The Haiku Foundation Forums

Happy New Years to all.  The below is a haiku I created just for an example.

(A)
flashlight
illuminating a child's grin
hide and seek

This seems to read more in the present moment than the below alternative:

(B)
flashlight
illuminates a child's grin
hide and seek

I've read many of the standard ku books (Higginson, Gurga, etc), but cannot remember this topic coming up.  It seems pretty standard, something I should have a quick answer for.

My questions are the following:

1) Are both acceptable?

2) Am I correct in assuming that example A is more ku-like?

3) Like in most arts, I understand that once you learn all the rules, it's possible to then break them.  I've seen four line haiku, haiku that have one phrase that runs on for three lines, etc.  Is this just another example of the author's preference?  If I feel the second is stronger, I should go with it?  

Thanks in advance.

Can somebody advise what this tanka meter is, as in providing examples?  I Googled it to no avail.  I read this was the official tanka meter, and I am not familiar with it.

Thank you
HaikuCowboy
Minnesota

I was wondering about what percentage of ku books are self-published, and if it is frowned upon in the community.  Also, can they be sent to journals for review and entered into first-book contests (I know every contest has its own rules).  I've noticed that many people are using Lulu.com to publish books that look quite nice.

HaikuCowboy
Minneapolis