by Alison
Well, this is refreshing! The new President of the European Union is none other than the reluctant Prime Minister of Belgium, Herman Van Rompuy. Not exactly known for playing the part of the alpha-male, Van Rompuy is more famed for being a “nice guy” with few enemies 
and a “quiet sense of purpose”. Can it get cooler than that? Oh, yes it can. Van Rompuy also writes haiku.
Check out this humble haiku penned by this new EU Prez:
Hair blows in the wind
After years there is still wind
Sadly no more hair.
OMG! I love this guy! And not only does he write haiku, he also reads them aloud at the sort of very important events politicians tend to partake in. At a recent news conference Van Rompuy introduced himself, along with the prime ministers of Spain and Hungary, with this humorous haiku:
Three waves together,
Rolling onto the harbor –
The trio is here.
I think I have a new criteria for future politicians. It’s not all policy and press, as we tend to think. Our future leaders may also benefit their constituents by possessing the wisdom of haiku…. and correct me if that’s not a great quality for leadership!
You can read more of Herman Van Rompuy’s haiku, written in his native Flemish, at his blog. But if you don’t read Flemish you are in luck - a translated version can be found here.
Ahhh. If only more politicians would stop with all the posturing and find some time to write haiku!
Comment by Kelly — December 3, 2009 @ 9:44 am
Don’t you just want to hang out with him? Be in a little haiku club with him? May be we can get jobs teaching haiku to politicians? The possibilities!
Comment by Alison — December 3, 2009 @ 11:20 am
[...] For his famous haiku, alas, you will have to look elsewhere. [...]
Pingback by FT.com | Brussels Blog | Van Rompuy Makes His Subtle Mark on EU Working Practices — January 5, 2010 @ 1:25 am
[...] "OMG! I love this guy!" writesAlison Kehler at haikubytwo.com. [...]
Pingback by The love of haiku | Public News Archive — March 20, 2010 @ 4:49 am
[...] "OMG! I love this guy!" writesAlison Kehler at haikubytwo.com. [...]
Pingback by The love of haiku | E-News Online — March 20, 2010 @ 4:52 am
[...] "OMG! I love this guy!" writesAlison Kehler at haikubytwo.com. [...]
Pingback by The love of haiku | ProHostGold News — March 20, 2010 @ 5:03 am
[...] "OMG! I love this guy!" writesAlison Kehler at haikubytwo.com. [...]
Pingback by The love of haiku | Paperless Media — March 20, 2010 @ 5:23 am
a lighted match, that
flickers fleckted on the wall
then its gone, thats all
Comment by William Hurt 111 — March 20, 2010 @ 6:43 am
[...] "OMG! I love this guy!" writesAlison Kehler at haikubytwo.com. [...]
Pingback by The love of haiku | test title — March 20, 2010 @ 7:10 am
[...] "OMG! I love this guy!" writesAlison Kehler at haikubytwo.com. [...]
Pingback by The love of haiku | World Report - Breaking News, World News, Business News — March 20, 2010 @ 7:10 am
[...] "OMG! I love this guy!" writesAlison Kehler at haikubytwo.com. [...]
Pingback by The love of haiku : Bloggii – The Global News Aggregator — March 20, 2010 @ 7:41 am
[...] Alison Kehler learned about Van Rompuy and his haiku blog back last fall. She blogged about the world leader and his haiku-ing ways on her web site, Haiku By Two, in a post titled Euro Union Prez and Haikuer Van Rompuy. [...]
Pingback by Haiku By Two Quoted in BBC Article — March 22, 2010 @ 12:22 pm
[...] myself, I also keep a haiku blog called Haiku By Two. My haiku’ing partner blogged about Van Rompuy and his poetry habit a while [...]
Pingback by Haiku Herman, President of the EU — March 23, 2010 @ 7:25 am
[...] "OMG! I love this guy!" writesAlison Kehler at haikubytwo.com. [...]
Pingback by The love of haiku | MIDEASTA — August 6, 2010 @ 9:14 am