.
Winners announced here.
Write a haiku and post it in the comments section below. The haiku must adhere to the traditional parameters of a haiku to qualify and may be deleted if it does not. See traditional haiku requirements here. Note that a haiku is like a a painting of nature. If your 5-7-5 poem is focused solely on human nature and is more cynical or humorous, then it is technically a senryu, not a haiku. However, haiku do concern human activities in relation to nature. The required seasonal word can refer to seasonal sports, holidays, entertainment, gardening, housekeeping, or visits to special places. Although this contest is held in summer, haiku dealing with any season are acceptable.
.
WHEN:
Now until Saturday August 28, 2021 midnight EST. Winners Announced September 5.
.
WHO:
Anyone in the world, any age or background, may participate. From within the Society, anyone, including Advisory Board Members, not involved in judging the contest may participate. (If you are outside the United States, you will have to have a PayPal account or a bank that accepts U.S. checks to receive the prize money if you win.)
.
WHAT:
Each entrant may submit up to three haiku. Must conform to traditional haiku rules above.
.
WHERE:
Post your haiku in the comments section below.
.
PRIZE:
$100.
.
JUDGE:
.
ENTRY FEE:
None
.
EXAMPLES
See last year’s winning haiku here.
.
.
life and death are one
Seasons flow through endless time
The clouds are weeping
When rosey fingers dawned the day is pregnant with twins of possibilities.
Scattered thunderstorms sad morning shouts across the sky crying lite rain drops.
Cold December morn
whispers ooze through the hairline
in pa’s early grave
Verdant winter garden
fragrant the wealth of overgrowth
so full my heart.
The silent pond +
a frog jumps in suddenly –
oh, the dancing sky!
sweet
An interesting take on Basho’s frog haiku.
the water droplets are dancing!
August sunlight shines
Burning my tanned bruise-kissed skin
Ultra-violent rays
Fall brings changing leaves
He leaves me with the seasons—
Alone by winter
Whispering wafts of clouds scudding across
the blue skies
Quiescent waters
She swims in summer starlight
And bathes me in love
A streak of lightning
The downpour of violent rain
A kiss to drown in
Efflorescent spring
She swims through fields of lilies
and into my arms
After August rain,
to sleep, cat sniffs in mum’s scent
on the piano keys
Is mum human or feline? nice!
a rooster’s aubade
melts cloud onto pa’s deathbed
…mortician’s footfalls
Yellow butterflies
in the stupor of morning
magic of autumn
Across the grey sky
myriads of wild geese in flight
zigzag of sketches
A host of brown leaves
stumble into the river…
the full moon shivers
wonderful.
The life cycle confirms that the clouds ‘weeping’ for the dying are also feeding funeral bouquets! Brilliant!
Fresh Ph.D graduate
Hiring freeze
Stay-at-home mom it is.
1.
Still in the snake’s mouth
The frog sees a fire fly on
Gulps sticking its tongue .
2.In the jungle grass
Pounces on a deer the hawk
Strikes a thunderbolt.
3. Graceful look the swans
On the blue waters of lake
In pain move their feet.
Perhaps the shore is
silent before the storm strikes
godforsaken waves
cresting with the waves
ever lasting memories
his ash and my heart
Light
The breaking of dawn
When the darkness turns to light
A new day begins
Toni Newell 19th July, 2021. Australia
Heard a crow laughing
Shiro’s thousand goats lie dead
Winter! She whispered in the end.
sibilant sand dunes
sifted by millennia –
an arid wind blows.
Love this.
Graphic..
lightning bug flashing
right here in the Milky Way
seeking an answer
The sweet strawberries
And gentle breeze on my skin
But the world withers
Fog enshrouds the night.
Woven in the heavy mist,
A thread of fireflies.
Lovely.
Revealing new life
Rising sap, new buds forming,
Colour exploding.
Rime on the seashore.
Snowflake on the placid lake.
Poetry matters.
Sorry, Margaret.
This one, I believe, works better with a title:
Matters of Poetry
Rime on the seashore.
Snowflake on the frozen lake.
Poetry matters.
midnight fog hovers
in the gap between mountains
where old lovers dream
Poignant.
Sitting on the porch of a mountain cabin having your coffee with your ‘old lover’. Right there with you!
late May—peonies
bloom on old family graves—
Memorial Day
(This is my third & final entry.)
I like it, thank you
What a gift in memoriam of your ancestors!
Gathering full force
the spray lingers in the air
ocean and cliff bare
Such energy and movement within the stillness.
Snowflake forming life
glistening on the window
the semi jackknifes
Tranquility broken, it is a part of life. (and death)
Crickets are chirping
grass crunching scratches at me
a tear sets me free
hibiscus aflame
even summer’s wet fingers
shrivel and give up
whistling winds brought news
of an impending drizzle
the trees nodded thanks
Yes! we used to ‘know’ the weather by paying attention to nature, not the weatherman!
Sweets we are sharing
Tarts grapes and jelly berries
A mouthful to like
the sun rays through leaves
on puddles made by night’s rain
diamonds on waters
a walk in the park
on one dry autumn morning
leaves enwrap my feet
Eighty decibels
as my tinnitus worsens;
cicada bastards.
Paul, this made me chuckle immensely. (And this from someone who loves cicadas!)
did the cicadas ‘trigger’ your tinnitus or mimic it? nice!
The Sylvan winds
Begged the bamboos
For a song
That stormy night
Estranged the ocean
From its sleep.
Love the use of the word estranged here! Quite an image
An orphan girl
With eyes licks
an ice cream
Icy ocean prinks
in sun flick glitter twinkles.
All smooth, time wrinkles.
Rustling gold leaves fall.
Winds move idly through them all.
Somewhere past this wall.
Rain drips from new buds
Last year’s needles change to mud.
One drop seeds each flood.
Furry creature purrs,
Curled up softly by my side,
Dreaming feline dreams.
Furry creature purrs,
Drifting with the rolling tide
On a sea of dreams!
Better!
covid pandemic . . .
the Santa Claus withdrawing
his hand for a shake
Independence Day —
from a patient he removes
an oxygen mask
after the long rains . . .
a beggar’s lead uses stick
to check for gutters
Quite poignant pandemic haikus. nice!
What is a Haiku?
Beautiful words… not many
Alas! Not these words
Love this
haha! Humor as the surprise! we need more!
Moon
Shining bright at night
A silver orb in the sky
Reflecting the sun
Yes! That’s ‘all’ the moon is! Wonderful
sun on my eyelids
the smell of line-dried laundry
summer afternoon
kite on a taut string—
I unclasp my tired hand
letting go of dreams
grass blades left unmown
the tender swirling patterns
of the galaxy
sweet
Moments in time, shared. Nice!
Three entries
(1)
Carolina sun
Setting on a humid night.
You shiver my soul
(2)
Dogwood trees and pink
carnations. Why must your lure
fade. Can you tell me?
(3)
Jellyfish tickle
my leg in the warm ocean.
We play differently
I like the slight ‘unsettledness’ of your poems…like life!
going to the sea
aglow with soft evening light
a laughing river
Red tide came again
Florida Bay was poisoned
Fishes floating still
So sad, your poignancy is palpable!
Snow falls through the night,
Dressing all the world in white–
Dazzling by daylight.
Revision:
Snow falls through the night,
Dressing farm and field in white–
Dazzling dawn in sight!
a hand rests on rock
her wrinkles telling stories
endless hills surround
Revision for seasonal word:
a hand rests on rock
her wrinkles telling stories
sun-kissed hills surround
I want to know more. You could write haiku after haiku about this woman!
a dulé of doves
as far as the eye can see—
biblical twilight
The last apple calls,
Can’t eat it before it falls.
Besides, there’s a worm.
My mom says…”That’s a good one as I read it to her.” Really!
Hungry for sweet corn,
Yummy, slathered with butter.
There goes my diet!
Waiting for maters,
Impatient for red ones, sliced.
Just have green ones, fried.
You must be in the south like me! nice
Midnight breezes blow
Through moonlit, moss draped oak trees
Like whispering ghosts.
Beautiful work, Martin.
We have moss draped oaks in cemeteries in Georgia, nice imaginary visuals with ‘real’ ghosts!
Blood splatters the drifts.
Winter of their discontent.
What matter, to me?
our winter
winter is turning
nature’s coat is now new
man is not learning
Global warming-haiku! A whole new genre is born!
LOST IN MY THOUGHTS
I’m lost in my thoughts
As I walk among roses.
Dinner is burning.
Oh Roy, what are your thinking about? We want to know!
BEAR CUBS
Bear cubs watching men
Walking through a sylvan glen.
The forest shudders.
THOUGHT I HAD IT MADE
Thought I had it made,
Then it rained on my parade.
Slip, sliding away.
Please delete Thought I Had It Made, since I realized it sounded like past tense and replace with the following:
THUNDER AND LIGHTNING
By Roy E. Peterson (July 30, 2021)
Thunder and lightning
Young children are frightening.
Flowers welcome rain.
Play on
The sky is falling
The ground is screaming at us
We remain silent
Nice! Is this a treatise on global warming?
Birds sing God’s praises
while summer sun splashes paint
where grey clouds hover.
A balmy day now
The clouds pass low over green
Fear of thunder in my heart
I slipped on the rocks
with firefly glow on my cheeks~
the brook remembers
Unique image.
cabbage butterfly
finds lavender in my hair
her dust on my heart
sharing a chimney
bats by day and birds by night
novel stars~one sky
creamy poppy melts
butter in the mouth of noon
time to make my lunch
Love this!!
Of all pests on earth
You are the most beautiful red and black
Ladybug you’ll never get squashed.
I love the image of the bats leaving to feast at night just as the birds are coming to roost!
I see him daily
Spread out across the highway
Rest in peace old Toad
toad’s legs hit the frying pan.
Spring in the hedgerows.
Magpies busy cancelling
Fresh twitter accounts.
Temporary leaves
Trees stay longer than you do
Makes world beautiful
bleached skies of summer
flavoured in bitter and sweet ~
lavender honey
blueberry jewels
see-through silk of weeping skies ~
midsummer blues
darkness doesn’t fall
it stumbles on the threshold
of another dawn
A slow stumble onto a new horizon!
magnolia buds
litter on my garden path ~
frostbitten yearnings
shadow of a crow
bounces in a bobbing line
bird itself flies true
Yellow walnut leaves
burn like candles on the road.
Summer’s final gift.
Must be such a bright yellow! nice
Fat walnut fruit falls.
Nature’s greenest marbles. Step
on them—see the sky!
The brown hills, crumpled
pancakes. Syrup ponds warm with
spring’s late thaw. A calf.
no two are alike—
the children’s play park shapeshifts
into snow angels
Sounds of the ocean
rolling waves over the rocks
Lullabies for me
Death rides on the air
Brought by an ancient half-life
Evil grows in hearts
Corrected:
Death rides on the air
Brought by an ancient half-life
Evil grows in our hearts
Revised to better conform to form and referring to SARS-COV2:
Death on summer’s air
Brought by an ancient half-life
Glance upward in hope
Another fine tune:
Death on summer’s air
Ancient life has awoken
Glance upward in hope
One last try to get the 5-7-5 meter:
Death on summer’s air
Ancient life has awoken
Cooling rain brings hopefulness
Another try:
Death on summer air (5)
Cooling rain brings hopefulness (7)
Ancient life awakes (5)
Revised to end on a switch in perspective relative to the first two lines.
Death on summer air (5)
Ancient life roams the Earth (7)
A light rain brings hope (5)
Death on summer air (5)
Ancient life wanders the land (7)
A light rain brings hope (5)
Summer’s come
Heavy wet days hang on
I stick to my leather chair
Till fan breezes blow
Gentle friend
Tapping my arm
My furry companion speaks
Reverse the last 2 lines…perfection! here kitty kitty
All’s well in the world
When woken by a dogs nose
Snuffling through my dreams
Real dog, real dreams, blended. nice scene!
As I woke up to
Honey on my countertop
Bees danced like summer
Revision:
As I wake up to
Honey on my countertop
Bees dance like summer
The moon shines so bright
No one can ever tell me why
It hurts my brown eyes.
It’s the sun’s refection..lol! nice
Flowers cover cars
Spring vomited in my carport
Cats wonder in it
Revision:
Flowers cover cars
Spring vomits in my carport
Cats wonder in it
Cats could wonder or wander in the ‘spring vomit’ nice!
the scent of absence –
some flowers of lilac on
a hospital bed
desolate alley –
the winter moon is sneaking
in the old street lamp
early spring thawing –
on the snowman’s cheek trickles
one tear two tears three…
He is crying for the end of winter of life as he knows it
strawberries rampant
in the old cemetery
late summer twilight
Nice
The first day of Spring
cuckoo woke up with a leap
to start her concert.
————-
migratory birds
from West to Indian lakes
their romantic spas.
————–
first rays of the Sun
falling between timberlines
laying golden path.
Beautiful imagery!
Hundreds of faces
Turning to sun and to seed
Imperceptibly
Wildfire razed our field
Wildlife fled or burnt to death
Then herons feasted
Sorry, I had not realized it was mandatory for the poem to be in the present tense, so:
Wildfire burns the veld
Wildlife flees or dies in pain
Then the herons feast
Haunting images…but I know herons to be water birds not scavengers, so I’m a little confused(?)
Gentle friend is here
Tapping my arm now, lovely boy
Furry companion speaks
Night whispers darkness
Floating leaves drift by us here
Quietly observing all
Roses are in bloom
It’s quiet this afternoon
You were gone too soon
The hour of fright
Owl eyes gleaming in the night
Field mice are in sight
In the summer breeze
I hear your endless lament
Pollen and sinus
I lament with you Grant! haha
Glorious Beauty
Black and amber mass of grace
Breaths bound to seasons.
Rain slides off a beak
Fearless of Spring’s elements
About your business!
Beauty bathed by blue
Chrysanthemums golden kissed
Fall’s enframed glory
Deep in thought.
The fruits of summer
Visible before my eyes…
Feeling glorified
Departure of spring
Flowers ready to wither
Under barren touch
Maturing wheatstalks
Weave of hope flashes upon
The farmer’s belief
sharing the silence
with a thousand desert stars . . .
lone cactus flower
Haunting silence of the desert captured. Beautiful
wind chimes in morning
a cooling breath of sea air
begins its journey
Sky laughs, Earth is sad
Winter use to lie ahead
Probably grimmer, now and then
I love the focus on the air in the chimes and then moving on its journey!
apple of autumn
ripening innocently,
then . . . warm to my bite
Tokyo in bloom
diversity bound rainbow
all the world shimmers
Lost unspoken words
Hands clasping each other locked
Sleep safeguards your thoughts
Almost nothing here is a real Haiku. Most are Haiku wannabees.
As judge of this contest, I have been reading entries every day, and I think Mr. Anderson is too severe in saying almost none of the submissions are haiku. I have found many that qualify, and some that are very good. However, I have also found many that neglect one or more of the requirements for traditional haiku. This is a contest for poets to do something new and exciting WITHIN AN ESTABLISHED TRADITION. Before submitting your entries, please read the “How to Write Haiku” article that you will find by clicking the word “here” where the contest instructions say, “See traditional haiku requirements here.” You should be able to tell why Mr. Anderson’s poem does not qualify:
Almost nothing here
is a real Haiku. Most are
Haiku wannabees.
If you need to correct entries that are already submitted, please press REPLY under your poem and make the correction there, as several poets have already done.
Now we feel foolish,
reclassifying haiku
that were senryu.
Dear Coats, In response to your opinion above I would like to add:
There are 2 more rules of haiku 1) no capital letters
2) no anthropomorphism.
What is the source that backs up your comment?
Sathyam — I don’t understand how capitalization (or lack thereof) matters when writing Haiku. There is no such thing as capital/lowercase in Japanese, it’s true, but if you are going to write a Haiku in a language other than Japanese, I think you have to make allowances for linguistic or typographical features that don’t exist in Japanese.
I suggest Folk refer to the British poet, John Cooper-Clark, for “what makes a Haiku”… (He holds Basho would demand he commit Sepeku if he dared break the key rules of the form.)
John acknowledges the difficulty some Folk face keeping to the 5/7/5 in his brilliant observation:
“Creating One’s mood
With seventeen syllables
Is very diffic…”
Dx
Simple three-line poems.
Any fool can pen haikus.
Seventeen syllab
Regarding capitalisation and anthropomorphism, I read these rules and many more in http://www.museindia.com where several haiku exp etta post their haiku. They gave even a list of seasonal words which is called as ‘kegu’ in Japanese.
Sorry I mean experts.
https://wkdhaikutopics.blogspot.com/2007/02/anthropomorphism.html
This contest is sponsored, and the rules were set before the contest opened, by the Society of Classical Poets. The rules will not be changed. There are many haiku masters and teachers in various places throughout the world, each with his own ideas on how best to present haiku. Expectations at the Society of Classical Poets accommodate a number of schools, and I am happy to say that I recognize several schools participating here. We welcome every poet who works in the traditional form of English haiku–and NO ONE is required to adopt the customs of someone else’s teacher. Contestants, please do your own best work, and do not try to instruct others.
In particular, I will say that no one needs to use a seasonal word from a Japanese kigo list. The season of your poem can be made clear however you like, and kigo are convenient shorthand for that. But seasons where you live may not correspond to those in Japan. We leave the seasonal reference to the poet’s skill. Other items not mentioned in competition rules above are also up to each poet’s own artistic judgment.
stick nest tops tall post
hungry chicks, new from their eggs
fish: osprey plummets
mackintosh hangs, ripe
submits self for appraisal
worm has found delight
sweet rose of sharon
lavender beyond window
squirrel leaps from branch
Dogs delight my heart
Love devotion eternal
God’s earth companion
Such a sweet homage to our canine friends!
The hoot of an owl
And a chuck-chucking spurfowl.
Dawn us breaking.
Typo correction:
The hoot of an owl
And a chuck-chucking spurfowl
Dawn is breaking
It is thawing time –
The azaleea bushes
Are ready to bloom
The inverse count –
Will I have time to write
My good bye haiku?
The tomb of a hero-
his name has been delated
by winds and tempests
yes! how many tombstones are erased to time?
Waves roll in to shore
Find a message in bottle
Lesson from the sea
A tiny seed sprouts
Growing a green canopy
Fills your lungs with air
Cycle of life. Trees will save us!
Magic carpet blooms
Heavenly bliss for the bees
Honey flows in streams
still out on the field
enjoying the warm sunshine
red-eyed cicada
Huh? Never know they had red eyes…interesting!
She found peace at death
After six years of cancer
The peace of the grave .
August visitor
Death Came knocking at his door
A grievous summer
My cats eye my scars;
I do not want to be seen,
but they still love me.
bronze mannikins with
their hundred eyes – watch – are like
leaves falling upwards
the thick-billed weaver
marks the wetland reclaim, a
finely woven nest
a long splice of palm
leaf thread is pulled between two
weaver birds, intent
Crew Haiku
It is autumn now–
My son sculls on the river.
I am left behind.
Nice story. I want to know why you are left behind!
Footprints in the sand.
Holding hands, sharing our lives.
The sun sets softly.
Waiting in your smile,
The dawn of my tomorrow.
Night slowly fading.
Earthrise on the moon.
Incredibly impressive
Insignificance.
Sobbing, my baby—
Oh no, Doctor, I’m pleading:
God, spare her; take me.
Gut wrenching! God bless you
ferns sere in dry heat
withered fronds clutch each other
awaiting new shoots
Is it too dry now for ferns…haunting
green leaf explosion
red-rovers tree-rooted paths
lake flies send us home
Dry weeds stretch along
Highway five-seventy-five.
They long for water.
Squawks from up above
Black birds against pale blue sky
Crow calligraphy.
Love this image.
Yellow butterflies
Flitting across green meadows
Like dancing sunshine.
Beautiful simile!
Trees stretch twig fingers
Tickling the underbellies
Of the laughing clouds.
I love looking at the trees looking at the sky too! Nice
Crepe myrtle bursts forth–
A riot of small flowers
In pink explosion.
The warm spring sunshine
Awakens the infant seeds–
Sprouts climb out of bed.
Beautiful imagery and metaphor baby sprouts in bed.
Daffodils spout sun
Into robin’s egg blue sky
Like waving sunshine.
Fire Season
Nature eats its own
Hot cereal for breakfast
Snap, Crackle, and Pop.
Ripples on the pond
Planted by the summer rain
Bloom like the lotus
I love the line ripples planted, nice image!
Summer morning dew
Tear-drops scattered on the lawn
Sparkling like diamonds
blue water – white sand
and wind upon my being…
ah…inspiration!
In the early morn
a cricket choir of thousands-
Glory to the Lord!
Autumn winds rustle
the trees in their reflection
coloring my muse.
A threatening sky
predicts a violent storm.
Garden under threat.
my bestie’s garden—
we take turns making small talk
via snapdragons
Snapdragon’s listen…inspiring!
The leaves are falling:
hazelnut trees, now undressed,
shiver in the cold.
The grass is too wet.
Idle gardeners are glad:
no more lawn mowing.
freak warm wind, chinook,
scythe of spring, windrows of snow,
exposed earth startled
hummingbird wings beat
above red beebalm blossoms
without stirring air
nice yin vision of nature
Through the mountain tops, rocky, rugged, chilly air, picking chanterelles
Each page is Hellboy,
Read with warmth in my sunroom;
Tiled floor gently glows!
Dear my faithful friends
Thank you for your guys’ friendship
And for the support
Gardens spread around
Hidden smile on the morrow
Light shines carefree
Laughing of a star
Nature’s grasp across the seas
Tea’s brewing blissful
Sadness is my bliss;
when happiness leaves my home,
sadness becomes home
Racoon should share corn,
Yet does not know how to count…
Seventeen ears glare.
Three from me . . .
Purple lilac bloom
Surround me with your sweet scent
Ah, April again.
Think of it–the moon
With no light of its own
Bright as day tonight
Winter alpine stream
New ice sheets formed last night
Even at the bends
Nice Hiaku’s … like that middle one!
Sun warms the moon and the alpine winter is bitter cold! nice
Beauty hides too well;
it buries itself beneath,
but it never dies
The dogs are barking
Just as the moon is rising
Two genets prowling
The dogs are barking
A yellow moon is rising
My glass is empty
Final version:
The dogs are barking
A yellow moon is rising
Two genets prowling
The birds are quiet
Mother nature is sleeping
My glass is empty
Cat food on door step….
Raccoons, possums or the like?
Nope, frenzied seagulls!
They’ll eat anything! nice visual
Crushed leaves in autumn
And Winter’s frost forgotten
In warm Spring blossom
you’re cold blooded void
why did creation make you
beetles smother spin
Submission for the haiku contest:
Issa, tonight, you
hold the honored place at my
table, hungry fly.
Orion glimpsed
between my neighbor’s roof and mine:
Winter here again
*
on the vast lake,
a single egret—small white mark
against so much blue
*
The ease of these clouds—
as if summer is the only truth
of this world
Nice contemplative imagery, I am right there with you!
click of palmettos
in salt air–secrets hidden
behind their splayed fans
drenched tea leaves unfurl
scent of rose, orange, earth, moon–
my cup of dark stars.
frozen and fragile
desolation takes us when
the ivy shatters.
I love your poems. 🙂
Rising from the East
Sunlight coming out to please
Children wanting light
I love the sentiment that the sun is shining for the playing children.
Let’s hold hands and walk
Life, a rough terrain of thorns
Hear flowers whisper
Speaks to the necessity of friends to travers this ‘rough terrain’ nice
hot Kenyan summer
street vendors selling sweet fruits
often licking lips.
*****************
chilly morning rain
suddenly the sun appears
spraying tepid beams.
*******************
cold winter morning
kids of construction workers
bathing at the well.
Love rots in alleys
The promises are shattered
Still a bee bumbles
Summer gathering
Our family’s heirlooms
In grandma’s garden.
Can’t look my sheep in the eyes
Of his share, I consume my appetite
He always does, the reality is grim
Hole? in unusual places…
The sun glows lively
Dreams open with the pink buds
Fly yonder the sky
Cherry blossom peaks
and drips its petals like dew
Falling tears in pink
Three Summer Haiku
Korean summers
Hot and humid like sauna
With tropical nights
California burns
Wildfires consuming
End of the world
Korean summers
Beaches welcoming me
Sunset over west
a net of pinpoints
pressing on the naked night
maps the milky way
Nice
Beautiful descriptive phrasing!
Broken hourglass
A handful of memories
Blown by wind of past
a beautiful chance—
been floating on the water
cute daruma doll
Karoo
Listen here to how
the desert’s sibilant sands
taunt the distant clouds.
Oh leaves that rattle
An orchestral melody
Conducted by wind
top of the line.
Bone-chilling
Shivering crystals greet sun
Shimmering
Note to self – pay attention, MORON!!!
Bone-chilling frigid
Shivering crystals greet sun
Shimmering prism
that is a very nice haiku.
Nice juxtaposition of sunlight shimmering on ice!
Dry leaves float gracefully from autumn-laden trees to find solace on solid ground…welcome
This Winter I’m here
With Spring flowers in my heart
My tears almost dry
Hope after grief. Nice
We drunk oil today,
Our winter is now summer,
Brown is now the spring.
The carbon we breathe,
kills the mosquitoes and bees,
and slowly fills me.
Feel the last glaciers,
the crispy of cold air,
last winter for us.
