Author's note: Six rough poems in Haiku form (but not, all, really in the spirit of Haiku). Three written (thought up) in the dentist’s chair and three others written later to try to justify the whole silly idea.

In the chair, I just needed something to distract myself; not so much from the discomfort, but from the boredom. So I thought up some Haiku about my situation. They are not really Haiku in spirit – nothing about nature - whilst adhering to the form.

The last couple sort of embody the spirit of Haiku in that they have a last line which is a summary/distillation of the previous lines.

Whatever. I hope you find them amusing.

In the dentist’s chair

To try to distract myself

I write this haiku

         . . .

That worked a little

But she’s still drilling away

Where do I go now?

       . . .

She’s drilling, drilling

I’m staring into the light

But not enlightened

       . . .

Remorseless drilling

But in my head I still write

And look at the light

       . . .

The drilling goes on

But the light and words free me

I’m free of the chair

       . . .

Thinking up haiku

While being dentally drilled

Mad idea that worked

James Parker is a Tasmanian historian (but with deep connections to Sydney), who writes and talks on mainly colonial subjects – especially convicts, women and the Tasmanian Aboriginal people.