Author:Author unknown, Issue: May 1999, Topic: Events

The following are some of the winning entries in a competition sponsored by the online magazine, Salon (www.salon.com), which invited readers to send in haiku versions of typical computer error messages (such as "Bad command or file name," etc.).

Serious error.
All shortcuts have disappeared
Screen. Mind. Both are blank.

Ian Hughes

The code was willing,
It considered your request,
But the chips were weak.

Barry L.Brumitt

Chaos reigns within.
Reflect, repent, and reboot.
Order shall return.

Suzie Wagner

Three things are certain:
Death, taxes, and lost data.
Guess which has occurred.

David Dixon

Everything is gone;
Your life's work has been destroyed.
Squeeze trigger (yes/no)?

David Carlson

I'm sorry, there's... um... insufficient?
what's-it-called?
The term eludes me....

Owen Mathews

Windows NT crashed.
I am the Blue Screen of Death.
No one hears your screams.

Peter Rothman

Seeing my great fault
Through darkening blue windows
I begin again

Chris Walsh

Printer not ready.
Could be a fatal error.
Have a pen handy?

Pat Davis

A file that big?
It might be very useful.
But now it is gone.

David J. Liszewski

Errors have occurred.
We won't tell you where or why.
Lazy programmers.

Charlie Gibbs

Login incorrect.
Only perfect spellers may
enter this system.

Jason Axley

First snow, then silence.
This thousand dollar screen dies
so beautifully.

Simon Firth

The Web site you seek
cannot be located but
endless others exist

Joy Rothke

There is a chasm
of carbon and silicon
the software can't bridge

Rahul Sonnad

Having been erased,
The document you're seeking
Now must be retyped.

Judy Birmingham

<< April Showers Bring May Flowers: May 1999 | Master Index | Y2K Fix Made Easy >>

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