Sweltering heat wave
Lemon – sugar – H – 2 – O
Parched lips – earth’s bounty.
Love the sparse recipe for refreshment in the summer’s heat! Clever
cat
in cherry petals
mouse on a walk
This does not conform to 5-7-5 syllable count of a haiku. Please try again. Thank you
the cat is napping
below the cherry petals
mouse on a walk
In sunlit waters
shoals of small fish swim freely,
going in circles.
Simple but beautiful imagery…a haiku!
*
Mid-summer heat wave
Hermit crabs scuttle for shade
PRIVATE: No Access
*
Summer’s heady sounds
Minuet in triple time
Waves caress the shore
*
Mackerel sky-scape
Cirrocumulus wave clouds
Rain drops on parched earth
Morning light reveals
The winter storm’s harsh pruning
The nest is empty
Revised:
Morning light reveals
the winter storm’s harsh pruning:
a nest left empty
Nature’s wrath unfolded. Hauntingly beautiful!
The wave of wishes
sparkle in the shamrocks eye
to good lucks meadow
I love the haiku
words glowing new and so true
gentle sharing reigns
My summer fable
maze of seashells beachcomber
A swim till sun lives
We are winter leaves
Shivering beneath the flesh
Of a mystery
Not all tweets are the same. Take for instance the digital tweets vs those of birds.
Check out my haiku and you’ll be convinced.
Ihar
NB: I have three more to share…
HAIKU ON TWEETING
Birds’ reputation
Shaken by digital tweets
Indeed, some progress…
Are all tweets alike?
Digital rotten apple
Bad name comes quickly.
The real tweets from birds,
How soothing and sweet they are!
But digital tweets?!
summer twilight breeze
the coconut palm leaf swings
the homing parrots
a song of junco …
everywhere the arrival
of falling snowflakes
The bird harkens the arrival! nice
constellations sky
the fragrance of night jasmine
deepens the stillness
Nice multisensory descriptive, I am there!
The pale winter dawn
shrouds her naked silhouette
Tree with empty nest
The weaver is here
Building his home for the spring
Dry leaves intertwined
The nest is too small
So he builds another one
It’s always too small
Nights become shorter
The air fills with light and song
Vital warmth for all
whenever the trees…
meet at the confluence forest
the sky dare not purge
moon frowns and withdraws
the sun protrudes and beams forth
dawn of a new day
on his way to tap…
climbing the tree with étè
blessings of palm wine
a wily fox leaves
feathers floating in the pond…
no fresh eggs today
wearily she waves
the white flag of surrender…
cobwebbed butterfly
waltzing with the wind
peach blossom and plum blossom
swapping dance partners
Beautiful imagery of a farm. Was the butterfly white?
Tree-shadows grow long
In the light of her sorrow,
Gold-leaves are glowing.
Her hand on her womb,
The moon rises ripe and full :
As the sea surges.
A woman’s tears slide,
A closed clam lies upon the sand –
As waves froth and pull.
The meaning life
Is to fit everything
Into a song
Blackened landscape burns
White-hot embers smoldering
Wegeneration
Sun comes in creeping
Radiating energy
Warm faces beaming
From silver silence
Tree-netted moon releases
Maple leaf golden
No Cedar Waxwings
Returned this mild winter.
Berry seeds not sown.
Popcorn clouds, blue sky
Birds sing, sun hiding, seeking
Look, Humming Bird nest!
Poetic biology lesson with the waxwings…why didn’t they return?
smoke clogging earth’s pores
nature wilting all the time
ecosystems plagued
newly warmed flannels
now in my laundry basket
have begun to purr
one lone(ly) mallard
ignored by his own echo
quacks again, hoping
breath crisp one crow dreams
feasting on roast winter squash
salt kissed with cold toes
Loved the laundry kitty and the lonely mallard. Did not quite get the third one though…
There is a glow worm
igniting the gentle night
with its charming bum
Up the window pane
it struggles against the rain
For what, I don’t know
His signal is one
that brings me hope, but perhaps
It’s an SOS
(I wonder, I do
If a UFO could read
His desperate plea)
Three wonderful poems, why break the rules with a fourth?
Blue moon milky way
The crush of waves change slowly
Yet stays day by day
Clouds outside the frame.
The position of the door
Exposes autumn.
Life
Morning has broken
A butterfly flaps her wings
Life’s rumbles begin
Toni Newell 4tth August (Australia)
museum of rot
the ochre-brown leaf piles–they
weigh heavily now
crystal upon stone
where the water meets the land
hands balance towers
mayflies swarm the beach
seeking organic matter–
algae for a feast
Nice real imagery, nature isn’t always hummingbird rainbows!
Smoke blackened red skies
Ebbs with the last breath of life
And then there was peace
A charred haunting peace…
gusty southwest wind,
with tempest of Pacific
Yule in the offing
a livid monsoon
jaundiced August hex a doom
let creatures cocoon
in tropical night
sweet sampaguita unfurls,
’til the morning blights
Urgent chirping birds
Blossoms fingering a wall
Stillness deep within
Women fighting in
Cages, mandated vaccines–
Antichrist is nigh!
This has nothing to do with nature and is not a haiku. Please conform to the rules of the contest and try again. Thank you
Sorry. how’s this
Birds fighting in the
Trees, leaves falling without choice–
Antichrist is nigh!
you can be my sun
and moon and stars but to you
i am merely dust
Unrequited love? forsaken god? Haunting metaphors
A line not to be crossed
From lovers to friends
Love meets its tragic end
Listen to the voice of your heart
Choose those who choose you
No one should thirst for love
A midsummer night’s dream
Moonbeams hypnotize two bewildered hearts
Love comes unforeseen
Spring rose perfume drifts
from petals brown at the edge
Severed stems beneath
The realization of cut flowers, beautiful but slowly dying
Mayfly in Junecloud
Over Marlay lake
In a maelstrom of sunsparks
Mayfly mill and moil
Lavender’s sweet blooms
welcome bees humming their thanks
for summer’s harvest
Patient, the sun waits
a new birth. An unhurried
fragrant eruption
Between sea and sky
the jagged cliffs surrender
battered by the waves
MIGRAINE
Bright light, shattered sky
Lightening flashes; mouth is dry
Overwhelming pain
Vivid description.
How short is freedom
gained by the cherry blossom
released from the branch
Speaks to the transitory nature of life
The moon hangs in the trees.
Crystal cold air mists our breath.
The joyous dog runs.
Joyful dog even in bitter cold, beautiful juxtaposition
Web spans a corner.
Delicate spider waiting.
The duster ends it.
Poor spider, we’ve all done it!
Catch a pearl of rain
like a diamond wedding ring
stylishly adorned
Up there or down here
no matter shine, swim or crawl
bring wonder and awe
Swishy swirly shore
she sparkles in the sunshine
kissed by waves of blue
Feel the soft raindrops
Patter against the windows
Of ones hopes and dreams
Leaves clinging to trees
Determined not to fall dead
Reminds me of us
Love trying to hang on…
I
A seagull staggers
in awe of the rippled mate
he has bent to kiss.
II
Yellow the petals
to a waking touch, yellow
the field to slumber
III
A dove wakes beside
A dreaming fountain that loves
A blossom’s white wings.
These are beautiful! I love them!
Like smoke rising from
mournful funeral pyres
grey low-slung clouds swirl.
barking dogs nearby-
I feel the tearing teeth of
winter’s bitter wind
The dog’s feel it too!
I visit the grave
of the dearly departed,
memories of youth
Summerrain falling
replenished thirsty nature
with water of life.
Mogalakwena
river of the crocodile
once part of summer.
The city fog whirls:
Denizens walk the dark streets—
The lamplights flicker.
The moon’s light descends
Into city thoroughfares
And floods the dank road.
Cherry tree blossoms:
The sight of pale-pink petals,
Eagerly falling.
Gold rimmed clouds and trees
Slink on the pink sun’s splashes
Winter day dreaming
harnessing the sun
natural prying spotlight
entering my soul
the green blade of grass
laden with two grasshoppers
defies the windflaw
Ancient Green Forest
Bars with spiky cycad leaves
The sun dapples through
november moonlight
the crickets chorus the night’s
deep secrets to me
Blue salt of the sea Early sun beats oragne heat-
White arch gull flight.
Dry as a bone
Left behind seashell shape-
Broken perfection.
Smooth seaglass shard-
How many many moon tides
Rubbed this gift?
Nice reflective imagery!
PINK PETALS
Pink petals falling
with grace clothe her onward path,
greet her tiny feet
CRAZY DANCE
Gusty, growling wind
whips leaves into a frenzy,
crazily dancing
SOFTENING SHOWERS
Sweet gentle April
Your sweetly softening raindrops
soothe my shattered soul
We are wanton wings
Stuck in our ominous ways
Desperate to take flight.
