable where it is not allowed is the first step down
> a slippery slope to the ultimate ruination of all that is beautiful in the
> world.

Kind of like a flatted 5th, or augmented 4th? Yes indeedy, when Bix did it,
he proved that he was an idiot and should be viewed as the destroyer of the
form. Cancel that annual Davenport Festival (Bix Memorial at his birthplace)
because we are falsely worshipping all that is evil in jazz.

Police? Police? Even though I didn't mention them, I firmly believe we don't
need no "Stinking Jazz Police" to codify all that is wrong with part of the
audience. But that's another issue.

I think Phil and I were (perhaps too subtly) talking about something very
different than breaking a haiku rule, no? If still in the dark, re-read our
exchange, carefully checking the spelling in my haiku misadventure. Those in
California might also think about one of their Governor's favorite 2 word
expressions, using the word "girlie" as the first word. :-) VBG

Paying less attention to the form and more attention to the message may
enlighten us all. (From an Old Japanese Proverb)

Cheers,
Steve Barbone