SHORT AND SWEET

Haikus are subverted by poet Gordon Gordon in Is That All You People Think About?

Traditionally the haiku is a Japanese poem of 17 syllables, in three lines of five, seven and five, and elegantly describes the natural world – flowing streams, floating leaves and budding flowers, that sort of thing.

In this book, however, poet Gordon Gordon cheekily subverts the form to create funny little snippets of modern life – the hell of the daily commute, celebrity deaths, giant scones judged by Mary Berry. His haikus range from the rude to the raucous, all of them are funny and they appear so simple to create: “I’m in here!” yelled Mum. Hide and seek was spoilt again. We never found Dad.” Read these and you’ll be inspired to write your own. ( Square Peg)