Haiku Error Messages

I suppose it takes a certain mind to appreciate Haiku Error Messages. First, a little explanation for the uninitiated of what haiku is: Haiku is a Japanese method of writing poetry. In its modern English form, it usually consists of three lines: the first 5 syllabels in length, the second 7 syllabels, and the final 5 again. It is nearly always free verse, which is to say it does not rhyme. These three lines form the complete poem. (This is a very important point, because if you go to the Haiku Error Messages page linked above, and read it as one long poem, it will make absolutely no sense. Each three lines is a complete, independent poem in itself.)

I learned haiku in elementary school, where it is often introduced as a way for children to get their feet wet in poetry. I may have enountered it later in high school as well. I find haiku fascinating, in part because of the discipline required to create a beautiful (or, in this case, witty) poem within such tight constraints.

Even if you have no interest in haiku or poetry per se, you might enjoy the clever wit expressed in these short verses. For example, perhaps you can identify with the writer of this haiku:

A file that big?
It might be very useful.
But now it is gone.

In place of the plain old “This page cannot be found” website errors often seen, what if you were greeted with this?

The website you seek
cannot be located but
endless others exist

Some of the poems require a little inside knowledge, and may not make a lot of sense to everyone. But they’re all very clever.

Published by Michael Prewitt

Michael Prewitt is a creative director who has in graphic design since 1992. While his primary work is design and layout, he also has skills in writing and editing, web developing, front-end and macro-type programming, photography, photo retouching and compositing, and branding.

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