The term Piaku is a portmanteau of the legendary number Pi and the traditional Japanese haiku. This form was created by Mike Rollins. Piaku can be as small as 3 lines or go on for as long as you’d like. The only stipulation is that each line’s syllable count must map on to the corresponding number of Pi. The first line must be three syllables, the second line must be one syllable, and the third line must be four syllables and so forth. The poem has no set meter and has no rhyme scheme. It’s a very free form other than syllable count. Here are some example of various piaku lengths:
I say old
– Lawrencealot
man,
listen to that
wind.
Walking is no fun
on a night when horizontal rains
transpire.
Scurry to the back yard
hurry quick then lie
by the fire.
This form is
– C.W. Bryan
Tough ~
Like a burned steak
Rules of the Piaku
- It’s a poem of at least three lines
- Each line syllable count must correspond to the next digit of pi
- It has no rhyme or meter requirements
- It has no set length and can continue on for as long as you wish
Here are the first fifty digits of pi for reference:
3 . 1 4 1 5 9 2 6 5 3 5 8 9 7 9 3 2 3 8 4 6 2 6 4 3 3 8 3 2 7 9 5 0 2 8 8 4 1 9 7 1 6 9 3 9 9 3 7 5 1 0
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