A correspondence in seventeen syllables

Haikard

A haiku for someone you love, on a keepsake worth keeping.

Tell us about them. We shape seventeen syllables that say it well, render them on a two-page PDF — the verse on the first page, a Certificate of Verse on the second — and deliver it in minutes. Yours forever.

· Two-page PDF· Print-ready at A5· Yours in minutes· Up to ten revisions
Issued by
Haikard
Certificate of Verse
Be it known that on the 12th of June, MMXXVI, Haikard did work with Lila to condense a feeling into seventeen syllables of consequence — the haiku here-attached, composed for Mateo.
For Haikard
the verse-keeper
HH
No. HK-002417 · MMXXVI
page two · the certificate
A haiku · for
Mateo
Two slow rivers meet —
the meadow does not ask why,
they were always one.
the 12th of June, MMXXVI
from Lila
page one · the haiku
The Making of a Haikard

From a feeling to a keepsake in four parts

Each step is necessary; none is hurried.

I

You confide

A short conversation. Tell us of the recipient, the occasion, the feeling. Speak plainly; we are good listeners.

II

The verse

Seventeen syllables, weighed against the season and the heart. We propose; you revise. We won't deliver a verse you don't love.

III

The artifact

Two pages of paper, made of light. The haiku, set on the first page. The Certificate of Verse, sealed in wax on the second.

IV

Yours to keep

Save it, print it, frame it, attach it to a note. The post is now electric — but the keeping, the keeping is the same.

Verses, by way of example

A small gallery of haiku we have made

Names changed, sentiments unaltered. The PDF you receive looks like this.

Issued by
Haikard
Certificate of Verse
Be it known that on the 12th of June, MMXXVI, Haikard did work with Lila to condense a feeling into seventeen syllables of consequence — the haiku here-attached, composed for Mateo.
For Haikard
the verse-keeper
HH
No. HK-002417 · MMXXVI
A haiku · for
Mateo
Two slow rivers meet —
the meadow does not ask why,
they were always one.
the 12th of June, MMXXVI
from Lila
for a wedding
Issued by
Haikard
Certificate of Verse
Be it known that on the 3rd of March, MMXXVI, Haikard did work with Jamie to condense a feeling into seventeen syllables of consequence — the haiku here-attached, composed for Sam.
For Haikard
the verse-keeper
HH
No. HK-001998 · MMXXVI
A haiku · for
Sam
The kettle is on,
I am sorry, I am here;
please come back inside.
the 3rd of March, MMXXVI
from Jamie
for asking forgiveness
Issued by
Haikard
Certificate of Verse
Be it known that on the 21st of November, MMXXVI, Haikard did work with the family to condense a feeling into seventeen syllables of consequence — the haiku here-attached, composed for Nonna.
For Haikard
the verse-keeper
HH
No. HK-002301 · MMXXVI
A haiku · for
Nonna
Another candle —
wax piles where the years once stood;
the cake forgives them.
the 21st of November, MMXXVI
from the family
for an eightieth
Issued by
Haikard
Certificate of Verse
Be it known that on this day, Haikard did work with you to condense a feeling into seventeen syllables of consequence — the haiku here-attached, composed for the one you mean it for.
For Haikard
the verse-keeper
HH
No. HK-XXXXXX · MMXXVI
The Form

Small things, made to last.

Seventeen syllables is enough. More is noise; less is mumble. We won't pretend a machine alone writes good poetry — the conversation with you is half the work. Up to ten rounds of revision come with every verse — in our experience, more than enough for the words to settle like a key in a lock.

And then the second page. The Certificate of Verse bears your name, the recipient's name, the date, our seal, and a short attestation: that the two of you, together with Haikard, condensed a feeling into seventeen syllables of consequence. Print it. Frame it. Send the PDF anywhere a love letter might be received.

Format
Two-page PDF, A5 portrait, print-ready at 300 dpi
Typography
Blackletter for the verse; italic Garamond throughout
Certificate
Sender, recipient, date, serial, and a real wax seal
Delivery
Sent to your inbox in minutes; downloadable for a year
Occasions worthy of ink

What people ask us to write

A short, incomplete list. Yours need not appear.

No. i
The wedding feast
two slow rivers, met at last
No. ii
The apology, in earnest
weather your green back
No. iii
The amends, lovingly asked
the kettle is on; please come
No. iv
The birthday of an elder
wax piles where the years once stood
No. v
The truce, post-quarrel
neither rain this morning, nor sun
No. vi
The confession, overdue
the bell has rung; we may speak
No. vii
The new arrival
a small bird, also, sings
No. viii
The sympathy, when words fail
the cedar bends; it does not break
No. ix
The unaccountable affection
for no reason, the field is full
Of price

Tariffs

A modest sum for a small, lasting thing. No subscriptions you can't leave.

Tariff i.

The Single Verse

One haiku. One two-page PDF. For when the occasion is itself.

$1
delivered digitally
  • One conversation, one verse
  • Up to ten rounds of revision
  • Two-page PDF — haiku + certificate
  • Delivered to your inbox in minutes

A text can be deleted.
A voice note can be skipped.
A haiku, certified and named, tends to be kept.

HH