One sip of pink clings
To the tip of each white pitcher.
Magnolias at sunset
rain drops on dry leaves
pitter, pick at, and play with
their marionettes
black skyscrapers scratch
at something beyond the gray
as white flakes drift down
Entry- I
chirring cicadas
prickly heat in symphony
ping whilting away
Entry-II
pattern coloured wings
frolicking among flowers
a stint through summer
Entry III
head to head they form
a heart pledging lasting love
passes when one pass
rain-blasted windows
the dance of the leaves falling
outside each storefront
Breathless as the breeze
The desert falls to its knees
Begging the rain to come home.
Desperate thirst of a desert! I can feel it
Earth stood still as rain
Washed childish things away that
Soundly led to God.
When the moon rises
river quartz glitters the shore;
stars beneath the sky.
Gorgeous imagery, very perceptive!
Wet season arrives
with muddy hems and soft groans—
black umbrellas bloom.
I can hear the women’s lament, nice nature metaphor with the umbrellas!
Heron stalks the marsh
that steams with the summer heat;
shimmering with life.
Pristine humbleness;
The lofty moon in the sky
Reflects on the sea.
Spring’s fecund warmth
dances through the chrysalis—
ever-shifting life.
Black and white pigeon
struggles with her crooked wing;
windswept umbrella.
Dried-up oasis
water spread too thin; now just
footprints in the sand.
floating on my back . . .
for an instant a seagull
eclipses the sun
Such a moment! We are right there with you!
Thanks, Abel!
Great one Scott !!!
Thanks, Ravi!
Eager white crocus
break through sleepy yellow grass-
a Midwest false spring
It’s not false to the crocus! nice
Leggy sprouts shaking
in this tepid spring air, soon
begging for rainburst
Dune sand packed down with
Michigan snow, Devil’s Slide
to the shoreline home
#1
Feathers freeze up high
Above shores as still as stone,
Africa we rise.
#2
The sun floods the air
Yet Summer walks on water
With her body bare.
#3
The pear is prickly,
Way pass proud for picking,
So groans the sickly.
I love the image of summer sun ‘walking’ on water!
Watching geese take wing
Brushing graves, a feathered touch–
My tears fly away.
The weeping flower
Not chosen by anyone
Not the one to pick
The little puppy
Learning to howl in the wind
Finding its own pack
Walking all alone
While the rain is pouring down
Sit alone at night
I sleep in her hair
With summer heat contact lost
I dream of winter
My choices are mine
The Path often not roses
Are you at the end?
Bob’s not with us now
Many hikes are incomplete
Trails in afterlife
Sun’s low in July,
Snails hibernate in shelter,
Plants sigh in relief.
Toni Newell 8th August, 2021. Australia
Summerly steps reaching the bridge.
Sighing, such relief … goals worthy and secure. Adrift along life’s embroidered detour.
Broken wing crow hops
As snow drops in belly growl
Always seeds by door
Apple blossom blooms
Buds sprout yearning hectic skies
Hush of old men’s sighs
Leaves in blood-red maze
Vibrant carpet in weak rays
Dying soldiers’ tears
a weeping willow
stands alone in the drizzle
our eyes meet again
Autumnal. Leaves fall.
Birds fly south for the winter.
Early frosts bite hard.
Slight refinement as there doesn’t seem to be an edit option:
Autumnal leaves fall.
Birds have flown for the winter.
Early frosts bite hard.
polished newel post
the children’s Christmas presents
a swivel away
the herons take flight
hints of winter at the shore
autumn’s final breath
Wet with summer rain
snail mouths twist to reach out & shred
Asparagus fronds.
Did you really see a snail’s mouth, lucky!
Sky deliver rain
River shallow needs you most
Bright sun lights the way
In solitude, snide
A lion without its pride
Does its life subside
Do they really just lay around when not mating or eating? haha Bonus for rhyming, the first I’ve noticed.
The cold sea shocks me
I dive through the soft white foam
And see a starfish.
Seasons on the go
warm humid sunny days flow
frosted cherry tree
Autumn leaves fall
dark and gloomy winter frost
colour burst – Spring pops!
Summer drizzling rain
tumbling broken branches fall
winter fires glow
Nice cycle of imagery. It even made me think of the tumbling branches as next years fire!
Snow-boughs curtain-call,
limelight white stuns frozen grace,
winter showtime glows.
On thermals soaring
wingtips touch horizons wide,
wild eyes steel the wind.
A mollusc has gone
now a whorled habitation
hums hymns of the sea.
“Me: Man, You: Woman…
You smell nice… You in Season…
Me… You… Mate… Yum… Cummmm…”
“So… Composition!
A moment to live, and then?
Decomposition.”
In the library of blooms
Hovers hummingbird
Doesn’t need the words
adjustment, as I cannot edit:
Hummingbird hovers
In the library of blooms
Doesn’t need the words
Snail-eating beetle
Scanning the dewy grasses
For a crunchy lunch
Orb weaver spins silk
Invisible till it sticks
Prey sees the spiral
the nightingale song
it fell silent for a while
prayer of pious monk
finishing touches
applied to the sandcastle . . .
spindrift at midnight
Colorful trickles
splash on summer’s high-topped greens
sound a chill alarm
1.
mute surrounding noise,
let silence wholly prevail—
a cricket hotspot
2.
labour of beauty:
an industrious silkworm
weaving the future
3.
cold wind breezing through
the mesmerising twilight—
longing for summer
Pedro Corga, Aveiro/Portugal
the sounds of wind chimes
stirred by the summer breezes
breathing exercise
Ngo Binh Anh Khoa, Vietnam
a newly hatched egg
one half of the moon up high
one half in the lake
Ngo Binh Anh Khoa, Vietnam
a clap of thunder
suddenly shattering the silence
the newborn’s first cry
Ngo Binh Anh Khoa, Vietnam
ahh maybe the thunder made her cry! Keeps me guessing I love it!
A minute’s silence
for the atomic bomb-day
The wind also dies
On August 6th and 9th, a one-minute prayer is offered to the victims of the atomic bomb attacks in Japan every year. Thus, ‘the atomic bomb-day’ is considered as a seasonal word in Japanese Haiku.
The following is the Japanese version of this haiku.
原爆忌風も静かに黙祷す
So moving. What a beautiful homage. thank you.
Thank you for your comments, Abel.
As the day is usually one of the hottest days in Japan, we experience a millionth of their sufferings vicariously. Let’s pray for peace.
A flower blossoms
Heralding a new season
Nature at her best
The Sunflowers turn
Their heads following the sun
Imitating sheep
Rugged in pyjamas,
Sun has now finally set
My bed is empty
Toni Newell 8th August, 2021
A swarm of fireflies
lights up a moonless night
during the black out
Japanese: 停電の闇夜に光る蛍かな
Note:
‘Firefly’ is a seasonal word in summer. ‘The black out’ refers to the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake.
Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for your attention, Kathy.
Watching fireflies in early summer was one of the fantastic events in Japan (and Asian counties), even during such a tragic situation, especially for children.
mulberries picking —
all along the pale silkworm
grasping my collar
Wall-enclosed garden,
Cloudless heat; mud-sprung lotus
Emperor’s sole guest.
________________________
Light through the elm leaves
Settles into amber sap,
Fills cicada shells.
________________________
Hiker stirs trail-dust;
Faint breeze soughs in a white pine —
Two shy “good morning”s.
I love the lit amber of the cicada shell, what a picture!
Inverted crochets
On a grey musical stave
Birds on a pow’r line
Heady scent of rose,
Fabulous floral worlds bloom,
The solace of books.
second version
Cold winter draws near,
The scent of dried rose petals,
The solace of books.
A black kite calling
echoes through the whistling sound
A cool mountaintop
Japanese: 山澄みてとんびの声の木霊する
Note:
Curiously, ‘black kite’ is not a seasonal word in Japanese Haiku. However, ‘cool mountain’ (山澄む) is a seasonal word in autumn.
simple white splashes
art à la Jackson Pollack
under the old yew
*
another full moon
on rustic torii gates
shimenawa fades
*
winter’s icy breath…
the far away snowy peaks
have now disappeared
the scent of a hay
my granddaughter’s first meeting
with a grasshopper
Spider web on bush
Squiggly design can be seen
Written not for man
By Nancy Marie
TWIN BIRDS ON A BRANCH:
ONE PECKS AT AUTUMN´S RIPE FRUIT,
THE OTHER KEEPS WATCH.
