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This Poem was Submitted By: Erzahl Leo M. Espino On Date: 2004-01-08 12:54:23 . . . Click Here To Mail this Poem to a Friend!

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japanese verse 36 (Ku Klux Klan)

Known to keep kinship Killer of kaleidoscope Knights with kerosene

This Poem was Critiqued By: Karen Ann Jacobs On Date: 2004-07-12 11:48:12
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 1.00000
Morning Erzahl, I'm alone and I finally can read another of your poems. The title of this one jumped out at me. I have such anger for the KKK. I found this Haiku artful not angry. The use of the all the K words and the sad image of kaleidoscope being killed made me wish again that blind hate wasn't in our range of emotions. On the other hand just seeing the name Ku Klux Klan inspires a lot of powerful emotions in me. I wish hate would be outlawed, but I have to remind myself that hate comes with its own toll. It is just too bad the price is spread around. I admire the guts it took to write this Haiku and not blast them. There are so many emotions that could have been captured on this subject. I find it noble that you chose sadness. I don’t hate them, but I wish they would stop. That they exist makes me sad, too. Thank you for the thought inspiring Haiku. Have a great day. Kay-Ren P.S. I'm glad I'm finally getting a use out of my mind reading curse/gift. I'm learning so much from picking your brain. Thank you for letting me. I hope you will watch “The Butterfly Effect” again. It is not really about the kids, they are external to the real story. It’s a great reflection inspiring piece of art. My spouse couldn’t shut me up about it for about an hour after we finished watching it. I’m glad your older brother is doing well now. Thanks for explaining that line in “No Excuses”. I get it now. I expect every line you write to be profound. See how much you’ve spoiled me. Heheh. I love James Bond too! He’s a great character. I watched Friends for a while, but I own all the seasons of Highlander the series and most of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. LOL.

This Poem was Critiqued By: Jennifer j Hill On Date: 2004-02-05 09:00:39
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.87879
Dear Ezrahl, Now this I never expected. I bet you are getting a wide variety of personal reactions to this, considering the subject matter. The "KKK" were notorious for their percecution of anyone not like them. This perfect 5-7-5 Senryu also reads as a vertical acrostic with "known killer knights". That is quite an amazing feat you have accomplished. Extra, Extra, A two-in-one poem! The alliteration of the hard "K" in keep/kinship/kaleidoscope/kerosene adds a cohesiveness to this piece, as does the known/knight allit. The use of kaelidoscope is an interesting choice of words. At first I was appalled because of the context in which you used a word that would normally describe something delightful and multifaceted, until I realized the "KKK" persecuted a wide variety of equally diverse individuals, which indeed qualifies. My hat is off to you, Erzahl! Blessings, Jennifer

This Poem was Critiqued By: Mick Fraser On Date: 2004-02-03 13:07:46
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.35556
Hi Erzahl... Happy is me to find another one of your tiny tales of truth on the top of my list. The first line in four words tells more than one could dream. To me, it talks about how this group (or other similar ones) have a completely contrary, the point of irony view, that they are kin, yet that the spirit of kinship (love, peace, support etc.) are not possible with others in this world. You have set up the story with an image driven by an alliteration that the reader becomes addicted to and begs for more. and you don't diappoint!! "killer of kaleidoscope"...yes they want to see it all as black and white separated or possibly prefer to have a world whitewashed for only like-minded servants. It is sad to see them profess to be on God's side, just like all the other fundamenalist fanatics that have trouble accepting that the world is a better place with blended cultures. I loved this expression and it alone deserves special recognition. The ending is perfectly done. The poems ends with imagery that provikes the reader to conjure up past cross burnings and the pain and suffering many have felt. You truly captured the reader and told a whole story in 10 words...I am continually in awe of your heavenly haikus. This one definitely goes on my voting list. Thanks for sharing and never stop writing these!!! Mick

This Poem was Critiqued By: Debbie L Fischer On Date: 2004-02-02 19:09:57
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.60714
Erzahl, This is wonderful! As one who detests racism, this poem goes right to my heart. You've again accomplished much in stating the ugliness of the Ku Klux Klan in 3 short lines. Bravo to you!!! Deb:)

This Poem was Critiqued By: Jordan Brendez Bandojo On Date: 2004-01-27 15:24:06
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.92308
Hi friendster Erzahl, From what happened to TOP, a bit of tension still running in my nerve! Hehe! But of course still have the gut to critique. With your KKK, I find it when I relate it to Filipino term KATAASTAASAN KAGALANG... I forgot the most humorous definition of it (ano ba un?). With the content of the verse, I assume that you are portraying the secret society organized by Southerners to reassert white supremacy by means of terrorism. In the Filipino setting, KKK was a revolution to fight for freedom and the KLAN is unrightful so to speak. I just admired again your pen extending its ink to a serious and big theme. Still the form is intact with 5/7/5. Each word is a masterful choice to the extent that it reinforced the theme with this 7K's. The first line is revealing the character of KLAN which is opposing to most of us. I like the use of kaleidoscope to mean different phases/or faces. I assume that it means the KLAN only wants a homogeneous color and anything that is different is being put to an end. Dark color is not a life for them. And that you have the third line which speaks of terrorism. How pitiful is the Dark, their homes burned! Thanks for sharing, Erzahl. This piece speaks that racial descrimination is totally unreasonable. Keep writing, Jordan

