Director Orson Krennic

Haikuesday: Imperial Atrocities

Death on Antar 4.
The Antar Atrocity.
Sweeping Massacres.

The planet Ryloth.
A Twi’lek village destroyed.
Drua included.

Construction labor –
The enslavement of Kashyyyk
provides Wookiee strength.

Cleansing New Plympto.
501st executes men.
Women, children. Slaves.

The Desiccation.
Gholondreine-β is drained
of all its water.

The Falleen Homeworld.
Two hundred thousand slaughtered.
Darth Vader’s doing.

Base Delta Zero –
Empire’s Initiative:
Extermination.

Caamas Firestorm.
Palpatine hires mercs to
bombard the planet.

Ghorman Massacre:
Imperial vessel lands
atop protestors.

Sterilization.
Every Geonosian Hive.
The bugs are poisoned.

Haiku Addendum:
One Geonosian survived.
Watch Star Wars Rebels.

In Lothal’s Westhills
Zare Leonis witnesses
‘Troopers shoot farmers.

Ibaar starvation.
An Imperial blockade
disrupts relief aid.

Scene: above Chandel.
A passenger ship boarded.
Only two survive.

Horuz: penal world.
Death Star constructed above.
Destroys the planet.

Single reactor.
“It’s beautiful,” says Krennic.
Jedha City – gone.

Tatooine Farmers:
Uncle Owen, Aunt Beru.
Slaughtered by ‘Troopers.

Haiku Addendum:
So too were the Jawas who
sold the droids to them.

“Ultimate power.”
Planet Alderaan engulfed
by Tarkin’s hatred.

Toxic atmosphere.
Anoat population
gassed by Adelhard.

The Iron Blockade.
Adelhard dispatches Bragh
to kill dissenters.

Monument plaza.
Airspeeders fire upon
gathered civilians.

Climate disruption.
Operation Cinder lays
waste to many worlds.

A loyal planet.
Vardos: a Cinder target.
Iden offers aid.

Emperor’s homeworld.
Naboo: a Cinder target.
With guts, it is saved.

The Krytos Virus.
Unleashed upon Coruscant
by Ysanne Isard.

World Devastators
obliterate cities on
Mon Calamari.

Legacy of Death:
The First Order continues
dealing destruction.

The Cataclysm.
The Hosnian Star System.
Completely destroyed.

Haikuesday has returned for version 2.0!!! After a much needed creative hiatus – and the pleading of Nancy from Graphic Novelty² – I have decided to resurrect the popular series and bring you more of my Star Wars musings in poetic form. Once again, on the first Tuesday of every month, I will post my new haiku! And, if you have any Haikuesday topic suggestions, be sure to leave me a comment or send me an email.

Check out the original Haikuesday posts by clicking HERE.

Haikuesday: Jyn Erso

Rogue One: The Movie
Rogue One: The Rebel Call Sign
Rogue One: Jyn Erso

First year of Clone Wars.
Separatist world of Vallt.
Jyn Erso is born.

Mission on Alpinn.
Jyn travels with her mother.
Has and Nari, too.

Hiding on Lah’mu,
eight-year old Jyn Erso with
her loving parents.

“Koodie” the Tooka.
“Stormie,” “Wuzzwork,” and “Tinta.”
Some of young Jyn’s toys.

Star Wars Trivia:
Tookas are a subspecies
of the Loth-cat. Neat!

Stormie – stormtrooper.
Wuzzwork – looks like a Wookiee.
Tinta – a Tauntaun.

To Jyn: “Trust the Force.”
To Jyn: “I love you Stardust.”
Lyra and Galen.

Lyra’s sacrifice.
Jyn watches her mother die.
She runs and she hides.

A lonely bunker.
Jyn waits for a friendly face.
Reb: Saw Gerrara.

Age: eight to sixteen.
In the care of Gerrara.
Partisan Rebel.

Scene: planet Garel.
“Pick on someone your own size,”
Jyn tells some troopers.

A Heart of Kyber.
Erso rescues a Loth-cat
for a little girl.

Sabine runs into
an accidental ally.
Yup, it’s Jyn Erso!!!

I wonder why Jyn
was just hanging around on
the planet Garel.

Water drips. drips. drips.
Imperial prison cell.
A Rebel Rises.

Droid: K-2SO
A painful introduction.
“Congratulations.”

Liana Hallik?
Nope, that isn’t her real name!
She is Jyn Erso!!!

“The luxury of
political opinions,”
Jyn has never had.

Mission to Jedha.
Cassian, Jyn, and K-2.
An occupied world.

Standing in a crowd.
Chirrut Îmwe can see Jyn
even though he’s blind.

