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

[Bill Gunter]

Yo, all,

I sent a funny response to Steve's amusing post about how Ringwald, Wiggins, 
Romans and I reside in that part of the country where an eight syllable 
Haiku second line is considered illegal.

In return for this lovely bit of commentary I get a slab of words about 
breaking rules in jazz which was an attempt to show that I'm obviously 
overly rigid. As if the object of rules is to break them. As if Haiku allows 
for freedom of expression outside the parameters.

Well, all I have to say is "Ptooey, phhhthh, bleacchhhh, and doo doo!"

Comparing Haiku to jazz is like comparing mathmatics to guessing. With math 
it's either right or wrong. With guessing if you're close it's better than 
if you're not close.

So there, smart guy!

Bill "Let's see you weasel your way out of that one" Gunter
jazzboard at hotmail.com


>From: Steve barbone <barbonestreet at earthlink.net>
>To: Bill Gunter <jazzboard at hotmail.com>,<dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
>Subject: "police" & rules - was Watch Your Back - was haiku
>Date: Fri, 22 Oct 2004 20:06:22 -0400
>
>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
>
>
>