My Wyoming
Summer sky so big
You can see into next week
Ah, my Wyoming
Footsteps on crisp snow
Intense as soft-voiced secrets,
Whispers of winter.
Arsenal Football,
Hot sun kissing the green pitch,
Boot Ball Bending – Goal!
yellow and black ants
on the doorstep
hands in prayer
back porch lemonade
a red wasp flies through a hole
in grandmother’s screen
hay bales in the barn
father and son walking home
for their cold supper
watermelon patch
I let the weathered scarecrow
try on my straw hat
Three tiny snapshots of time and space, engaging all the senses. Much enjoyed.
This is what I imagine farm life to be! Scenes are set!
The fireplace glows
Snowflakes drum the window panes
Calm before the storm.
White tears stain his face
Children erupt in laughter
Yet the clown plays on.
Over graves adorned
With flowers, whiskey bottles
Mourning Doves nestle.
Brown grass are waiting
for some drops from gray heaven,
soon they will be green.
Tuesday daytime tent is inflated
Mischievous dry leaves
and the wind from heaped piles dance –
winter’s requiem
The spring wind waltzes,
Draped in laundry on the line.
I, wallflower, watch…
“I hope you daaannce!” I hope you dance. Love the imagery!
slowly undressing
dancing to the water’s beat
blushing trees whisper
Sultry nature! Love it!
Fireflies flicker
Glittering golden garlands
Sweep soft sable skies
thick snowflakes at dawn –
covered by the deep silence
paths to the unknown
full moon slows the mind
moonlight melts away all fears
the earth is sublime
***
shadows on the path
moonlight like smoky liquid
strange sounds arising
end of the summer –
the calm surface of a lake
absorbs the twilight
hot summer evening –
the loud sound of cicadas
from here to the stars
Lovely.
The sun, she rise up.
She throw her shine down on us.
She catch our shadows.
Garden pond attracts
Kingfisher, heron and a
gaudy, angling gnome
Made me laugh! Did he catch anything?
orcid in bloom
moonlight onthe the window
my smallworld room
orcid in bloom
moonlight on the window
my small room
burrowing owl chicks
surface to golden sunset
blind to its beauty
liquid orange sunset
pours over San Juan Islands
bathing orca backs
I love the image of orange sunsets reflected in a black whale skin mirror! wow
verses of beauty
give voice to unspoken pain
evening nightingale
A tree covered in blossom
Pink flowers mingled with young green leaves
Spring has arrived at last
2.Shells lying on white sand
Waves curling endlessly crashing on shore
Seagulls soaring crying noisily above.
3. Daybreak the sky dawns pink
Welcome new day ushers in renewed hope
When nightfall comes dreams beging
last days of summer-
nothing but a sand castle
awaiting the tide
Beautiful.
That’s when I like to visit! 🙂 Nice image
Crystalline raindrops
Drip off a keen spinner’s web.
Morning in autumn.
Dark branches stripped bare
cold and sad, quite unaware –
stirrings down below
pebble from the sea
with a trace of her lipstick
… all inclusive
on this river bank
we sit with the stones and wait.
smooth edges take time.
Such anticipation. A nice life lesson with the beautiful image.
abandoned offering
inside the temple foyer
a fluttering morphos
sudden July rain . . .
on the footbridge chasing a
windblown umbrella
summer zoo visit
upon the zebra crossing
a zebra crossing
Nice surprises! I am right there with you!
A truck rumbles by;
little by little cricket
songs come back to me.
Great revelation of the ‘mouths and ears’ of nature! I hope there are always crickets after the trucks!
A blank, milky sky
unfurls as a backdrop for
birds, frozen in flight
Boughs froth with new blooms
when the monsoon rains sweep through
trees toss their bouquets
I dream of swinging
On shining rays of the sun
To scatter gold dust.
The Sun
I dream of swinging
On shining rays of the sun
To scatter gold dust.
The sun slips through trees
To shatter into splinters
Of purest gold
Thought my canopy
Of green leaves patched together,
The sun winks at me.
Put in songs, books, poems and prayers
Thought in minds, conversations, and even thin air
When right ones aren`t found, the wrong ones are there
Can bring tears of joy, or make you not care
Or they prompt us to “judge” and that`s not fair
They could team up with something precious or rare
Or team up with lies, not such a good pair..
Even makes you bear things you can`t stand to hear
Nothing but words – can be put anywhere!
The required seasonal word can refer to seasonal sports, holidays, entertainment, gardening, housekeeping, or visits to special places. Although this contest is held in summer, haiku dealing with any season are acceptable.
plants are like ninjas. they are silent but alive. mischievous pranksters.
skateboarding to school. winds blew a leaf on my face. farewell, what’s behind.
neon lights and steam. race you to the mountain top. rhythms aligning.
I love the leafy moment on the skateboard blowing your past behind you.
Frozen cherry buds –
In unfulfilled potential
More poignant than blooms.
These are now my three entries;
please ignore my previous submissions.
Thank you for your patience.
As winter draws near
Fabulous floral worlds bloom,
The solace of books.
In sunlit waters
Shoals of blue fish swim freely
Going in circles.
Sun says, ‘Peek-a -boo,
Love you to the moon and back!
Dancing earth blushes.
Gently, my loved one,
while catching night’s spilling tears,
turn them to rainbows.
A love evergreen,
Stained, forest-colored secrets,
come alive in spring.
At winter’s coming,
you shine like beloved moon,
reflected on ice.
Iridescent wings
spread in the sun, glistening
steel pin through the gut.
Poor dragon fly…
Chrome against blue sky,
trembling, the last ginkgo leaf
anticipates frost.
A pod of drumlins
swimming through storm-driven waves,
making no progress.
I had to look up ‘drumlins.’ The storm isn’t the only reason they made no progress. Clever
My pond, sultry dawn,
Little green herons, a pair,
Alone understand.
Plump waxy spades sprout
From scarred ancient wood totems …
Drink rain and fatten.
Flaxen fronds swaying,
Rhythm sung by wind’s whispers,
Killed by swinging scythe.
Lethal green lovely
Bulging eyes pinning her prey …
Off with Male Mate’s head!
The circle of life; dark and light.
Bright shore flirtation
Waves fizz and scraunch through shell rocks
Dancing water laughs
Day yellow in age
Old sun and sky drift to sleep
In evening’s slippers
A room with no bees
Cut flowers stand blind to fate
Pollen dust on floor
Nice imagery and foreshadowing flowers that will not bloom again
wildfire smoke brings tears
remembering a summer
when we did not burn
I love the double entedres here!
I view The Blorange
Colors invite me to see
Smell & taste the orange
I view the blorange
colors invite me to see
smell & taste the orange
Harmattan, must be
the desert’s tidings that goes
on a field trip too
Springtime’s vertigo
Drowns green hawks in sagebrush seas
Icarus returns
Spring’s ceramic homes
Collapse on downy skulls
Wings unfurl, unscathed
Glass beaks open wide
Mother gives them only worms
They can’t help swallow
Tranquil calm covers
Wind wisping through a dark wood
The night closes in
No moon or mere star
Over the expanding sky
Seems to end in one
childhood memories
stomping and splashing at me
— profound rain puddles
ripples of wild grass
riding on an autumn breeze
— a conflict within
a summer dispute —
the flutter of mosquito
nets over a bed
caught, the beetle sways
telling the hidden spider
your dinner’s ready
Yes! I’ve been inspired by this scene too! Vivid image (but not a vivid beetle)
Memories ajar
Winter seeps into my bones
And the sun shivers
icy dawn –
snoozing sun keeps
harvest moon awake
I like the image of a sleeping sun allowing the moon to linger!
Lovely sea of pink
Vistas with no viewers here –
Cherry blossoms sigh
Harmattan, must be
the desert’s tiding that goes
on a field trip too
my new year alone
wish you could warm my winter
Christmas lights still glow
Pink cherry blossoms
And a blackbird’s melodies
Pervade spring skies
Looming laden clouds
Blanket Bombay’s bustling streets
And storms paint the skies
wind chimes resound –
a luminous crescent moon
beyond the branches
*
without boundaries –
the shadows of clouds wander
over green meadows
*
taste of morning tea …
the delicate ray of sun
through an icicle
Daniela Misso
I love the simplicity of these moments.
