Hinting at skulduggery in the British ranks

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.

Orangutan in a dress. By Steve King 

An orangutan
is paraded in a dress
at a shopping mall

Earth finds a neighbour just 4 light years away. By Helen Healy

scientists revealed
they were closer to this goal 
than ever before

GB’s medal haul met by scepticism — and envy — in Europe. By FT reporters

coaches at Rio
hinting at skulduggery
in the British ranks

Alma Thomas defied gravity and reached for the stars. By Ariella Budick

white space between them
which stirs a sense of motion 
like a breeze blowing

The Watchman, C4. By Martin Hoyle

inexorably
a well meaning man is drawn
into a nightmare

Cyber espionage: A new cold war? By Sam Jones

an escalation 
in the attribution game 
could get messy fast

Court overturns Argentine gas price rises. By John Paul Rathbone

very difficult
to do politically 
but it must be done

For more FT haiku go to www.ft.com/hidden-haiku