Haibun (rules in author notes)
2024 Gypsy's Prose
:
Joker
by Gypsy Blue Rose
Bad jokes and dread are written in Arthur's journal. His only friend was an underpaid and overworked therapist. The government canceled his pills and mental health care. Life was an uphill stairs leading to nowhere.
garbage men on strike,
putrid city drowns in chaos
and angry mobs
Being a good boy never helped. He took care of his invalid mother night and day putting up with her delusional nonsense. Until Arthur found out that when he was a defenseless little boy, she tied him to the radiator for most of the day and night. His mom's boyfriends raped him again and again. Depression turned into rage and he smothered his mother to death, surrendering to his dark side~ The Joker.
house full of empty bottles
dirty dishes
and negligence
Author Notes
The Joker is a Comic Book character. It has been adapted to the movie screen several times. My favorite is the latest one with Joaquin Phoenix. for more information click here
Haibun is a Japanese poetic form that combines haiku with prose. It's in present or past tense. The subject matter can be autobiographical, a travel journal, a slice of life, a memory, a dream, or a short sketch of a person, place, or event. Topics can be about life, love affairs, human concerns, and experiences. The point of view is first person (the author's eyes), or third person (he/she). Use imagery, sensory, and concrete details. Length varies from very brief (1-2 sentences) with one haiku, to long prose entries with interspersed haiku.
The prose tells the story, gives information, defines the theme, creates a mood through tone, provides a background to spotlight the haiku
The haiku moves the story forward, takes the narrative in another direction, adds insight or another dimension to the prose, resolves the conflict in an unpredictable way, or questions the resolution of the prose. Prose is the narrative and haiku is the revelation or the reaction.
Bad jokes and dread are written in Arthur's journal. His only friend was an underpaid and overworked therapist. The government canceled his pills and mental health care. Life was an uphill stairs leading to nowhere.