Gay Haiku [Hardcover]

Joel Derfner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 10, 2005

Impossible to resist, this hilariously sassy and sweet collection of haiku turns the perilous sport of gay dating into pure poetry.

For hundreds of years, the Japanese haiku has been equated with peaceful contemplation and spiritual enlightenment. A delicate balance of rhythm and line, the haiku has provided countless readers with an appreciation of the changing of the seasons and the miracles of nature. Now, in Gay Haiku, readers can finally appreciate more important things—like the changing of boyfriends and the miracles of shopping.

Irresistible and irreverent, this collection of one hundred and ten witty and wicked short poems captures the many dating disasters of first-time author Joel Derfner. In a wonderfully fresh and original voice, Derfner shamelessly mines his personal life to send up such broad-ranging topics as gay pop culture, politics, family, sex, and, of course, home decorating.

Gay, straight, or undecided, readers will delight in Derfner’s dry sense of humor and unmistakable charm as he tackles the big questions of life.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

JOEL DERFNER graduated from Harvard with a degree in linguistics. His work for the musical theater has been produced in London, New York, and various cities in between. In an attempt to become the gayest person ever, he took up knitting and got a job as a step aerobics instructor.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

one


I don't understand.
You love it when I do that--
Wait, no. That's Stephen.


two


Frantically hiding
Porno and Mapplethorpe prints--
Mom is on her way.


three


Remember when I
Said I disliked oral sex?
I meant just with you.


Four


My seventh birthday;
I weep at Barbie's Dream House.
How could you not know?


Five


The salmon's divine,
But I'm afraid we can't stay--
I fucked our waiter.


six


It's our second date,
And I'm not sure I love you.
It's time to break up.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Crown Archetype (May 10, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 076791984X
• ISBN-13: 978-0767919845
• Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 0.6 x 6.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,261,493 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #59 in Books > Gay & Lesbian > Literature & Fiction > Poetry > Gay

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Irreverent, original, hilarious., May 18, 2005

By 

Erika K. Moore (NY, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gay Haiku (Hardcover)

A great, fun, quick read and/or gift (terrific text, but it's beautifully produced too -- and won't break the bank). And by the way, if you're straight (I am), don't be put off by the title -- love is love is love; whatever your orientation, you'll relate to the take on romance (the good, the bittersweet, the downright awful).

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars damn funny!, May 18, 2005

By 

NYC reader - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gay Haiku (Hardcover)

I picked up this book in Barnes & Noble because it looked cute and I thought it might have some fun stuff in it. It turned out to be terrific! I laughed almost the whole way through. I went back to get another copy as a present for a friend but they were sold out so I ordered it from amazon. I'd definitely recommend this book to people looking for something smart and funny to read or to give as a gift.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious and poignant poems, May 16, 2005

By 

davidb1224 (Baltimore, MD USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gay Haiku (Hardcover)

This little book of haiku with gay themes had the potential to be a cutesy "impulse" sort of purchase, but it ended up truly delighting me on many levels. Each little three-line poem, alone on its page, evokes a complete narrative--possibly even an epic novel--condensed into seventeen syllables. The quick hit of each poem, usually a wry laugh, blends into the pleasure of recognition . . . and finally, your mind is forced to provide some sort of context for the unfolding scene it is forced to imagine. I had to keep flipping back to to the author's photograph on the back cover to see the face of the person who could come up with such things. Highly recommended.