Article Haiku
In 2004 the Museum of Hoaxes sponsored a contest in which the person who wrote the best haiku about an urban legend or a hoax won a free book. The contest got a great response. In fact, a few of us enjoyed it so much that we didn’t want it to end. So we kept on composing haikus even after the contest was over. For which reason, you might notice haiku accompanying many of the articles in the hoaxipedia. Feel free to contribute your own. Submit them via our hoax haiku submission form. (Sorry, we’re no longer giving away a free book.)
A haiku (for those that don’t know) is a short three-line poem. Traditionally, the first line has five syllables, the second line seven syllables, and the third line five. An example:
The hoax museum
invites you to write haiku
about its content.
Articles that include haiku are listed below.
Articles in category "Haiku":
There are 17 articles for this category
Arm the Homeless
Type: College Prank. Summary: A phony organization urged people to help provide the homeless with guns and ammunition. HOAX HAIKUThe charity says, “Homeless are Americans, too, so give them guns!” (by Krista)Submit a haiku In the first week of December, 1993, a press release was distributed to the Columbus, Ohio…
Bigfoot Hoaxes
Type: Legend. Summary: The legend of the existence of a giant ape native to North America has inspired numerous hoaxes. BIGFOOT HAIKUIf a tree branch falls in the woods and hits Bigfoot, does he make a sound? (by AB) Bigfoot, he saw me. Grabbed me and ran far away. I’ll…
Cardiff Giant
Type: Hoax Summary: A stone figure unearthed in 1869 turned out not to be as ancient as many, at first, believed. HOAX HAIKUWhatever you do, Don’t call him jolly or green. It’ll make him mad. (by AB) Made for cash or pride He’s a man-made Man of stone Guess who’s…
Duckbilled Platypus
Type: Real creature suspected of being fake. Summary: When western naturalists first discovered the duckbilled platypus, they suspected it was a hoax. HOAX HAIKUThe bizarre creaure In the river must be miffed, ‘Cause he isn’t real (by J) Egg-laying mammal With duck-bill that doesnt quack (Man that is so wack!)…
Loch Ness Monster Hoaxes
Type: Cryptozoological critter. Summary: The legend of a monster living in Scotland’s Loch Ness has inspired many hoaxes. NESSIE HAIKULurking in the deep, centuries old. Addicted to tourist sushi. (by AB) Like Schroedinger’s Cat it matters not where she is --but that she might be. (by Armando C. Gomez) Through…
Milton Mule
Type: Political prank. Summary: In 1938 the residents of Milton, Washington elected a mule to office. HOAX HAIKUNew commiteeman’s Great, better than the last one But the speech was odd (by J)Submit a haiku Mrs. Curtis poses with her mule “Boston”On September 13, 1938 Boston Curtis won the post of…
Neiman Marcus Cookie Recipe
Type: Anti-corporate rumor. Summary: Despite a persistent rumor to the contrary, Neiman Marcus has never sold a cookie recipe for $250. URBAN LEGEND HAIKU Recipe was good, But it cost me too much dough. And now I am broke. (by AB) That’s a good cookie. I’ll get that Neiman Marcus.…
Paul Is Dead
Type: Part rumor, part hoax. Summary: In 1969 the possibility that Paul McCartney had died years ago in a car crash and been replaced by a double became one of the most hotly debated questions around the world. HOAX HAIKUSo many fake clues The three, the hand, the flowers Paul…
Piltdown Man
Type: Hoax. Summary: Early twentieth-century paleontologists discovered in a pit in Southern England what they claimed to be the missing link between man and ape. HOAX HAIKUOrangutan jaw with human skull fools Science. Naughty Charles Dawson. (by Nefertari) Got shiny, new teeth? Stain them an attractive brown With Piltdown Toothpaste!…
Pope Joan
Type: Legend. (Possible case of gender concealment.) Summary: According to legend, a woman disguised as a man briefly served as Pope sometime in the ninth century. HOAX HAIKUMy girlfriend thinks she’s always right — infallible — just because she’s Pope. (by AB) Oh what a surprise! Pope is different to…
San Serriffe
Type: April Fool’s Day Hoax. Summary: On April 1, 1977 the Guardian published a seven-page supplement devoted to the previously unknown island state of San Serriffe. Table of Contents The Creation of San Serriffe The Special Report San Serriffe Geography San Serriffe Culture San Serriffe Advertisements The Response The Sequel…
September Morn
Type: Alleged publicity stunt. Summary: Publicist Harry Reichenbach claimed that a phony protest engineered by him helped “September Morn” become one of the most famous paintings in the world. This is shown not to be the case. The French painter Paul Chabas completed “September Morn” in early 1912. The painting…
Snowball the Monster Cat
Type: Hoax Photo. Summary: A photograph widely circulated on the internet purported to show a mutant 87-pound cat. HOAX HAIKUBig cats make great pets, And make great conversation, but think of the Hairballs! (by J) Man that man is strong holding Fluffy, smiling big hate to clean that litter (by…
Society for Indecency to Naked Animals
Type: Hoax. Summary: A satirical organization campaigned to clothe animals. HOAX HAIKUG. Clifford Prout says A nude horse is a rude horse. Put pants on Fido!!! (by AB)Submit a haiku SINA Newsletter. G. Clifford Prout was a man with a mission, and that mission was to put clothes on all…
Swiss Spaghetti Harvest
Type: April Fool’s Day Hoax. Summary: In 1957 the British news show Panorama convinced many of its viewers that spaghetti grows on trees. The Swiss Spaghetti Harvest is listed at #1 in the Museum’s list of the Top 100 April Fool’s Day Hoaxes of All Time. SPAGHETTI HARVEST HAIKUThere’s nothing…
Tourist Guy
Type: Hoax Photo. Summary: A photograph purported to show a tourist standing on the observation deck of the World Trade Center, seconds before it was struck by a plane. Soon after September 11, 2001, a sensational photo began circulating via email. It showed a tourist posing for a snapshot on…
War of the Worlds
Type: Radio Hoax. Summary: In 1938 thousands of people were fooled into believing that Martians had invaded New Jersey when they mistook a broadcast of H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds for a newscast of real events. HOAX HAIKUThe night has grown still. Nothing stirs but that Martian blasting its…