Blend Japanese Haiku with the modern, technical field of aviation.
Haiku is really simple. It’s an ancient form of poetry that originates from Japan Approx.1600AD.
A haiku has three lines. There can be any number of words, but there must be 5 syllables in the first line, 7 syllables in the second line and 5 syllables in the third line. Haikus do not usually rhyme. They tell a story.
First line has 5 syllables / Second line has 7 syllables / Third and final line has 5 syllables
Here are a couple of examples:
Darkness on the field
Engine ticking only sound
Days work now complete
A cold starry sky
Distant lights through the windshield
There I rest tonight
Whatever your activity in aviation; from passenger to employee, in any realm of the industry, send in your aviation based Haikus and we”ll publish them here. No prizes. Just fun! The challenge will keep you awake during quiet times.
Tom Roth, a long time friend who has decided to change careers and fly. Good move Tom.
Turbulence plus squawk
Oops, I hit 7500
Are those F-16s?
Comment: Pretty clever there Tom. You prolly have to be in the business to understand this one. For it to work you have to read it as seven five zero zero.
Candace Coburn, a Georgia peach of a golfing buddy.
Flying in Covid
Such a great experience
No one next to me.
Comment: Better fly while you can Candace. I just heard that Delta is beginning to sell that treasured middle seat – Pat
Another by Candace. And even though she misses the aviation point here, I love oysters and it’s a pretty neat haiku
Eating an oyster
You either get it or not
Savor the flavor
Candace gets back on the aviation theme with this one.
Trays up and phone off
I’m waiting with bated breath
Time now for take off
Retired non-airline professional pilot
First flight in the back
Spent many years in the front
Wish I was up there
Evelyn McDonald, a writing friend.
Solo
A leap to the sky
Chase the pattern, spiral down
Earth binds me again.
Here’s one from Marla McDaniel, another writing friend.
Cairo lights appear
Cockpit view, landing at dusk
Captain Seth and I
The next two were sent in by Roger Hobson, Head of Airworthiness & Ground Ops at gi-Aviation in Abu Dhabi. They even have titles;
Night Flight in Hong Kong
Late night heli flight
Harbour lights underneath me
Spectacular view
Absent Friends
So many great crews
Professional to the end
A loss to us all
Submitted by Luke Robertson
“A First Officer’s Life”
A sixteen hour cruise
Ten thousand miles, only job
To put down the gear
Captain Pat (me):
Managing Pilots
Is a lot like herding cats
It helps to be one
JM hates to fly!
Out of the window
Floating in the cloudy sky
Thank God we’ve landed
A different JM
He is a frequent flyer taking a shot at Etihad’s competitor, Emirates Airlines
I like landing best
When the plane is not on fire
I’ll fly Etihad
H.O. Director of Engineering sent these next ones in. Funny how aircraft squawks are almost haikus anyway. These are a bit unfair to flight crew, don’t’cha think?
Plane late coming in
Passengers really angry
Gate attendant numb
Airplane on the ground
Spare parts stuck at gate fifteen
Here we go again
Tire almost worn out
Pilot wrote in aircraft log
Tire almost replaced
Ding dong did not work
Pilot wrote in aircraft log
Ding dong just donged fine
Weekly check complete
Toilet pump needs replacement
Mechanics vanish
Engine change complete
The wrong engine was replaced
Q A went to lunch
Cabin crew writes fault
Coffee maker now inop
Switch is now turned on