Redneck Haiku: Double-Wide Edition

by Mary K. Witte

In response to cries from her fans for more! more! more!, Mary K. Witte has followed up her original cult poetry classic Redneck Haiku with Redneck Double-Wide Edition . This expanded version contains not only the best verses from the first edition, but over 150 brand new redneck poems that are sure to generate the same big laughs as those from the original.

Once again, the redneck lifestyle gets the black tie treatment through the hilariously contrasting filter of the formal Japanese haiku. Each of the nearly 250 wickedly funny poems contains just three lines and seventeen syllables, yet together they address the whole spectrum of redneck RVs, Wal-Mart, beer, pop tarts, pickups, monster trucks, NASCAR, boats, trailer parks, barns, hunting, shotguns, Las Vegas, the lottery, and more. You'll howl with laughter until the cows, chickens, and hound dogs come home!

Genres: Humor, Poetry

256 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2003

Reviews

[Carl Nelson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. A handful of chucklers, but a bunch that all sound the same after a while. The writing rarely reaches the haiku's full potential, as far too many are simply a long sentence that fits the syllable count:

Empty trailer park
indicates good turnout at
Pete's clan reunion.

The better ones have a thematic break between lines:

Thanksgiving turkey
was deep-fried in peanut oil
As Seen On TV.

Or:

Shrimp and Buffett tunes.
Will this beer last, or do we
need a run to town?

The blending of ideas is as integral to the haiku format as the syllabic structure, and the author too often lacks that. Oh well, a chance checkout of this book from a library table gave me 15-20 minutes of lowbrow pleasure, so perhaps I shouldn't hold it to such highfalutin' standards.

[K. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Landscape maintenance
 is when Jake moves his best goats
  into the front yard.

I'm not overly familiar with the history of the haiku, so I cannot in good conscience comment on Witte's usage of the form for good or ill. I grabbed this as a lark on my pass through the library. There are a bare few that stand out, but overall, a kitschy little book likely meant for big fans of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour.

Rooster crows before
 Mom's morning coffee and now
   simmers on the stove.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, this was funny.

[Wilbur · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny.

[Ted · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looks like more than a few reviewers here have no sense of humor.

[Shaka Mitchell · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible. The author is clearly unaware of what true haiku or senryu looks like but even if this book is designed as a total farce, the little poems aren't particularly clever. It's as if someone from another country wrote a book about "rednecks" never having spent time with any. Even if you're just looking for a laugh don't waste your time.

[Mardi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hope the author won't mind if I post an example of one of her poems here. They're really wonderful and I genuinely love haiku.
"Impromptu wedding
stops before vows when bride starts
premature labor."
For all those folks who think poetry has to be dry, boring, and serious!

[Sarai · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay. Some are pretty funny, but after a while they all started to sound the same.

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this was kind of mean-spirited.

[Chi Dubinski · Rating 2 out of 5]

Over 100 poems on subjects dear to redneck life" shotguns, beer, NASCAR, Pop Tarts, and pick up trucks.

[Patti · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to admit I laughed at many of the haiku. But a few were just sad.

[Jeff · Rating 1 out of 5]

http://thatjeffcarterwashere.blogspot...

[wildct2003 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light, entertaining read. Easy to pick up and read a few poems at a time. Second poem is my favorite:

Go to the dentist?
Grandpa went once, and now look--
he has no teeth left.