National Haiku Day, Horse Nation Style

Happy National Haiku Day! In honor of this day set aside to enjoy the Japanese poetry form, here are our favorite haiku from the Horse Nation archives.

Little-known fact unless you’re a longtime Horse Nation reader: there was a period of several months in which our dear Leslie Wylie was cranking out at least one haiku a day, plus soliciting submissions from readers. This was a productive period for equine poetry, and there are some real gems here.

According to the National Day Calendar, “haiku poetry is a form of Japanese poetry that is non-rhyming and normally consists of 3 lines with a syllable pattern of 5-7-5.  Haiku poems are usually inspired by an element of nature, a season, a moment of beauty or an individual experience or event.  Sensory language is used to capture a feeling or image.”

Submit your own haiku in the comments section!

Bank account dwindling
Tack store was a bad idea
Yay for credit cards
Wylie

Go rope that sick calf,
you say. It’ll be easy,
just don’t lose a thumb.
Kristen Kovatch

Stall rest so boring
Chew on wood play in water
Look! poop in my mane
Kirsten Collins

Who tracked in this dirt?
It’s all over the damn house!
Oops. It’s me. Sorry.
Mary Daniel

There is a certain
Smell when you walk in a barn.
It is manure.
Liz Fletcher

Big horse show today
Rolled in some lucky green poop
Why is mom crying?
Wylie

fresh hay in a pile
pawing through I find that it
will make a nice rug
Kathleen Yearwood

Wind whipping my mane
Big oxer coming up fast
I’ll let you go first
Wylie

Beautiful new boots
Too stiff to bend knees
How will I ride horse
Debby Keys

“Woah!” I said sternly.
Paw paw paw in the water.
Leather now soaking.
Liz Fletcher

The days grow longer
Which gives me more daylight time
To search for lost shoes.
Kristen Kovatch

When I have food, I
Am god to my horse and when
I don’t, I’m nothing
Margeux Lavenue

I muck your foul stall
Clean for just one brief moment
Before nature calls
Harley Cozewith

Late for dressage test
Squeeze into tight, white breeches
Panty line emerges!
Megan Rust

Halt at X. Salute.
Oh no, I used my whip hand.
Judge at C, don’t look.
Evan Hubner

My nighttime prayer
Before all of the horse shows:
PLEASE NO LONGSPOTS GOD
Margeaux Lavenue

Trainer says: no bling.
But I like tack that sparkles.
Glitter all the things!
Victoria Lachelle Henderson

this life with horses
did not quite turn out as planned
but it’s good enough
Kirsten Collins