Rebellious Haiku 32 Syllables and Counting

COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO - “Prison has rules, work has rules, government has rules. Poetry only listens to emotion as its ruler. It knows no god, serves no master, obeys no command. Know thy pen, understand the paper, and let the poetry do the rest.” Professor Gianmarco explained to his class of undergraduate English majors.

Amidst the flamboyant teaching, Mike Walmak, a freshman, was scribbling away with his head down in his journal. “Mr. Walmak is there something more interesting than the art you’d like to discuss with your peers?” He continued to write away, unaware of the world surrounding him. “Mr. Walmak! What is more important than the poems!” The classroom remained silent, all heads turning to the back of the room.

Professor Gianmarco stormed to the back of the class, ready to slap the journal off his desk and slap the face of this ignorant child with the other. “This will be your last warning -”, but as he raised his hand in anger he saw the boy counting out syllables. In the journal, to his agrin, was a poem.

The professor held his breath and allowed the student to write away, he was witnessing beauty melt across the page. Counting the syllables along with him he asked, “Is this a free verse?”

The boy stopped. And slammed his pointer finger on the title of the page. “Haiku”. It read.

Professor Gianmarco's knees buckled at the sight as he fell to the ground aghast. “What is this?” His breath was shaking, in fear of what he might hear next. “A Haiku.” Replied the boy. “How many syllables?” “32.” Said the boy, with his pen touching the page. “But, but, you’re a freshman…I don’t understand…how?” The young student looked up from his page, and for the very first time, locked eyes with his professor. “Sir, poetry has no rules, it serves only emotion as its master.”

Mike Walmak, PhD was recently honored with the 2026 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry.