Gosh I wish I knew,
About the call for Haiku.
The form pleases me.
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There's an interview with Benford coming up? Woo hoo!
]]>Our haiku got second place! Even though there wasn't even suppoed to be a second place prize in the competition, the organiser decided to introduce first, second and third place prizes. This means we get 8000 ad impressions at Kuro5hin to spend as we please, which is equivalent to $24. Not bad at all.
The comments on our haiku were:
The "whispering winds" in the first line will surely resonate with any science fiction reader and, cued by the title, immediately suggest terraforming and the possibility and promise of a fresh planet, empty of activity but tense with the knowlege of a future and a new beginning. This is borne out in the second line which offers a satisfying confirmation. The final line draws together the hope alluded to at the start, and the image of the snow which perhaps is the cold restraint of the current space exploration climate weighing down and freezing these buds of potential.
The ad is imbued with a sense of the conspicuous stillness of a yearning held tightly in check which perfectly captures the small but increasingly vocal efforts of Mars exploration proponents. There is a sense of action held back by stifling beauracracy, a tightly-wound coil ready to spring into action at any moment. Fine work.
Well done Shaun, and everyone at New Mars! I haven't decided what to use the ad impressions on - I think they should be split up so we can use some to point to these forums, some to point to the main index and some for new articles I've got lined up (notably, an interview with Greg Benford). Suggestions welcome.
]]>IMHO, the best of the lot - by far. . .
]]>With whispering winds,
Our Martian future awaits,
Like buds under snow
As you'll see, it combines elements of two of Shaun's haikus. I very much enjoyed reading everyone's submissions, and I hope everyone had fun! We'll find out whether it's won the competition early tomorrow.
]]> Cold and dormant Mars
Has awaited through eons
Earth's warm breath of life