Sat in the glass dock, half listening

Hidden in FT articles are haiku. Here are some of the best of the week

Haiku are an ancient form of Japanese poetry that have recently become popular in English. By analysing the articles the Financial Times publishes every day with a computer programme, we have unearthed some accidental but powerful haiku.

The poems follow the form and style of a traditional Japanese haiku — typically a three-line observation about a fleeting moment involving nature with 17 syllables arranged in a 5–7–5 pattern.

There are a surprising number of these poetic forms buried inside the hundreds of articles the FT publishes every day, from stories as diverse as the columns of Martin Wolf to the impeachment of Dilma Rousseff and news and reaction to the UK’s vote to leave the EU.

Over the coming weeks we will share these haiku on FT.com and social media. We will also be encouraging readers to share their feedback.

Owen Smith enters race for Labour leadership. By Jim Pickard

Socialism tinged
with pacifism captured
the hearts of many

FT Alphaville further reading. By David Keohane

Crowds aren’t as smart
as we thought since some people
know more than others

Douglas Coupland’s Observations: Darnac. By Douglas Coupland

On the canals thugs
on jet skis zigzag along
spraying the clueless

Africa’s population boom is both danger and opportunity. By David Pilling

Get it wrong and mass
migration terrorism
and conflict beckon

Libor trial lessons on dealing with a bullying, dishonest boss. By Michael Skapinker

A decade ago
the accused sat in the glass
dock half listening

Head slapping Benny Hill-style is a nuisance. By Lucy Kellaway