Several years ago, Brooklynite Aaron Naparstek developed a new way of expressing the unique form of road rage generated by New York City traffic — the honku. Using the classic haiku form of three lines (five syllables, seven syllables, five syllables), Mr. Naparstek wrote his own honku poems, taping them to neighborhood lampposts whenever the honking in front of his apartment became too unbearable, including the now famous “You from New Jersey” (second from last). Mr. Naparstek has since published a book, “Honku: The Zen Antidote to Road Rage” (Villard/Random House). Other honkus below were submitted to his virtual “Lamppost” by visitors to Mr. Naparstek’s site, honku.org. The authors chose their own punctuation.

Morning commuters
follow measured lines, honking —
how like geese we are

Accelerator
Irresponsibility
Municipal Court

There are only three
types of drivers — the morons,
the insane, and me.

Gruesome hit-and-run
fatalities up ahead
how awful — I’m late

Lawyer on cell phone —
tries corporate and freeway
mergers at same time

Our new minivan
so many cup holders it
needs a dishwasher

I called 911
but they said it’s not a crime
honk honk 311

The deer leaps, eyes wide
freezes in headlights — too late —
venison tonight

Morning forecast says:
It’s another “bad air day” —
so try not to breathe

Nissan “Amanda”?!
How ’bout a Dodge “Titanic”?
A Ford “Hindenburg”?

Labor Day traffic
it’s flowing — we’re not stopping
pee in the bottle

Just one more exit
gas prices will be lower —
cheapskate starts walking

“Certified Pre-owned”
a fancy way of saying
it’s just a used car

ah atlantic ave
your subway ever humming
with jackhammer song

Soaring gas prices
OPEC, can you hear my cries?
praying for price wars

Brooklyn bridge walkway
bombsquad found a stray backpack
homeland traffic jam

Psycho behind me
what do you want me to do —
hit the crossing child?

Together again
at the stoplight — was it worth
all of the speeding?

I let you over
now where is my thank-you wave?
Honda Uncivic

Is it profiling
to say, “Dude in the Hummer
is an idiot”?

Blaring all night long
damn car alarm — might as well
steal his radio

Let’s see Dale Earnhardt
apply lipstick at this speed —
NASCAR mommy-style

Men: would rather pay
thousands for GPS than
ask for directions

Driver’s license fee —
deal! Save eight dollars if you
donate an organ

Ah, New York, New York,
those horns are stressing me out —
stop spreadin’ the news

An SUV ad
featuring an F-16 —
it’s carmageddon

Is it you or me
victim of insanity
honker or honkee?

Check engine light on
Does it really mean something?
I cover with tape

elected morons
big SUV tax credits
don’t get me started

Face it, city boy:
Your truck is a Mountaineer,
but you are SO not.

A four-way stop sign
Can’t Decide Who’s Going First
A Honku is born

You from New Jersey
honking in front of my house
in your SUV

Slowly on the Belt
No room to put her in 4th.
Why drive a Jaguar?

From Honku by Aaron Naparstek. Copyright © 2003 by Aaron Naparstek. Published by arrangement with Random House, an imprint of Random House Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc.