Almost everyone in Twins Territory knows by now that it’s Joe Mauer’s 28th birthday today. Something about being a hometown boy makes his birthday close to a state holiday.
In celebration of the day, we here at Knuckleballs are giving away a pair of tickets to next Tuesday nights game, April 26th, against the Tampa Bay Rays. We will be drawing names at the conclusion of tonight’s game. The way to enter the drawing is to submit your best birthday haiku for Joe. Anyone who submits a haiku in the comment section of this post is automatically included AND multiple entries are accepted. The entries will be numbered drawn at random.
Rules for acceptable Haiku:
- Only three lines, totaling 17 syllables throughout
- The first line must be only 5 syllables
- The second line must be comprised of 7 syllables
- The third line must be 5 syllables like the first
- Punctuation and capitalization rules are up to the poet, and need not follow rigid rules used in structuring sentences
- Haiku does not have to rhyme, in fact many times it does not rhyme at all
- Some haiku can include the repetition of words or sounds
- haiku poetry typically discusses subjects from the natural world, including seasons, months, animals, insects, and even the smallest elements of nature, down to a blade of grass or a drop of dew
Again – this should be a birthday greeting for Joe Mauer so that should also be included in whatever creative way you can manage! Have fun everyone!
And the winner is Haiku #1 from AW! (yes, I literally put them in a bowl and drew one out). Here’s the winning poem:
Happy Birthday, Joe.
Body slowing, legs are weak.
Getting old not fun.
AW, please email JimCrikket ASAP with your mailing address so that he can put the tickets in the mail to you. Congratulations! If, for any reason, you are unable to attend the game, please let us know.
Happy Birthday, Joe.
Body slowing, legs are weak.
Getting old not fun.
I like these!
To be Joe Mauer.
Sauve, twenty-eight, a legend.
Us commoners cry.
On this day was born
A tall reticent hero
Destined for the Hall
Winning poem has been selected – please see post above!
for AW & K_Bart, THANK YOU for the entertainment! They were all a good laugh.
Well that was fun. Not often a science major gets to be a poet. Congrats, friend! Enjoy the game.
Awesome! Very exciting. Thanks Knuckleballsblog crew!!
I always knew that the Japanese thoughts flowing within me would someday lead to Twins tickets.
The tickets are in the mail, AW. I hope you enjoy the game (along with Jessica, who won the prior contest).
I just don’t want everyone to start getting TOO accustomed to these ticket giveaways. I’m not ordering any more Twins tickets until I’m absolutely sure I can make the game(s)!
As it stands, I’ll be watching the Orioles and Red Sox in Camden Yards while you folks are taking in the Rays/Twins next Tuesday.
Happy Birthday Joe!
Rest up, take care, have some fun
Enjoy 28!