May is Lower East Side History Month, and to that end a host of chalking activity was occurring on the opening weekend due to #chalkLES, a multi-organization effort to write historical tidbits on the streets of the Lower East Side.
The organizer of #chalkLES (and generally amazing LES mover-and-shaker), Ryan Gilliam, invited Guerilla Haiku to add some more chalkdust to the scene. To which we resoundingly said YES!
On the eve of our Saturday frolics, I decorated my beloved Tenement Museum with haiku inspired by its work and mission.
But the day truly began in Seward Park where the melting pot of the Lower East Side was out in full force. After getting some Jehovah’s Witnesses to translate their message into 17-syllables, snapping a photo of a group of @janeswalk participants posing with their Jane Jacobs haiku, and being inspired by a young man translating his glorious haiku into Chinese so his mother could appreciate it with him- we headed onwards!
Next up, the Henry Street Settlement, celebrating Lillian Wald (their founder’s) birthday. And we chalked into a multicultural joyful block-party!! We found ample inspiration (and participated in a number of group dances). Check out our odes to a very special neighborhood!
To Haiku!
If you want to see this album on Flickr, click here.
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The Haiku Mistress
Actor and educator, Caley Vickerman, discovered haiku in 6th grade and they remain to this day a favorite method of expression; simple, precise and immeasurably powerful. It became her fervent wish to create events that celebrated haiku (and humanity). Thus the Guerilla Haiku Movement was born! …And the Haiku Mistress gratefully continues to celebrate! 
We are the Guerilla Haiku Movement; a cadre of artists, fun-lovers, and fools that use sidewalk chalk and the ancient Japanese poetic tradition of Haiku to tell our stories and the stories of our communities inside of one moment. Check out our events page to join us in a city near you!