---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even if there were only seventeen…"
description: "\"“Even if there were only seventeen syllables left in the universe, I still don’t think The Mythical Mr. Boo would write a haiku. Especially not if thos..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a47/jarod-kintz-2_haiku_even-if-there-were-only-seventeen-syllab_2955751.jpg"
---

#  Even if there were only seventeen syllables left in the…

![“Even if there were only seventeen syllables left in the universe, I still don’t think The Mythical Mr. Boo would write a haiku. Especially not if those syllables were groups of “oh,” “no,” “ah,” “ouch,” “ugh,” “eek,” and “shit!” quote by Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a47/jarod-kintz-2_haiku_even-if-there-were-only-seventeen-syllab_2955751.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a47/jarod-kintz-2_haiku_even-if-there-were-only-seventeen-syllab_2955751.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a47/jarod-kintz-2_haiku_even-if-there-were-only-seventeen-syllab_2955751.jpg)

> ““Even if there were only seventeen syllables left in the universe, I still don’t think The Mythical Mr. Boo would write a haiku. Especially not if those syllables were groups of “oh,” “no,” “ah,” “ouch,” “ugh,” “eek,” and “shit!””

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote humorously suggests that even with minimal syllables left, the mythical character would avoid writing a haiku, especially using trivial sounds.

**In simple terms:** Even with few words, the character wouldn't write a haiku.

Key Takeaway

Recognize the value of meaningful expression over filler.

Themes

humor creativity language expression

Mood

playful ironic

Type

satirical humorous

When to use this quote

- writing workshops
- creative brainstorming
- literary critique
- teaching poetry

Key Concepts

haiku mythical characters literary satire

Questions to Reflect On

- What makes a haiku meaningful?
- How does humor affect our perception of poetry?

A Different Perspective

It may overlook the deeper cultural significance of haiku.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Haiku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/haiku/)

## Related quotes

> [To convey one’s mood in seventeen syllables is very diffic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cooper-clarke/to-convey-one-s-mood-in-seventeen-syllables-is-very-diffic/)

[John Cooper Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cooper-clarke/)

> [ Regarding R. H. Blyth: Blyth's four volume Haiku became especially popular at this time \[1950's\] because his translations were based on the assumption that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reginald-horace-blyth/regarding-r-h-blyth-blyth-s-four-volume-haiku-became-especially/)

[Reginald Horace Blyth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reginald-horace-blyth/)

> [“So I don’t think I’ll make Poet Laureate, but I swear I’m not twisted and bitter, If finely-wrought talents don’t weigh in the balance,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosy-cole/so-i-don-t-think-i-ll-make-poet-laureate-but-i-swear-i-m-not-twisted/)

Rosy Cole

> [It's hard to write haiku. I write long, silly Indian poems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/it-s-hard-to-write-haiku-i-write-long-silly-indian-poems/)

[Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/)

> [“Write a haiku of your problem Can you express your problem in a different and creative way, for example, with a poem? Writing poetry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-chamberlain/write-a-haiku-of-your-problem-can-you-express-your-problem-in-a/)

Kim Chamberlain

> [“How many midget feet can you fit in your shoes? Depends on how big your penis is. Mine is 17 syllables long, like a haiku.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/how-many-midget-feet-can-you-fit-in-your-shoes-depends-on-how-big/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“I would hate to see seventeen people with monosyllabic names like Mike or Ann die, but if they did, and you wrote down all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-would-hate-to-see-seventeen-people-with-monosyllabic-names-like/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“Here's a haiku/palindrome I wrote called, "Obsession." Bob, Bob, Bob, Bob, Bob, Bob, Bob, Bob, Bob, Bob, Bob, Bob, Bob, Bob, Bob, Bob, Bob”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/here-s-a-haiku-palindrome-i-wrote-called-obsession-bob-bob-bob-bob/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“Someday I want to write a sixteen-syllable Haiku about the death and disappearance of a monosyllabic word.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/someday-i-want-to-write-a-sixteen-syllable-haiku-about-the-death-and/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“Our relationship is like ten turtles marching along, followed by seven beetles, with each carrying one monosyllabic word on its back. You might call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/our-relationship-is-like-ten-turtles-marching-along-followed-by-seven/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [We see then how far the monuments of wit and learning are more durable than the monuments of power, or of the hands. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/we-see-then-how-far-the-monuments-of-wit-and-learning-are-more/)

[Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/)

> [People don't talk like this, theytalklikethis. Syllables, words, sentences run together like a watercolour left in the rain. To understand what anyone is saying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/people-don-t-talk-like-this-theytalklikethis-syllables-words/)

[Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/)

> [We are only syllables of the perfect Word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caryll-houselander/we-are-only-syllables-of-the-perfect-word/)

[Caryll Houselander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caryll-houselander/)

> [“Syllables and letters may not be tangible, but they can still destroy your entire life faster than a bullet from a gun. One word.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aly-martinez/syllables-and-letters-may-not-be-tangible-but-they-can-still-destroy/)

[Aly Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aly-martinez/)

> [I thought that the world was a vast system of signs, a conversation between giant beings. My actions, the cricket's saw, the star's blink,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/i-thought-that-the-world-was-a-vast-system-of-signs-a-conversation/)

[Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/)

## More by Jarod Kintz

> [“I notice when you’re gone. Or do I? How can I observe something that isn’t there?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-notice-when-you-re-gone-or-do-i-how-can-i-observe-something-that/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“I wouldn’t love you if you were the last Sodomite in Gomorrah.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-wouldn-t-love-you-if-you-were-the-last-sodomite-in-gomorrah/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“A blanket could be used to make sweet, sweet music with the love of your life. Hopefully that person is me, because I’ve been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/a-blanket-could-be-used-to-make-sweet-sweet-music-with-the-love-of/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“A brick could be used to slow down time. Sort of like a camel in a wheelchair pushed by a thirsty Arab. Hey, Khalid,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/a-brick-could-be-used-to-slow-down-time-sort-of-like-a-camel-in-a/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“We have a love so pure that it makes snow seem yellow. (Don’t eat it!)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/we-have-a-love-so-pure-that-it-makes-snow-seem-yellow-don-t-eat-it/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“I hid Mrs. Frozenwater’s body in the ice cube trays in my freezer. Better to keep her there than let her memory thaw out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-hid-mrs-frozenwater-s-body-in-the-ice-cube-trays-in-my-freezer/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“Two similar words might lead to two similar ideas. They might also lead to the basement, which I recently converted into a dungeon/torture chamber.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/two-similar-words-might-lead-to-two-similar-ideas-they-might-also/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“Nothing is and isn’t; nothing is and isn’t—nothing itself is, and at the same time, nothing isn’t.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/nothing-is-and-isn-t-nothing-is-and-isn-t-nothing-itself-is-and-at/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“Embossed letters represent the topography of typography.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/embossed-letters-represent-the-topography-of-typography/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“There’s only one piece of clothing I could eat fast, and that’s a scarf.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/there-s-only-one-piece-of-clothing-i-could-eat-fast-and-that-s-a-scarf/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“Dora J. Arod is to Jarod Ora, as yes is to yes. Yes is also the correct answer to “Will you marry me?” Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/dora-j-arod-is-to-jarod-ora-as-yes-is-to-yes-yes-is-also-the-correct/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“The best part about being kidnapped is being blindfolded and getting kicked into the trunk of a car. Boy, normally I have to beg…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/the-best-part-about-being-kidnapped-is-being-blindfolded-and-getting/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“Orafoura once told me that if I were a car, I’d be a Ferrari. One that was scratched smashed, rusted, and stolen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/orafoura-once-told-me-that-if-i-were-a-car-i-d-be-a-ferrari-one-that/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“What makes a good leader? I ask myself this every day, and then as I begin to list off characteristics I realize I’m describing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/what-makes-a-good-leader-i-ask-myself-this-every-day-and-then-as-i/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“I’d like to file a missing person’s report—on my clone. It’s nearly 2012. He should have been here by now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-d-like-to-file-a-missing-person-s-report-on-my-clone-it-s-nearly/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

[Explore all 6,921 Jarod Kintz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

## More Haiku quotes

> [“Cocoon's cry to first fly, Travels thousands of miles— So much in so little life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-negi/cocoon-s-cry-to-first-fly-travels-thousands-of-miles-so-much-in-so/)

[Ritu Negi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-negi/)

> [“So I don’t think I’ll make Poet Laureate, but I swear I’m not twisted and bitter, If finely-wrought talents don’t weigh in the balance,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosy-cole/so-i-don-t-think-i-ll-make-poet-laureate-but-i-swear-i-m-not-twisted/)

Rosy Cole

> [The basis of art is change in the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-basis-of-art-is-change-in-the-universe/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Self care is putting Your own name on your schedule In magic marker!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjo-jendayi/self-care-is-putting-your-own-name-on-your-schedule-in-magic-marker/)

[Sanjo Jendayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjo-jendayi/)

> [“Hi! My little hut Is newly-thatched I see... Blue morning-glories”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa/hi-my-little-hut-is-newly-thatched-i-see-blue-morning-glories/)

Issa

> [“If this were real life, Ed would have looked at her neck- bite, dead, burp, credits.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-mecum/if-this-were-real-life-ed-would-have-looked-at-her-neck-bite-dead/)

[Ryan Mecum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-mecum/)

> [Writing a picture book is like writing 'War and Peace' in Haiku.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mem-fox/writing-a-picture-book-is-like-writing-war-and-peace-in-haiku/)

[Mem Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mem-fox/)

> [Poems are language turned into art; sound and sense matter; they can be as long or longer than The Odyssey or as short or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-mcgrath/poems-are-language-turned-into-art-sound-and-sense-matter-they-can-be/)

[Campbell McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-mcgrath/)

> [“Secure in his flight Rider on the constant winds Hawk flies through his days Looks then to the east Prompted by fate’s gentle breeze…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-robison/secure-in-his-flight-rider-on-the-constant-winds-hawk-flies-through/)

Steve Robison

> [“Sweetly be-kissed, I really miss every hug and kiss- A great love is. (Great love)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kipyang/sweetly-be-kissed-i-really-miss-every-hug-and-kiss-a-great-love-is/)

Kipyang

> [“NEW HAIKU One breathy vowel mists the glass warming window panes crystalled with snow Robin Glasser”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-glasser/new-haiku-one-breathy-vowel-mists-the-glass-warming-window-panes/)

[Robin Glasser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-glasser/)

> [“How many midget feet can you fit in your shoes? Depends on how big your penis is. Mine is 17 syllables long, like a haiku.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/how-many-midget-feet-can-you-fit-in-your-shoes-depends-on-how-big/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [Awakened at midnight by the sound of the water jar cracking from the ice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/awakened-at-midnight-by-the-sound-of-the-water-jar-cracking-from-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [What I'm trying to do is to tell young people that I teach them how to breathe before I teach the haiku. That one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sanchez/what-i-m-trying-to-do-is-to-tell-young-people-that-i-teach-them-how/)

[Sonia Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sanchez/)

> [I was satisfied with haiku until I met you, but now I want a Russian novel, a 50-page description of you sleeping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-young/i-was-satisfied-with-haiku-until-i-met-you-but-now-i-want-a-russian/)

[Dean Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-young/)

[Browse all 218 Haiku quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/haiku/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Even if there were only seventeen syllables left in the universe, I still don’t think The Mythical Mr. Boo would write a haiku. Especially not if those syllables were groups of “oh,” “no,” “ah,” “ouch,” “ugh,” “eek,” and “shit!”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jarod Kintz"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/even-if-there-were-only-seventeen-syllables-left-in-the-universe-i/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Haiku"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/even-if-there-were-only-seventeen-syllables-left-in-the-universe-i/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a47/jarod-kintz-2_haiku_even-if-there-were-only-seventeen-syllab_2955751.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a47/jarod-kintz-2_haiku_even-if-there-were-only-seventeen-syllab_2955751.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a47/jarod-kintz-2_haiku_even-if-there-were-only-seventeen-syllab_2955751.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Even if there were only seventeen syllables left in the universe, I still don’t think The Mythical Mr. Boo…” — Jarod Kintz",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Jarod Kintz",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Even if there were only seventeen...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/even-if-there-were-only-seventeen-syllables-left-in-the-universe-i/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/even-if-there-were-only-seventeen-syllables-left-in-the-universe-i/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
