Leading up to The Cud's "Literary Issue" released last January, I spent a little time looking into the Japanese art form of Haiku. These little poems are constructed of three lines. The first with five syllables, the second seven, and the final line five again. The aim of the Haiku is to communicate a perfect sensation or image within this syllabic framework.

Purists will tell you that English is not a kind language to the Haiku artist. This is because English syllables are not as clearly demarcated as Japanese. Consider that in common speech we regularly use contracted word forms like can't and don't, which might pass to the ear as a single syllable, but should really be two on the page. Or think of plural forms that end in 's' that push the syllable to breaking point, or the dreaded ''tion' words. Does the word 'traction' have two or three syllables? Is it 'trac-tion' or 'trac-ti'on'? But short of learning Japanese I think one can still appreciate the symmetry and beauty of these poetic three-liners, even if they are not as perfect as the original form.

I emailed several friends to see if they would like to try their hand at a writing a Haiku to be published in this column, but received only three responses, which was less than expected. Unfortunately one is totally unprintable (as it vilified the author and I promptly deleted it) so I have three little images of contemporary life for your contemplation including my own attempt at this Japanese art. Enjoy.

"SYDNEY BUS DRIVERS" by Paul Walker

Bitter lazy folk
Wearing shorts and knee high socks
Do not like to help

"DEGUSTATION" by Julia Koop

Degustation 
Bite of this, a taste of that 
Unsatisfying!

"IKEA" by OJ Pennington

Prefabricated
With names we can't pronounce well
Scent of Nordic Tree