Footnote: Haiku is a serious Japanese art form, which this page of verse resembles in the same way that chihuahas resemble timber wolves--a pack of diminutive and grotesque descendants.

The outer form of haiku is a 17-syllable poem. In Japanese, there are always three lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables each. In English, this strict alternation is apparently just too damned hard, because it is generally not a requirement, even for serious works and translations. As this is neither, I have added line breaks wherever I felt like it.

In addition, the tradition of including some word or phrase that indicates the season has become a virtual rule in Japanese haiku over the last few centuries. I am not certain whether this tradition has been laid aside in these "highway haiku" out of ignorance or indifference; the author affects that he doesn't know and doesn't care.

Under-footnote: Composing haiku is an excellent way to relax while driving over highway 17. The happy coincidence of highway number and syllable count is only one of the reasons. That said, commuters on highway 5 will find that 5-syllable compositions are easier, but somewhat less satisfying. Those on highway 1 will quickly exhaust the possible exclamations, but are invited to submit any interesting 1-syllable compositions for review and possible publication. I promise to read them all, at least twice.

Those who drive on highways 85, 101, and 237 are advised to listen to their iPods instead. Driving while attempting to count 85 or more syllables on your fingers is just plain dangerous...

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