Zombie Haiku
By Ryan Mecum
Retrieved February 25, 2013
from
Bibliography
Mecum, Ryan. Zombie
Haiku. Cincinnati, Ohio: HOW Books, 2008. ISBN
9781600610707
Critical
Analysis
A book completely
comprised of haiku, that tells a running story similar to a verse novel,
arranged chronologically, almost in a diary entry format. Can one book achieve
all of that without seeming to be forced, but instead remain true to the poetic
form and be entertaining? Surprisingly, yes! Ryan Mecum takes haiku to another
level in this book of fresh, if sometimes gross, poems chronicling the
“zombie-fication” of someone caught up in a zombie takeover.
Sensory imagery runs
strong in this original book. From confusion to disbelief to the mindless quest
to consume flesh, Zombie Haiku
captures the full spectrum from human to zombie. Illustrated with a mix of
“photographs,” doodles, varied fonts, and blood splatters, the story plays out
in word and image. Poems are scattered about on each page, adding to the
unpredictable, sometimes uncomfortable, imagery. While the narrator seems
unaware of what is going on around him, the reader catches the meaning
perfectly.
Much to my surprise
when I get to the office,
the place is empty.
Beth from accounting
is just sitting in her car
eating spaghetti.
Odd that Beth won’t speak.
Odder that Beth is eating
without utensils.
The rhythm of the
poetry is never forced to achieve the typical 5-7-5 syllabication of haiku.
Readers will find the book an easy read, even with hidden meanings and
revealing doodles that inspire one to linger over each page to take it all in.
While the subject matter and illustrations are not for everyone, tweens and up
who are not offended will find this an intriguing read. Imaginative and
innovative, Zombie Haiku carves out a
new niche for the often-maligned haiku format. Expanding the horizons of a new
generation of poetry readers, Ryan Mecum accomplishes a rare example of guts
(all the zombies) and glory (new lovers of haiku!)
Reviews
Billy Collins, Former
US Poet Laureate
I have a copy of Zombie Haiku in my bathroom. Brilliant!
David Wellington,
Author of The Monster Island Trilogy
The most inventive
zombie book in years!
Rue Morgue Magazine
Ryan Mecum obviously
knows his zombie movies well, and his book tells a gory, violent story that
will warm the veins of Romero fans.
Poetry
Break!
Spotlight
Poem
You’d think I’d get full
eating so many people
but really, I don’t.
We all
stand and wait
for
the bus to stop burning
before
we can eat.
I roam
the forest
hobbling
for days and nights
with no
one to eat.
Learning
Extensions
While this book may be
offensive or unappealing to many due to the imagery and subject matter, the
selected poems for this Poetry Break could be used with any group of students,
Middle School and up.
Introducing the poems:
·
Ask
students who watches The Walking Dead
or is a fan of zombies in general.
·
Invite a
discussion of characteristics of zombies; summarize, with the last quality
mentioned being their insatiable quest to eat more human flesh.
Share the selected
haiku above orally, or by displaying it via document camera and asking for a
volunteer reader for each of the poems.
·
Allow
students to share their reaction to these poems.
·
Ask
students to make predictions about what the rest of this book will be about. In
small groups or with partners, have students brainstorm words and phrases they
might expect to find in a book of zombie poetry.
Other
books by Ryan Mecum
Ryan Mecum’s
website http://www.ryanmecum.com/index.html
Dawn of Zombie Haiku
Werewolf Haiku
Vampire Haiku
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