Wu Tang Clan Haiku

Written by Adam Iddings

Since the 20th anniversary of Liquid Swords, this writer has been writing poetry inspired by the music of GZA and Wu Tang Clan. Below are twenty-three haiku based on their music.

Basho says, “Composition must occur in an instant, like a woodcutter felling a huge tree, or a swordsman leaping at his enemy. It is also like cutting a ripe watermelon with a sharp knife or like taking a large bite at a pear.” The GZA says, “Liquid Swords is a concept of being lyrically sharp, flowing like liquid metal – mercury, y'know? It comes from this flick, Legend of the Liquid Sword, where people would get their head cut off but it would still be on their shoulders. No one else would notice, because the sword was so sharp. Wu-Tang is a sword style, and this here is the sharpest.” Here below are 23 Wu-Tang-inspired haiku.
 
 
 
“Gold”
Parked by the roiling drain,
A maserati shelter
For the cold wet rat.
 
 
“4th Chamber”
The muddy murk
The hooded burglar slips in
Running from his robbing the bank.
 
 
“Nutmeg”
From hiz zenith,
A city hawk drops
On your Bush-Nunn.
 
 
“Killa Hills 10304”
Coming ashore,
A smuggler’s boat greets
The growling hound dog.
 
 
“Living in the World Today”
A haggard ghost
Playing an organ
In the barroom.
 
 
“Swordsman”
A tunic-wearer
Levitating in the monastery
of the MS-DOS.
 
 
“I Gotcha Back”
Under the Wu house,
A buried clay tablet
That asks:
 
“What is the meaning of crime?
Is it criminals robbing innocent motherfuckers
Every time?”

“Labels”
The throw of the bills
On the craps table
Settles the applause.
 
 
“Investigative Reports”
Bound, gagged, and shot
Eating spring lemons:
Come on down, you’re the next contestant
 
 
“Tical”
There’s no harm in going slow:
Cherry blossoms in a deep fjord,
A Cheetos bag swirling on the sidewalk.
 
 
“Knuckleheadz”
The gunsmoke carnival:
On a high-wire a clown juggles
RZA’s ABC blocks.
 
 
“Heaven & Hell”
Ostrich plume leis &
Iced coladas in low-ball glasses:
Floating on a lava flow.
 
 
“Tai Chi”
On the steps of a church,
Two moon-flooded bums
Playing dice for filas.
 
 
“B.I.B.L.E.”
A young Mayan runner
Cupping his hands
To drink the well water.
 
 
“Bring the Pain”
Is it really real?
An island airport runway rained on
With crystal droplets.
 
 
“All I Need”
A samurai motorcycle
Speeding through the Holland Tunnel
Like an eraser streak.
 
 
“Criminology”
Winter-damp-crack concrete:
The scruffled tramp
Hocking wares outside a shoe store.
 
 
“Assassination Day”
A white glow inside
From Mortal Kombat-playing
Lights the jungle cave.
 
 
“Da Mystery of Chessboxin’”
At the training ground,
A toxic dust hanging
In the projector beam.
 
 
“C.R.E.A.M.”
Under the swampy stairs,
Down the riverbank Styx,
A Scott Joplin piano.
 
 
“Ice Cream”
The last “Your guts,”
Sweet as an ice cream truck--
Whose yell is that line?
 
 
“Brooklyn Zoo”
Daisy sour cream
Left molding on the fire escape:
A poor seer snacks.
 
 
“Tragedy”
Falling through
a sandpit into a galaxy
awkwardly.