The Big Weird: Haikus in Times of Pandemic and Chaos

By ZJ Czupor

The Big Weird: Haikus in Times of Pandemic and Chaos is a new collection of haiku poetry by Z.J. Czupor. Inspired by the stress and fear of the COVID-19 pandemic, Czupor's wry observations and short, hot poetry captures how our world quickly went from what we thought was usual to the weird.

Anyone who has lived through this time, estranged, lost a loved one, lost their job, forced to find a new way to work and get through the day, and watched as our world erupted in peaceful and violent protests, will appreciate how this weird year has forever changed our lives.

Czupor's poetry is calming, funny, sublime, serious, and will cause you to think deeply about what's important. Reading while drinking your favorite libation is highly recommended.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Dec 22, 2020
• ISBN: 9781098339906

Book preview

Czupor

Acknowledgement

For Marta

This haiku’s for you

My muse and love of my life.

Thank you for playing.

You edit my work.

Sometimes you laugh, and then, sigh.

Oh, you have good taste.

This book would not have come to life without the encouragement of my family and friends and adoring fans (okay, fan) who followed my daily haiku postings on Facebook. There’s no doubt, this COVID-19 virus is real and deadly. But, as we all know, these social, cultural, and economic changes to our lives have been, if not uneasy, often brutal to many.

My haikus are my personal observations of how this weird time has affected us all. Some of it’s sad and lonely, and some is fall-down funny. It’s life and we all deal with it differently. In whatever way you deal with this weird time, I wish you all great and enduring health. Stay safe and keep your wheels aligned.

For those who followed me on Facebook, thank you for your emojis of likes, loves, and laughs as well as your hundreds of great, touching, and often laugh-out-loud comments. Your enthusiasm kept me going. So, here’s a special haiku for all of you:

Your encouragement

Has meant all the world to me.

Thank you, one and all.

Now, please buy this book. In fact, buy several. You can never have enough.

Endorsements

"Witty, topical, and heartfelt, Z.J. Czupor’s haikus are a highlight of the anthology, Stop the World: Snapshots from a Pandemic. He has distilled the weirdness and sadness of our experiences into charming, punchy verses that will be long remembered as commentary for this unique year."

Lise McClendon, editor

"The