This Poem was Critiqued By: Regis L Chapman On Date: 2004-01-21 15:59:42
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.00000
This is interesting in the sense that this is only my second understanding of the poem which is acrostic. I read it before I understood what that meant and was missing the point. It's now very clear, and for me I always have to congratulate general ballsy-ness in poetry, whether it's showing personal courage in revealing things generally sacred for the individual in question, or through more social courage. Commenting on certain hot button issues is always a challenge in a public forum, and some credit is due just to that. I also like the middle line that talks about kaleidoscope. Nice way of putting that. The poem is a bit disturbing, especially to think that we still know that this sort of thing exists, but.... Great job on the poem. I like reading the ongoing series. Thanks, REEG!

This Poem was Critiqued By: Leo Wilder On Date: 2004-01-20 11:31:31
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.50000
Kowards kourting khaos. Interesting, but not overly kreative. Sorry, just being a little too honest today. Leo

This Poem was Critiqued By: Joanne M Uppendahl On Date: 2004-01-15 22:22:56
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
Erzahl: This poem knocked the breath out of me. It is so stunningly true. I believe you have illustrated another powerful use of the poet's pen - justice! You write powerfully of beauty, and equally as powerfully of evil. "Knights with Kerosene" are words I will never forget. We must not forget, and I thank you for this timely reminder. As we celebrate the birthday of the great Martin Luther King, Jr., these words in your poem are extremely apropos. Profound! Many thanks for your thoughtfulness! All my best, Joanne

This Poem was Critiqued By: Claire H. Currier On Date: 2004-01-11 00:17:13
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.50000
Once again you have created a superb Haiku within these lines.......5-7-5 .......so maky K words and using Known Killer Knights adds to the Ku Klux Klan image...... Two years ago for the first time in my life we travelled south and came across houses in the countryside that had three crosses standing in their front yard......fear filled my soul I must say and wondered if these things happened today as they did years ago....... Knights with Kerosene......what an image that brings forth.......not only that one might tend to go back in time and hear the screams and smell the burning flesh and the fear that was planted in so many people during that erra. Thanks for posting, sharing with us. Be safe, God Bless, Claire

This Poem was Critiqued By: Turner Lee Williams On Date: 2004-01-10 00:55:30
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.60000
Erzahl--I can't label this 5-7-5 form Haiku (nature) or Senryu (humorous). It doesn't really matter, the statement made by the piece is unmistakenly heartfelt and quite a deviation from your normal exalted renderings. Great use of allits/consonants ("K" sounds) throughout the poem including the title. The "Knights with kerosene" were the terriorists of/for their time and the "killer of kaleidoscope" (superb metaphor for people of color). In this offering you've managed to put together a well thoughtout social/political commentary deriding an infamous group ingrained in America's culture. Thanks for posting such a Realistic and controversial piece. TLW

This Poem was Critiqued By: Thomas Edward Wright On Date: 2004-01-09 23:41:59
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 1.00000
I have enjoyed watching the ee list of little poems grow and grow. now they have children. soon grands. oh ee, watch the geometry! the 64th square on the board holds much rice, great risk. this one is painfully true. the others are less painful. more like chocolates. this is an ee enema. ** ::) ** (this is me with a hat on!) t.

This Poem was Critiqued By: marilyn terwilleger On Date: 2004-01-09 10:13:56
Critiquer Rating During Critique: Unknown
Hi Erzahl, I so do enjoy your work and your talent for writing these verses. This is one that is diverse in it's message from what you usually write. The Ku Klux Klan is a part of American history that most of us would like to forget. It is beyond me that such hatered existed in our land, but it did and there is no way to deny it. In this verse you have used seven words that begin with the letter 'k' giving a hard and harsh sound so indicative to the Klan...."Known to keep kinship"...yes they did stick together and were bigots to a man. One wonders how a person could sustain such anger toward their fellow man and torture and kill them because of the color of their skin...."Killer of kaleildoscope" In this line you exemplify the root of the Klan's hatered against anyone different from themselves...especially their color. Use of the word 'kaleildoscope here is brilliant!.."knights with kerosene"..the horrible burnings of homes was devastating to the black people. Most were not worth much to begin with but it was their homes that they watched burn to the ground. When I was 18 yrs old and married my husband we went to Kentucky where he was stationed...was during the Korean war. I was shocked when the black people stood in the gutters if they saw you approch them on the sidewalks. I could not believe it and I felt so sorry that they would think they had to do that for me...it also made me ashamed to belong to the white race. Another great poem! Peace...Marilyn

This Poem was Critiqued By: Sherri L Smith On Date: 2004-01-08 14:34:34
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 8.00000
Dear Erzahl, You know I think you are the master. Keep it up! Sherri

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