Isn’t that what’s it’s all about (like the hokey pokey)?
lazy waters lave
like balm around the stillness
gladden souls at dawn
take me with the tide
moonlit waters crave seekers
of its rhythmic peace
_____
some shake paddle hands
others wave their drooping arms
but all trees love me
_____
we ignore its signs
the subtle carvings of time
but dirt never lies
lifting fog and melting dew
have warming rays from a rising sun
and the bird doth sing.
green leaves turn brown as
they tailspin down dissolving
into golden ground
winter wind whispers
of white sparking snowflakes
sticking to snow boots
scorching summer sun
seeping into windowpanes
as i am sleeping
divine sunlight grows
in the shape of flowers’s kiss
near my childhood home
—-
mushrooms steal fuel
from the lost homes of the dead
cities breathe the same
—
ocean’s rise then set
the moon, the sun interrupts
change: nature’s blessing
1
The lough in a dream
A leaf falls over the tree
The water giggles
2
It is rainy time
Cool breeze with jubilation
My nose sneezes red
3
Icy winter hugs
Shivers with cold and frosty
Freeze in woolen rug
weeping winter wind
sweep across the golden grass
a peach blossom drops
muse, breathe, watch the sky
hues of purple and orange
low fidelity
—
weaving through each blade
a graceful cut, each stalk bends
the mountain exhales
—
heedful of the dawn
eyes alight with the sun’s glare
a lemon of hope
All day spent weaving
grass into nests. All night
we hang till morning.
The weight of us, here:
enough to make a world:
spores on old bread.
Wind sweeps through tunnels
left by termites. Soft whistle
of sleeping seashells.
Farm dam in the dip
Horses grazing in the field
Perfect Overberg
St Agnes’ Eve it was
Frost crackling on dead white grass
Hot chocolate solves all
Summer song wild child
Autumn harvest whispering wind
Winter shiver cold
Porpoises surface
Arc silently, fingers point
Cold empty ocean
jacaranda blooms
on top of one another . . .
days of pandemic
a rainbow of flags
flutter on the gompa top . . .
spring in Kagbeni
end of the guide’s tale . . .
a gush of hot wind greets us
at the exit door
Love these.
this evening’s thick fog—
lingering shapes outside of
the cemetery
Love this simple lingering image.
autumn wood fire
the weight of a memory—
my father’s cologne
Good one. Evocative
I really like this poem ..
Deep & loving!
Smells do awaken memories,
paints a lovely picture
the black cherry moon . . .
now we both wear the same deep
shade of red lipstick
Sparrows on the wires
Kokopelli play on flutes,
we’ll dance in the sun
*
From the Earth to Moon
many miles exist, yet she
lights a stolen kiss.
*
Winds deep in the marsh
bend reeds like ballerinas,
winter geese applaud
They applaud with their loud honks!
Nicely done
Wild grape leaves the tree
A tendril hangs in the air
like an open hand
A bee hovering
at the blossom’s doorway
is now let inside
In the early light
soft rain awakens the frog
Why do I retreat?
squirrel leaps
to highest branch
pondering twilight stars
school of razor fish
pivot in quick blue current
pushed around by sea
shimmering sparrows
form waves of moving shadow
scattered across land
manatee floating
in bioluminescence
happy to be alive
manatee floating
in bioluminescence
happy it’s alive
peacefully swimming
two vaquitas in the sea
blue topaz water
a drizzle of stars
fall into the mountain lake
the moon stays afloat
a pool of dewdrops
collect on the lotus leaf
…the pond overflows
fervent chanting of
he-loves-me-he-loves-me-not
…wilting peonies
Beautiful!
Dropping with vigor
She rains shine on her subjects
Dreading his entrance
Summer night is nigh
Fireflies oppress the dark
All is clear to see
Winter has arrived
As pure as the crack of dawn
All must now shiver
Falling August stars The sky is full of beauty So many wishes
Mountain peaks toss the
Thunder back and forth until
Darkness ends the game.
another autumn
the blackbirds huddle closer
and watch the leaves dance
Beautiful.
Haiku submission
Morning light opens
the chrysanthemum petals.
I am wet with dew.
……………….
Swollen purple buds
open on the apple tree
like white butterflies.
………………..
When lean winter leaves
the spring of resurrection
greens the budding words.
Haiku Submissions (3):
Birds skim lush bamboo
rosy sunrise kisses snow—
Dragon Mountain wakes
——————-
Multi-coloured sails
dancing on glittering sea—
butterfly ballet
——————–
A sudden silence…
herons erupt into flight—
crocodile lurking
————————-
harvest ready field–/
looking to Mars, farmers pray/
a guard from locusts/
Haiku submissions:
1. A beautiful bird
flew away in the air
catapult follows.
2. The shower of hope
became the stream of
sadness
the summer season.
3. Infront of Temple
she appeared as a goddess
my prayers fulfilled.
S . D . Amara nath
INDIA.
Clouds in pirouette,
birds in flight — the weathervane
twisting in the wind.
The folded petals
moist with dew — the roses laid
upon the coffin.
Summer monsoon rain —
water like a smither’s weight …
the village below.
The wind’s cooling blows
Caress to give reminders
To breathe life with hope
……………………………………………….
The rush of water
Which flowing sound still lingers
Births a greener earth
………………………………………………….
Bedazzling sunset
A view that’s so picturesque
Wows dreamy mindset
Walking in the woods
A cute bee sits on my arm
The stinger hits me
Cotton Candy Clouds
What I reach for but can’t touch
Like my furthest dreams
Submerged in the pond
deriving serenity–
Countless thistles drift.
———–
Colored, extensive.
Grout amidst the rows of bricks. . .
Comprising cities.
———
Vaporous evening
mislaid; severs the lumber–
Forest tunes quiver.
I’d like to edit the first two haikus since both use a past tense word.
Submerge in the pond
deriving serenity—
Countless thistles drift.
—————————
Colors, extensive.
Grout amidst the rows of bricks. . .
Comprising cities.
“Shhh,” wet leaves whisper,
gossiping with cooled baked earth
about summer rain.
Warm wind twists and twirls
Playful with the Jasmine’s blush
Gaining fagranced touch.
Crops of fire airborne
Fireflies weave and bob shaming
The moon on a stick.
********
endless paddy fields . . .
dancing in the summer wind
freshly dressed scarecrows
*******
nature’s life cycle . . .
on bombarded desert roads
scattered palm seedlings
*******
this autumn evening . . .
from a worn out bamboo brush
drying fallen leaves
********
glow in the window
of a snow-covered cottage . . .
stories with Grandma
tall cotton reeds sway
beside a red-tiled roof, stir
a sleeping phoenix
balcony shadows
cats confronting cats: jumble
of classical urns
the dreamy swaying
of Conestoga wagons:
White Cliffs of Dover
silent world of white
iceberg thunders, chunk in sea
Antarctica tears
Evanescent Owl
finally the night
succumbs to the gentle moon
flap – evanescent owl
©️ CJ Laing – 20/08/2021
Silent blooming rose
Crying in the break of dawn
Unafraid of thorns
Hesitant flowers
Burst into elegant flames
Marking rebirth
Lightening screeching above
Creatures arouse with fury
Clear sounds awaken
Killing and Cooing
High Coo, Hay Coo, Scy-
thing Rye Crew, Millet Airy
Coup — by crops doves fly.
indefinite
bees stoop hinged petals
whose names escape me, outdoors
as summer’s close calls
mid day
hot sun gold and hard
dead weight on autumn water
a mist off the lake
Thanks Mike
https://classicalpoets.org/2014/01/03/haiku-by-evan-mantyk/
Not for the competition (that’s up to Evan)
But for recognition
legs like rustling leaves
sway slow and thick as August,
poplars in the breeze
Under A Blood Moon
By Jad Youssef Doumani
With Autumn, they come—
The proud wolf howls one last time
Under a blood moon
Eid al-Adha
By Jad Youssef Doumani
The goats are brought forth
A screaming across the sky
Then nothing— silence…
Cold autumn morning
grey distances resolving
into hopes or griefs
Pine-needles shedding
slantwise through wind and rainstorm
harsh words from a friend
Stone wall half-fallen
greener than summers unseen
lost in creeping moss
Love this image
dyed in shades of sky
the city sweating color
falling rain is blue
walk the bridge or sail
in boats, the choice depends on
where you want to go
perched on damp branches
birds try not to fly in rain
they wait for sunshine
the smell of new rain
flowers blooming once again
clouds open up to reign
no one on this earth
no one that anyone knows
no one is worthy
just one more time
is all he needs to Prevail
football games r great
-Leaving-
an amber leaf falls,
the pale wind blows in the dusk,
his sunken, still eyes.
-She-
rose cherry blossom
dear little dew-drops here and there
my mom’s tears of joy
-Aroma-
smell of spring flowers
the wind brings the smell of corn
my dad’s sweaty shirt.
such a windy day
all my thoughts are reaching you
little bit faster
Cool touch of a mist
Silky tendril hanging soft
Olympic golden
If I should be lucky enough to win, the prize money will go to an American charity. I am not sure if my attempt adheres to Haiku rules: it relates to the latest great sporting event, with a “nod to nature”. It is in fact an Olympic gold medal !
