THE BASICS
Originating in 15th century Japan, writing Haiku has been an age old way way to convey a vivid impression poetically in only seventeen syllables. Up until now, Haiku has mostly fixated on the natural world. ThinkGeek wants to bring the same poetic substance to the technological realm. Can you write techie Haiku? Of course you can. It doesn't matter that poets and technologists have little in common other than passion and brains. So whether you enjoy technology, have a way with words or at least have a proclivity to try something new - send ThinkGeek your techie Haikus. If you do, we may just send you a $50 ThinkGeek Gift Certificate. Express yourself to strangers! It's cathartic!

THE DETAILS

Create your own original Haiku and email it to us (see below!)
Haikus are three lines, with the first line having five syllables, the second seven and the third five. If you don't know what a syllable is, hold your breath and repeat until blue. Or if you prefer, see the samples below.
Your Haiku MUST be geeky and/or infused with a technological bent.
We'll accept anything (because we don't have an imperfect Haiku filter...YET!), but what we are mostly looking for are Haiku that meet the criteria above and also any of the following:
- Convey a complex technology truism into seventeen flowing syllables
- Take a mundane, prosaic techie activity and through poetry show us some simple humor
- Relate to current events in the technology world
- Catch our eye at the perfect angle! (which means everybody should try, our eyes are all over the place)

HOW DO I GET STARTED?

Agree to our very basic terms below

Email the following to haiku@thinkgeek.com

Your First Name
Your location (City/State or City/Country)
Your Haiku

We'll notify each winner by email. Only one winner will be selected for each newsletter.

We'll only publish results via our monthly newsletter (not subscribed?) that include your name, your location as well as your Haiku. So give us all three or you can't win!

We will NOT post your last name under any circumstances. If you prefer that we do not post your first name, please let us know.

HAIKU SAMPLES

Even a wild boar
With all other things
Blew in this storm.
Basho, Japan 1644*

Snuck Into Redmond
Throwing Stars At Mr. Gates
Ninja. I am one.
Timmy, Virginia 2004

Hrrm. Are you there God?
Peeking thru my windowed Case
Yes! I'm In the RAM.
Hollin, California 2004

*Note the Basho Haiku doesn't have 17 syllables. Those missing syllables were lost in translation. ThinkGeek Techhie Haikus must have 17 syllables and follow the 5-7-5 format (or TG RFC). Thanks.

THE TERMS / CONDITIONS / LEGALESE

By submitting your Haiku to ThinkGeek, you assert that the Haiku is your original material. You will indemnify ThinkGeek should you submit the copyrighted material of others without permission.
ThinkGeek will select winners based on its own subjective criteria.
ThinkGeek will select one winner prior to each Newsletter it sends out. The winning Haiku will be published within our newsletter along with the First name and location of the author as submitted above.
One winner per ThinkGeek newsletter will receive a $50 ThinkGeek gift certificate via email.
You can submit as many original Haikus as you like, please keep them within a single email to make it easier on us though.
If you submit your original Haiku and it doesn't win for a specific newsletter, you may choose to re-submit the same Haiku in the future. But hey, it didn't win for a reason. So try 'refining' it ;)
Your submitted Haiku will become the property of ThinkGeek, Inc.
ThinkGeek reserves the right to change the terms of this contest at any time, and we may terminate the contest at any time, at our discretion.
Any submission to haiku@thinkgeek.com consititutes agreement with these terms.
ThinkGeek is not evil, never has been, nor will ever be. Period.

ThinkGeek Techie Haikus Didn't Make Me Famous, But They Helped Me Vent!

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