Our Spring tour to support the release of ‘movie theatre haiku’ begins.

To celebrate, we’re taking a queue from our good friends at LiveWire Radio. We’ll be holding a haiku writing contest at each show so come to the venue with your poet caps on. Be prepared to quickly write a 3-line poem (5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables) about a given topic.

We’ll post notable entries on our blog and the winner each night (chosen by the band, completely objectively, of course!) will receive a free CD.

For Ashland, the topic was dilapidated buildings and structures.

My entry:

the flower reaches / through a whole in the ceiling / peace comes slower still

Winner! Sarah Rubin:

I hate this building / It is broken just like me / Maybe I’ll sleep here

Runner Up. Karl:

The vines are thick ’cause / the roof fell in. Push me ’round / Push me ’round again.

Runner Up. Anonymous:

This building sucks ass / but then ass is not so bad / maybe I’ll get some.

For Modesto, the topic was trust, or lackthereof.

My entry:

One rule still matters. / Because we are hypocrites / we are not failures.

Winner! Shawn Franco:

I wish that your eyes / matched the display of stories / that your lips speak of.

Runner Up. Anonymous:

The midnight Watchmen / sleeps through quiet dark moonlight / leaving innocence.Â

For San Francisco, the topic was childhood crushes.Â

My Entry:

This worn ticket stub’s / reminding me of your breasts / I praised in darkness.

Winner! PF Dumanis:

Oh, you broke my heart / Valerie Bertinelli. / Eddie Van Halen???

Runner up. Anonymous:

You bit my knuckle / but you were Jenny’s boyfriend. / I still have a scar.

Runner Up. TP:

Parted feathered hair / red corduroy OP shorts / Deal breaker? Lice.

Runner Up. MF:

We were at the beach / when she called me a faggot / Now she is divorced.

For Merced the topics were Sex and Thomas Jefferson.

My entry:

Poor old John Adams / chasing that Virginian man / Dead on the same day.

Winner on account of their winning combination of the two topics. Anonymous:

Thomas Jefferson / loved the ladies and good wine / but found time to smoke.

For San Diego the topic was Vampires and LA.

Winner. Portland’s own Michael Jodell:

thick, wooly belly / slung low over your city / can’t see straight through gauze…

Runner up. Matt B:

Hollywood sucks ass / cause that’s where all the blood lives. / Bloody teeth dripping

Runner up. Anonymous:

The girls love vampires / but just the L.A. version. / The cheesy romance.

My entry:

City of anglers’ / geometry. Shapes’ shadows. / No bodies, borders.Â

For Mountain View the topic was Maps.

Because Mountain View is computer-ville, we got about a dozen haiku submissions about google maps. Here was our favorite, having just been victim of an iPhone lie.

Winner, anonymous:

the blue dot is there / but I don’t know where I am. / iPhone steered me wrong.

For Chico the topic was Home.

Winner, anonymous:

Home, like a flicker / firefly in the black night / close the glass jar lid.Â

Runner-up, anonymous:

Blue shirt, brown jacket / rock ‘n roll jet propulsion / driving through mountains.

And my personal favorite of the trip (because I choose to assume they were talking to me):

I’m going home when / this pitcher is done and you / want to come with me.

For Portland the topic was Awful Ways of Dying.

Winner, Leigh Marble:

pit and pendulum / this is not what we fear most / fear the smiling clown.

Runner-up, anonymous:

The praying mantis / eats the head of its poor mate. / You start with the heart.