Pendra Siliu.
Crying, caught in a battle.
Rescued by Erso.

Kicking trooper ass,
Jyn turns, shoots a KX droid…
…it’s not K-2. Phew!!!

Saw’s paranoia.
Convinced of Jyn’s betrayal.
Momentarily.

Eadu Extraction.
Jyn and Galen reunite
as tragedy strikes.

Pleading for action:
“Rebellions are built on hope.”
Turned down by Rebels.

Rallying the troops.
Jyn leads a mission to steal
dreaded Death Star plans.

Scarif bound shuttle.
Jyn grasps her Kyber crystal.
The Will of the Force.

Citadel Tower.
With Cassian and K-2,
Jyn nears infamy.

How do they get in?
Clever disguises of course!
Jyn the Technician.

Hyperspace Tracking.
Navigational Systems.
Stardust, that’s the one.

Stardust discovers
that Project Stardust will turn
Death Star to star dust.

Warrior Daughter.
Jyn, standing before Krennic,
declares who she is.

Mission Accomplished.
Plans transmitted to the fleet.
A Heart of Kyber.

Scene: on Scarif beach.
“Your father would be proud, Jyn.”
Two friends embrace death.

From a hidden base,
Rebels led by Jyn Erso
kicked ass and stole plans.

Star Wars: A New Hope
“Rebellions are built on hope.”
Jyn embodies hope.

Haikuesday is a monthly series on The Imperial Talker, a new post with poetic creations coming on the first Tuesday of each month. The haiku topic is chosen by voters on Twitter so be sure to follow @ImperialTalker so you can participate in the voting. Now, check out these past Haikuesday posts:

Droids (February 2017)

Ahsoka Tano (March 2017)

Darth Vader (April 2017)

The Battle of Scarif (May 2017)

The Truce at Bakura (June 2017)

Queen Amidala (July 2017)

Ryloth (August 2017)

Cloud City (September 2017)

General Grievous (October 2017)

Millennium Falcon (November 2017)

Poe Dameron (December 2017)

The Battle of Umbara (January 2018)

Hondo Ohnaka (February 2018)

Tunesday: Jyn Erso

It was only recently that I discovered Wildwood Kin, an alt-folk trio from Exeter, England. Listening to a Spotify-suggested playlist, I suddenly found myself surprised and mesmerized by the three-part harmonies of the women and their beautifully blended instruments in the song “Warrior Daughter.” As the music washed over me like a wave, the lyrics to “Warrior Daughter” took root in my mind, intertwining as they did with Jyn Erso, the hero in the Star Wars film Rogue One. Art moves and affects us all in different ways, and in the case of “Warrior Daughter” the raw power and symbolism in the song about a daughter who has “been made warrior” led me back to Jyn Erso, to her relationship with her parents Lyra and Galen, and her selfless actions to steal the Death Star plans.

While I dare not set out to interpret every way I view Jyn Erso as the “Warrior Daughter” described in the song, wishing instead to allow you to create connections for yourself if you so choose, I am never-the-less motivated to share one association that captured me. In short, I could not help but imagine the song’s narrator being one, or even both, of Jyn’s parents describing the “strength and courage” that “lies within your [her] heart.” To this we can add the lyrics “you have been made warrior/for your heart belongs to me” which, to me, reinforce the notion that as Jyn grew up – after she had physically lost her parents as a child – they were never-the-less always a part of who she was, her heart belonging to the parents she loved.

On this point, I am reminded of Jyn’s declaration to Director Krennic on the Scarif Tower late in Rogue One. When Krennic emphatically inquires “Who are you?” our hero declares (with strength and courage) that “I am Jyn Erso, daughter of Galen and Lyra.” I am Jyn Erso; I am the warrior daughter of Galen and Lyra. Krennic might have been responsible for the pain of physically removing her parents from her life, but he never removed them from who she was, for her heart always belonged to them, and they have always resided within her. 

Listen to “Warrior Daughter,” check out the lyrics, and leave a comment either here (or on Twitter @ImperialTalker) with your thoughts on the song I chose for Jyn Erso and also to share songs you would choose for her.

