2011 Bill of Rights Day Haiku Challenge
The 2011 Bill of Rights Day Haiku Challenge concluded on 12/16/2011. Mahalo to all who contributed!
For the 2012 Bill of Rights Day Haiku Challenge, click here .
Submissions were made via email, facebook, etc - they are grouped by Amendment, where specified or obvious. In the spirit of the 1st Amendment, haiku are published verbatim, and may not reflect the views of the ACLU of Hawaii, and may not be suitable for all readers. Inspired? (we are!) Is your favorite Amendment still not haikued? Add your voice! Submit YOUR haiku to [email protected]!
1st Amendment: Establishment Clause, Free Exercise Clause, freedom of speech, of the press, and of assembly; right to petition
I worship a god
You worship no god at all
We are both welcome
- Example haiku
Freedom of Speech
hammering her edge of truth
Foundry of Sky.
- @apwpoet (via Twitter)
How happy that free speech
spans a White House peace protest
and zombie costumes (http://reason.com/blog/2010/02/26/zombie-wrongfully-detained-hav)
- Veronica Lorson Fowler
Expressed aloud
disdain for current policy.
No cops, no worries.
- Benjamin William Allen
Our freedom of speech
By Citizens United
Has been perverted
- James Palmer
The First Amendment
Keeps church and state separate.
May it always be.
- Jeff Miller Never surrender Basic rights out of fear Of an opinion - Rene Canham Free speech rights: secure? Only if we're vigilant. Otherwise, - Bill Dingfelder The need for money To win elective office Kills democracy - James Palmer The rights of conscience A wall of separation Sov'reign reverence - Skepticles Freedom to Assemble, Speak out or to write, We died for and live for, penned here black and white. - Maurice Friedman/Bard Of Earth One person standing, Dissenting, opposed but safe: The right to be heard. - Carolyn Jackson (this haiku also inspired by 5th and 14th Amendments) I do not like you you can say or opine I may say the same - Priya Varaprath Speak now for all time be silent for no one Our first amendment - Carol Bain Freedom of conscience
Government may not offend
Fight for civil rights - Holly Huber No paper tiger or parchment barrier protects if silent - Carol Bain State and church don't mix First Amendment is the fix Keep church out of state - Mitch Kahle You annex my land I occupy the Thom. Square I'm the one wrong - Derek JW I speak my truth, a voice cries for justice, Justice is truth for both. - Barbara Franklin Pulled over by cop Told him he was full of shit Punched me in the eye - Anonymous To free human souls True rights of We the People This we live and breathe - Will Espero Use it or lose it Choose to not remain silent Unless arrested - Elmer Gantry
- Jeff Miller Never surrender Basic rights out of fear Of an opinion - Rene Canham Free speech rights: secure? Only if we're vigilant. Otherwise, - Bill Dingfelder The need for money To win elective office Kills democracy - James Palmer The rights of conscience A wall of separation Sov'reign reverence - Skepticles Freedom to Assemble, Speak out or to write, We died for and live for, penned here black and white. - Maurice Friedman/Bard Of Earth One person standing, Dissenting, opposed but safe: The right to be heard. - Carolyn Jackson (this haiku also inspired by 5th and 14th Amendments) I do not like you you can say or opine I may say the same - Priya Varaprath Speak now for all time be silent for no one Our first amendment - Carol Bain Freedom of conscience
Government may not offend
Fight for civil rights - Holly Huber No paper tiger or parchment barrier protects if silent - Carol Bain State and church don't mix First Amendment is the fix Keep church out of state - Mitch Kahle You annex my land I occupy the Thom. Square I'm the one wrong - Derek JW I speak my truth, a voice cries for justice, Justice is truth for both. - Barbara Franklin Pulled over by cop Told him he was full of shit Punched me in the eye - Anonymous To free human souls True rights of We the People This we live and breathe - Will Espero Use it or lose it Choose to not remain silent Unless arrested - Elmer Gantry
2nd Amendment: Sovereign state, the right to keep and bear arms
Commas screw it up:
Yes, Virginia, there is no
sanity clause there.
