University of Botswana English Department
ENG434: Non-European World Literature

Student Creative Writing Assignment:
Haiku

As one of the assignments for this course, students were asked to do a piece of creative writing using the characteristics (whether formal or not) of one of the texts that we discussed during the semester. The assignment required that they follow the conventions and characteristics of the text (China, Japan, Puerto Rico, and ancient Mesopotamia) but used their own experiences in Botswana for the content. Here are some samples of their work.

Dialogue of Pessimism  |  Haiku  |  Chinese Philosophical Poems  |  Puerto Rico, Julia de Burgos

Haiku: (2003)  |  (2004)

Haiku, 2003

Haiku
by Lordick Mokobi

Sniff and get high, fine
Temporary costly time
Hooked and pained, no money.


Haiku
by Gaone Otshabeng

Gentle walk in the light
Face glitters but not gold
Lust rules in the dark.

The gift full of life
Promise of a good yield
Flood sweeps it all.


Haiku
by Jacob Nthoiwa

I looked around me
In the middle of the street
Suddenly I am lost.

The wind is blowing
A baby is crying
Then Mother picks it up.

Looking outside my window
There is a horrible storm:
A summer's day rainfall.


Haiku
by Thato Masala

A lion roars with pride
eyes so innocent in time
sharp teeth glittering.

Diamonds forever
Attraction and seduction
can you be my friend?

To the elephant
your trunk breaking the branches
in too deep, they moan.

The mophane tree
shrivels in winter season
blooming in autumn.

Haiku, 2004

Haiku
by Ontiretse D. Dibe

Phal gapu lame
kgodu e ile yotlhe
Go ja badimo

(My watermelon smashed
all the juices poured out
the sacred gods are drinking.)


Haiku
by Matshwenyego Unity Kgosintwa

Fa ke tsamaya
dithunya di swabile
ke di gataka

(As I walk along
I trample over
dead flowers.)


"Chobe"
by M. Kabubi

A deep blue river
a little fish was swimming
trying to find food


Haiku
by Opelo Letsamao

In eerie darkness
On the wall I strike a match
Sudden light - scares me.

New born baby girl
builds a tower in my heart
of bliss and sorrow.


Haiku
by Lydiah K. Mafoko

I, in the toilet,
Relieving myself there,
the door was opened.


Haiku
by Bontle Dineo Moabi

After hitting
a child how guilty I feel
Inside my heart


Haiku
by Pearl O. Mokokwane

Terror in the dark
foot and mouth swift - they're all dead
day brings beef and joy


Haiku
by G. S. Mosweunyane

On the moon I see
An old man pulling a plough
But this is winter!


Haiku
by Nature "Sting" Motimedi

Go tshwara gotlhe
Ka bokhutshwane jala
Go thata tota

(To capture everything
In such shortness/brevity
Is really difficult)


Haiku
by Nomsa Motshidisi

In anger I am
I curse as I walk alone
A bird sings; I stop!


Haiku
by Grace G. Muguni

People are happy
Bars are flooded with people
At home with no food.


Haiku
by Galefetolwe Sethapo

Plump healthy strong man
I looked elsewhere for a while
Now frail and thin, AIDS


Haiku
by Oitshupile Rankwane

All of a sudden
I heard a sad baby cry
Innocent child lost.

On a summer day
I notice the teething child
Smiling to my face.


Haiku
by Linda Oucho

I sit here and stare
Different yet same faces
I feel different


Haiku
by S. I. Nkatogang

A hot long harsh day
I crept into the shadow
Of a mango tree


Haiku
by Trevor Pharithi

It will be raining
In the very dry desert
It will relieve us.



Webpage edited by Dr. M. S. Lederer, lecturer for ENG434.

Copyright for each work belongs to the author.© 2003-4