Effective immediately, all emails must end with an inspirational haiku. Yes, you read that correctly. Three lines, 5-7-5 syllables. No exceptions.
At Ridiculous Engineering, we believe innovation isn’t just about technology—it’s about culture. And what better way to foster creativity, mindfulness, and slightly confused employees than by forcing everyone to close their emails with a poetic flourish? This ties back to the origins of haiku, which began as the hokku in the 17th century. Originally part of a collaborative linked-verse poem, haiku evolved into a standalone form thanks to poets like Matsuo Bashō, who used it to capture fleeting moments in nature and life. Haiku is about distilling complex ideas into a few words, focusing on simplicity, and bringing clarity amidst the noise.
Much like haiku’s original purpose—to bring clarity and reflection in a world full of noise—ending an email with a haiku can prompt us to pause and reflect before moving onto the next task. It encourages brevity, mindfulness, and self-expression, helping us cut through the chaos of our daily communication and perhaps find a bit of peace in the process. Plus, there’s something oddly satisfying about knowing that even a simple email can embody the timeless art of focusing on what truly matters in the moment.
Will This Make Us Better Humans?
According to a very real, totally not made-up study, poetry boosts emotional intelligence, encourages introspection, and reduces workplace stress by at least 42%.* If our daily inbox bombardment was softened by a few lines of wisdom, wouldn’t that make us all a little more thoughtful? Or at least slightly less likely to reply-all unnecessarily?
Consider these possible benefits:
• More mindful communication – If you have to end with a haiku, you might actually slow down and think before hitting send.
• Fewer passive-aggressive emails – It’s hard to be snarky in haiku form.
• Unexpected joy – Nothing brightens up a dull morning like an IT request closing with:
Your password must change.
Security is vital.
No, you can’t reuse.
Will This Make a Better World?
Let’s think big. If every company adopted the Haiku Mandate, would corporate jargon finally die? Would customers appreciate support tickets infused with poetic grace? Could tech bros pivot from AI startups to full-time haiku composition?
We don’t know. But we do know this:
Emails pile up fast.
But words shaped with care may change
chaos into calm.
So, what do you think? Should we all embrace the haiku life? Or is this just another well-intended but wildly impractical workplace policy?
Let us know.
In haiku form, of course. 😉
Either way, we’ll be rolling it out first thing Monday. Start warming up those syllables now—your next email must end in a haiku, or it will be automatically rejected by our new "AI-powered Poetry Compliance System".
…Or maybe not. Happy April Fools’! But hey, if you do start adding poetry to your emails, we won’t stop you. 🌸
Read more, for fun:
If you’re actually curious about real studies on how engaging with poetry mindfully can make you a better human, check out the articles below. Turns out, science agrees—poetry isn’t just for brooding artists; it might just make us all a little wiser, calmer, and less prone to email-induced existential dread.