- Bill Dingfelder
The Founding Fathers
Could not foresee machine guns
Instead of flintlocks
- James Palmer
The right to bear arms.
A conundrum for us all.
We need a balance.
- Anonymous
The right to bare arms?
Michele Obama OWNS it!
That's not what you meant?
- CAH
I may own a gun
The second amendment says,
But I don’t want one.
- Keene Rees
Fight for one’s nation
Protection of family
We defend with arms
- Will Espero
God Damn It To Hell
Put new handgun in pocket
Shot my own foot off
- Anonymous
The right to bear arms?
I’d take gorilla instead.
Stronger, with fingers.
- Anonymous
3rd Amendment: Protection from quartering of troops
Uninvited troops
Taking up the couch. Hey, please
don't block my TV.
- Bill Dingfelder
4th Amendment: Protection from unreasonable search and seizure
Warrant for my house?
Yes, but why not for my car?
Search me, I don't know...
- Bill Dingfelder
Plan to search and seize?
Not without a warrant, pig!
Keep the f*&* out, yo!
- Anonymous
5th Amendment: Due process, double jeopardy, self incrimination, eminent domain.
Habeas Corpus
NDAA passes, no veto in sight
Nice knowing you Due Process
- Ann Ominous
Runaway fears cause
Indefinite detention
At home and abroad.
- John Chasnoff (this Haiku inspired by the disastrous National Defense Authorization Act)
Double jeopardy?
Not unless I'm on that show
with Alex Trebak.
- Bill Dingfelder
Questions can be sly.
"Are you still beating your wife?"
Better to zip it.
- Frankie Futrelle
I was beaten down
Handcuffed and thrown in a jail
Case now dismissed... pfft
- Damon Tucker
6th Amendment: Trial by jury & rights of the accused; Confrontation Clause, speedy trial, public trial, right to counsel
My day in court, but
I couldn't afford a lawyer.
This one? Hey, wake up!
- Bill Dingfelder
The NDAA?
Article 6 says no to
endless detention
- @hello9 (via Twitter)
7th Amendment: Civil trial by jury
Let my peers decide
Mediation? What is that?
Alas there are none
- Harvey Lung
Jury of my peers:
Hope they're just as smart and kind
and handsome as me!
- Bill Dingfelder
8th Amendment: Prohibition of excessive bail and cruel & unusual punishment
Stop executions
The death penalty is cruel
Life without parole
- ACLU of Ohi0
Cruel, unusual?
Arizona cons in pink
undies - does that fit?
- Bill Dingfleder
9th Amendment: Protection of rights not specifically enumerated in the Constitution
Not listed? Then they're
rights "retained by the people?"
(Guess gay rights are fine!)
- Bill Dingfelder
10th Amendment: Powers of States and people
Federal powers
Get Tea Partiers all steamed
(or so they've stated...)
- Bill Dingfelder
19th Amendment: No sex discrimination in the voting booth
Women weren’t allowed
When my own mother was young.
Today I can vote!
- Keene Rees
Misc/Tributes
Keep it like it reads.
(Fine, unless you're gay or bi,
female, or not white)
- Bill Dingfelder (inspired by the concept of Constitutional originalism)
Precious liberty
Freedom can’t protect itself
Fight, A C L U!
- Debra Sanchez
Professor Van Dyke.
Hero to the Bill of Rights.
I miss him so much.
- Anonymous
Our brave Bill of Rights
essence of liberty
My freedoms endure
- Carol Bain
We must be prepared
To protect all rights or
Risk loss forever
- Carol Bain
The most fun of all
is my unauthorized
free will of action
- Carol Bain
Liberties are lost
Like muscles atrophy
Exercise all rights!
- Carol Bain