March 12, 2007
Haiku Poets Soyciety
hungry poets
a new challenge sprouts
in the spring grass
-tofuhaiku.com
Inspired by Torontoist’s poetry contest (for serious—we swear!), The Toronto Vegetarian Association presents Tofu Haiku. With the tagline “Tired of spam haiku? Fight for a meatless alternative,” the contest is exactly what it sounds like—a call for haiku poems about the vegetarian staple that is beloved by some and oft-misunderstood by others.
The winning haikus will be chosen by a panel of judges including John K. Samson of The Weakerthans and vegan cookbook author Sarah Kramer. The authors of the best haikus will win vegetarian-themed prizes like Kramer’s cookbooks, Tofutti or subscriptions to Vegetarian Times and VegNews. Check out the contest rules for all the details, plus info on how to write a haiku. And while you’ve got the creative juices flowing, why not submit to Torontoist’s contest, too?
Image from TofuHaiku.com.


Haikus are an expression of satori, not just a poem with 17 syllables.
The quiet pond
A frog leaps in,
The sound of the water.
- Basho
haikus are easy
but sometimes they don't make sense
refrigerator
-threadless
They line our streets
With brick and paving stones,
So we'll have things to throw.