22 Haikus – By @chlo_gray

By Chloe Gray

22 Haikus

In Vikki Ross’ most recent masterclass, she really emphasised how important it is that in our ads, we speak like the people we’re speaking to. In copy, we’re just trying to communicate a simple message. There’s no need to flex your lexicon and embellish the text with superfluous, overly complicated language (like the word superfluous). In fact, doing so can often have an adverse effect.I asked Vikki for advice on how to really break down a piece of writing to the bare essentials, and she suggested writing some haikus – the structure is so limiting that there is no room for anything unnecessary. I found this exercise to be extremely helpful and would recommend to any copywriter wanting to trim the fat. Without further ado, here are 22 haikus.-I thought I’d found love,but the heat in my chest wasjust acid reflux.-Do birds hate flying?I wondered at 3am.Are clouds god vaping?-A politicianmust choose two things carefully:Which tie and which lie?-As we passed on theescalators, I reached outand stole his AirPod.-Hello, welcome tothe School of Constant Applause.Have a clap for that.-“Look at the rainbow in that oil spill” said a boy.“Ha, gayyyy!” said his friend.-“Are you still watching?”Netflix is the only onewho checks in on me.-The moon glowed orange,like a huge sweet potato.I thought of your face.-I lose sleep, wishingI’d taken better care ofmy Tamagotchi.-For you, I’d walk thegreat distance between Bank and Monument station.-I never thought pinkwould be my favourite shade.Now it’s all I see.-Things you only findWhen you stop looking for them:Love and matching socks.-I studied his face,he looked like a scarred angel.Too torn for heaven. -Astro-news, just in:Mercury’s in retrograde.I’ll stay home this week.-Now and then I feelcompletely unimportant.Like the b in crumb.-Write a persona.It might help you understandwho the fuck you are.-A sweet stranger withpurple hair and big wild eyestold me I’ll be fine.-Suddenly the stars,like the freckles on your face,all fell into place.-Please let it be knownthat I know all the lyricsto the Cha Cha Slide.-Can you go down low?Now it’s time to get funky.Take it back now y’all.-Autumn reminds meof the merit in endings;beauty in decay.-We go togetherLike bullets and beanbags do.An ungodly mess.