Lyrics to “Warrior Daughter”

you are a warrior

they call to me and strike at night
clothe yourself with all the rough alikes
and though i made you gentle for a time
your spirit’s strong enough to fight

you are a warrior
strength and courage lies within your heart
daughter, can’t you see your power never fades
for my armour keeps you safe

ride ahead; you fight for what is yours
so take your sword; protector of them all
the heart may be a battle in its own
don’t hesitate; you’ll never be alone

you are a warrior
strength and courage lies within your heart
daughter, can’t you see your power never fades

you are a warrior
strength and courage lies within your heart
oh oh oh oh

you will not grow weary
you will never cease
you have been made warrior
for your heart belongs to me

for your heart belongs to me
for your heart belongs to me

oh oh oh oh oh
for your heart belong to me
for your heart belongs to
for your heart belongs to me

for your heart belongs to me
for your heart belongs to
for your heart belongs to me

**Lyrics taken from musixmatch.com**

Tunesday is a new series on The Imperial Talker where I present a song that I believe reflects a Star Wars character in some way, shape, or form. New Tunesday posts will arrive on Tuesdays with complete infrequency.

Haikuesday: The Battle of Scarif

Scene: Planet Scarif;
Imperial paradise
guarded by a shield.

Clearance codes approved
Rogue One descends to Scarif.
Hope and death await.

Patrolling the beach
Stormtroopers are caught off-guard
by stealthy Rebels.

Charges are planted.
“Light it up” Andor commands.
Explosions ensue.

Shocked look on his face,
Krennic takes charge and deploys
Scarif garrison.

Fighting on Scarif!
Private Weems informs Mothma.
Mobilization!

Yavin to Scarif
should be a long trip but there’s
a film plot to move.

Haiku Addendum:
Hyperspace travel times are
all over the place.

On Scarif beaches
Rebel troopers battle the
Empire’s soldiers.

In the Citadel
Erso, Andor, and K-2
search for Death Star plans.

Trapped on the beach by
AT-ACT Walkers.
Baze, Chirrut, Rebels.

Above Scarif base
the Alliance Fleet arrives,
Raddus in command.

“Those are Rebel ships!”
Imperials stunned and shocked.
“Get Admiral Gorin!”

Blue Squadron descends.
Red Squadron and Gold Squadron
will defend the Fleet.

Scarif shield gate closed.
Rogue One trapped but hope remains:
Bodhi’s time to shine.

ACT Attacked!
Look to yonder sky dear friends!
Blue Squadron arrives!

Outside of the vault,
K-2 defends his friends by
laying down his “life”

Raging space battle
TIE Fighters, X-Wings, Y-Wings.
Oh Look! There’s The Ghost!

Haiku Addendum:
General Syndulla kicks ass
and takes some Imp names!

Red Five in trouble…
…poor guy, he lived and he died
for A New Hope’s plot.

Down on Scarif beach
Bodhi Rook does IT work
and makes a phone call.

Led by Dutch Vander,
the Y-Wings of Gold Squadron
assault the shield gate.

U-Wings reinforce
Rogue One rebels with fresh troops.
Time to find a switch.

Director Krennic
orders his Death Trooper guards
into the battle.

Switch in sight but trapped.
Rebels falling left and right.
Arise, ye with faith!

“I’m one with the Force…”
All is as the Force wills it.
“…the Force is with me.”

Rebel Fleet contact!
Rook tells Raddus to destroy
the Scarif shield gate.

Armed with a grenade,
a Shoretrooper destroys the
shuttle and Bodhi.

Cradling his friend,
faith returns to Baze Malbus.
The Force is with him.

Attacked by Y-Wings,
Persecutor is crippled.
Raddus has a plan.

Rammed by a Corvette,
Persecutor pushed into
Intimidator.

Death Star plans in hand.
Jyn Erso climbs the tower.
Determined hero.

At Citadel’s top,
Jyn stares down a TIE Fighter.
Whoops, that scene was cut.

“Who are you,” he asks.
“I’m Jyn Erso,” she declares.
Neither see Andor.

The plans transmitted
just as the Death Star arrives.
The Fleet must retreat.

Single Reactor.
Tarkin targets Scarif base.
Two heroes embrace.

As Rebels retreat
the Devastator arrives.
Darth Vader hath come.

Abandoning ship,
Rebel soldiers desperately
attempt to flee Death.

Death Star plans on board,
the Tantive IV escapes with
royalty and hope.

Civil war rages.
Striking from a hidden base,
Rebels land a win.

During the battle
Rebel spies steal secret plans
of moon sized Death Star.

Empire pursues
the royal host who harbors
freedom-giving plans.

Haikuesday is a monthly series on The Imperial Talker, a new post with poetic creations coming on the first Tuesday of each month. The haiku topic is chosen by voters on Twitter so be sure to follow @ImperialTalker so you can participate in the voting. Now, check out these past Haikuesday posts:

Droids (February 2017)

Ahsoka Tano (March 2017)

Darth Vader (April 2017)

The Truce at Bakura (June 2017)

Queen Amidala (July 2017)

Ryloth (August 2017)