Kinds of Poetry

Module 3 
Kinds of Poetry

Bibliography

Mecum, Ryan. Zombie Haiku. 2008. Cincinnati, Ohio: HOW Books, an imprint of F & W Media, Inc. 978-1-60061-070-7.

Critical Analysis

The Zombie Haiku is a journal of poems written and photographed by Ryan Mecum. Mecum’s has written a narrative of haiku poems that chronicles the transformation of an unknown poet from human into a flesh consuming zombie. The poet, who later transforms into a zombie, is one of two main characters in Zombie Haiku. The other character is Chris Lynch who writes his story in the margins of the poet’s haiku journal. On page one, the poet describes haiku as a “poetic structure . . . with three simple lines composed of five syllables, then seven syllables, and another line of five syllables.”

In the beginning of the journal, before the poet is transformed, he reveals his feelings relating to the beauty of life and the behaviors of his neighbors, coworkers, and a mob of people at a burning gas station.  The poet surmises that something is not quite right in his once normal world. Subsequently, the poet is bitten and is transformed into a zombie, who consequently accounts his journey as a zombie through his haiku poetry.

Through his haiku poems, the poet provides the reader with a detailed description of his transformation. In the most graphic, disturbing and grotesque fashion, the poet chronicles his excruciating transformation from human to zombie and the strangeness of bleeding to death, but feeling stronger and longing to eat people’s brains and their other body parts. For example, the poet states in two poem, “I remember home, and I remember my mom and her meaty thighs . . . fresh food smells so good, like pasta Mom used to make. Mom’s brains smell good.”

Further, the poet reveals his ravenous appetite and uncontrollable desire for human brains. He states, “Blood is really warm. It’s like drinking hot chocolate but with some screaming . . . Walking in the dark with a stomach full of meat, I search for meat . . . We think alike. Thousand lived in the city, thousand of fresh brains.”

 The poet’s gradual decline is revealed through unsettling handwriting and crumpled and torn-out and duck taped typed written inserted poetry. The poet’s last moments are witnessed by Chris Lynch, who is trapped within an airport bathroom by the poet and his zombie cohorts. The journal is discovered by Chris Lynch when he slams the bathroom door on the zombie poet’s arms and amputates it. Thereafter, Chris Lynch begins to read the poet’s journal. Chris begins writing in the margins of the zombie’s poetry journal, in blue pen. Lynch unfolds how he stumbles upon the zombie poet’s journal and that he will soon begin his own transformation. This makes the Zombie Haiku a recurring journey of the zombie transformation.

Ryan Mecum provides the reader with an easy to follow text format and the illustrations complimented the narrative poetry book. The photography and artwork illustrating Mecum Zombie Haiku is imaginative and ingenious.  He presents multiple Polaroid-like snap shots of zombies, hair, an eyeball, maggots, duct tape and other repugnant items. The sketch work is unique and interesting too.  Mecum’s sketches complement the poetry and give it a thrilling and creepy style. The photography is exceptional. Ryan Mecum scores of models are dressed like zombies and were photographed using a variety of lenses, lighting and special effects that lend itself to the making of a realistic narrative. For example, various pages consist of lifelike smidgens of blood, string of hair and bile. This is an incredible and unique poetry collection.

Follow-Up Activity

For students in high school, I would introduce a unit of haiku poetry. First, I would tell them the meaning and origin of haiku poetry.  Next, I would introduce each of Ryan Mecum’s books of poetry. We would have a class discussion of Mecum’s definition of haiku poetry found on page one of his book Zombie Haiku. I would allow my students to utilize the computers in the lab to look up the origin of haiku poetry and to see if it is different from the ones given in class. Then, students would read numerous haiku poems by various poets. In class, I would group students according to their areas of interest, as it relates to haiku poetry and poets. Student will read and discuss their thoughts relating to the poems and the poets. I would allow students to create zombie, vampire, or werewolf haiku poetry or what haiku poetry interests them.  Finally, I would allow students to read, write and publish their zombie haiku poems in the schools newspaper. For those students who have chosen Zombie Haiku, I would ask the drama and journalism department to allow my students to dress up in full zombie costumes, including makeup and clothing. The journalism department would photograph the students in their zombie attire and makeup, posing like the models in Ryan Mecum Polaroid-like snap shots. The journalism department would publish my student’s haiku poetry in the school’s newspaper. Finally, the drama department would have a poetry reading of my student’s poetry for the parents and student body.

Highlighted Poem

Through the neighborhood

                                                  I try to remember where

                                                            People congregate.

                                               My instinct steers me

                                               to my gourmet dinner feast,

                                             a  nursing home.

                                                   The side door is shut.

                                          From the side window, they stare.

                                           So many meals stare.

                                                  They are so lucky

                                         that I cannot remember

                                          how to use doorknobs.

                                                 I circle around,

                                         and a great surprise greets me:

                                         automatic doors.

                                               It is hard to tell

                                      who is food and who isn’t

                                     in the nursing home.

                                             I really need blood.

                                       Moaning “brains” is hard to do

                                       with dried out tongue.

                                             Little old ladies

                                        Speed away in their wheelchairs,

                                       frightened meals on wheels.