Hello, Judith.
Unfortunately ‘the Olympic games’ as such are not counted as seasonal words in Japanese Haiku…I don’t know the correct reason for it. Probably, as the Olympic games are held in summer and winter every four years, they are not season-specific events.
As a reference, please check up the entry ‘Olympic games’ in Gabi Greve’s World Kigo Database.
https://wkdhaikutopics.blogspot.com/2008/04/olympic-games.html
“Olympic Games, just like this, is not a kigo.
But we have the kigo
Summer Olympics
Winter Olympics”
Judith, your haiku describes a seasonal event in terms taken from nature, and thus it has an acceptable seasonal reference. I say this to make it clear to everyone who sees your post that a recognizable seasonal reference is the requirement, NOT the use of any kigo list. Japanese kigo are useful shorthand for seasons, but NO LIST OF THEM IS COMPREHENSIVE OR UNIVERSAL. In fact, even in Japanese lists, new kigo are sometimes added, when one or more haiku masters or associations determine they are useful. This clearly shows that the seasonal reference depends on the artistry of each poet, just as it did for the great master poets of the past.
In this competition, we already have good entries about nature and seasonal occurrences or activities in seven continents. Of course the blog or website of any single haiku master or school is not sufficient to judge all the work we are glad to welcome at the Society of Classical Poets.
Hello, Judith and Margaret,
I did not intend to judge Judith’s haiku. I’m sorry if I offended you.
I only wanted to share my opinion about whether or not “Olympics” per se is considered as a seasonal reference. My point is that, as Olympics are held BOTH in summer and winter, if you wanted to use it, it should be better to be more season-specific: as in Greve’s examples.
Of course, even in Japanese Haiku, there exist groups practicing ‘haiku with no seasonal reference’ and ‘free-form haiku which has more than or less than 17 syllables,’ as you know. In this world-wide haiku contest, they all should be acceptable, but, if you want to follow the traditional haiku form, it seems to be better to treat a seasonal reference more carefully.
(for another example, using more than two seasonal references (especially, each of them corresponding to different seasons such as ‘sakura’ [Spring] and ‘snow’ [Winter]) in a haiku is also watchfully treated in Japanese haiku.)
Anyway, I’m also quite impressed by seeing so many fascinating haiku entries from world-wide, including Judith’s one! Thank you for everyone participating this contest.
When I compose a haiku, I (and most of Japanese) always consult several reference books of seasonal words (kigo list or saijiki in Japan), sometimes a handy one, sometimes a multi-volume set because they also contain hundreds of fine examples of haiku masters, and those books are easily accessible in Japan.
I am curious about whether or not such a kind of reference book in English is available. Mr. Greve’s blog was just found in Google search when I tried to comment to Judith’s haiku. I’m not sure whether or not it is widely used or is reliable one (it seems to be nicely done) .
I totally understand that using a reference book is not need in this contest, but, if you share your favorite kigo list or reference book with me, it would be very helpful.
Toshiji, I very much appreciate your contributions of poems and comments. It is especially kind of you to present your own haiku in both English and Japanese. I too use references to check my kigo when I am writing poems. I own many haiku books, and I recommend that everyone read more haiku, in order to understand the haiku tradition better.
At this point of time in this competition, I will not mention any specific references. That would not be fair to poets who have already submitted their entries. But please look at what I will say when announcing the winners. I agree that it is important to give more explanation of how haiku tradition developed in English. Of course this includes recommending books where English speakers can read English translations (in traditional form) of the haiku of the great Japanese poets. Basho, Buson, Issa, Shiki, and others are still the best teachers.
1.
first day back to school
a piece of the Berlin wall
deep in his pocket
2.
Chinese abacus:
a murder of crows cover
city power lines
3.
the fallow deer fawn
still echoing mother’s pose
morning yoga class
Haiku 2 makes me smile:)
The sun warms the soil
Small sprouts erupt from the earth
Mother’s tears nourish
Song of a cuckoo
Rises from the bamboo grove
Curious moon peeps
Late summer evening
In the gap between buildings
The full moon appears
Wisteria blooms
Along a sidewalk café
Coffee in the air
No vast thunderstorm
Just a steady persistence
Of drizzled sadness.
Sunny summer days.
Children’s laughter echoes bright,
Golden bells chiming.
Stubborn light of love
Shining through the saddest days.
Through dark clouds, rainbows.
unknown galaxy
seeing through all dimensions
silent the snow falls
unknown galaxy
seeing through all dimensions
the silent snow falls
1.
Beneath a cool moon
Beyond a warm fiery ring
One coyote cries
2.
Summer cicadas
Sit in the shade while the trees
Sizzle in the sun
3.
King spider rules here
Soldiers march on his domain
The queen wants his head
H===The winds of winter
whispering against my skin
Spring soon to return.
1.
ebony rumbles
advance on war-bent wind drums
wings and earth-feet flee
2.
a thousand sea-shells…
each a gift from Triton’s hand
speak joy to earth’s child
3.
torrent-tossed sea tern
perches…stunned…far from the gale
shivering in fog
1.
Antarctic icebergs:
frozen origami swans
float, white-blue: summer.
2.
The yellow-brown moon
peers in my kitchen window –
new year approaching.
3.
Crescent moon pours stars
into night’s glass: bouquet,
body, ah, bubbles.
open window leaf
I push on the path of true
a buzzing monster
Glance of elegance
Through garish fabrics
sartorial flamboyance
displays power’s stripes
Gilded age
Animated shadows
of prosperity salesman
withers nation’s sap
Stock exchange
Money tiptoes bails
out of liberal pockets
Cherry leaves assets
now, with piercing howls,
cavorting through murky haze,
the flies wreak havoc.
Water my Sweet Love
Famous sensual portal
Love me perfectly.
Heaven knows only
I yearn sacred afterlife
In my mortal case
Light reveal your soul
By sensual hedonism
Revive me again.
My submissions:
starry sky beckons…
we map known constellations
and bid a farewell
***
long after you’ve gone
your warm hand on my shoulder…
like autumn sunshine
***
white owl on the oak
cries for its mate, late tonight
the creak of the door
***
solstice
by a drying puddle
crows are jostling
Full moon.
On the cooling sand
dog footprints.
The willow blossoms.
At the feeder
disheveled titmouse …
“Cicada Season”
Cicada season –
Empty shells crunch under feet,
Gray streaks my long beard.
peacock dances fast
his body pulses colors
like Monet’s garden
*
first breadcrumb on square
pigeon thanks with concrete eyes
grey wings disappear
*
field of spider webs
but every little spider
craves the lost summer
walnut husks –
inside everyone hides
brittle shields
*
snake skin –
out of the wardrobe
the old clothes
Owl
The owl is roaming,
at night, it sees everything;
sickle come would tame.
“You know, I don’t mean…”
sad she said, I lift my head
just to see her smile
*
The only words heard
“I want you to be happy”
such a nonsense talk
*
Distant sounds of rain
Thirsty doe drinks from river
thunder scares her out
The sun burns grain fields
Rising upwards, seeding, to
Resurrect bread loaves.
1. In the gloomy bog
The log is moving closer
Snap— the fawn is gone
2. Skimming the surface
A graceful rippling sight
Duck feet motor on
3. Tranquil resting blades
Absorb, basking in the sun
The cow feasts freshly
Soldiers turn M six
Teens into peace pens so that
Deer may safely graze.
Rain of joy
pink sakura blooms
fall on the snow – not a sound
but the crane’s call
©️ CJ Laing – 24/08/2021
A beautiful haiku. It doesn’t quite meet the requirements of this particular contest, though, because of the four syllables in the last line. Adding another syllable will do the trick. I enjoyed the image, and the switch between senses, as well as the possibilities of interpreting your poem.
Rain of joy
pink sakura blooms
fall on white snow – not a sound
only the crane’s call
©️ CJ Laing – 24/08/2021
Would you rather be
The man in her embrace or
The man in her mind?
Cotton candy clouds
Sherbet sky, I cannot reach
Yet they can reach me
The veins of a leaf
Are the same veins in my wrist
To pluck, I resist
meteor shower
confidence in direction
falling with no fear
tender map of ants
bringing borders back to scale
collecting crumbles
A hawk yaws through sky
Young rabbits bound from the brush
All of spring’s missings
Young red-winged blackbirds
Command the morning with song
Stirring our longings
Back-to-school mornings
The busses, the memories
Dread of September
spring’s tender embrace
fog layers over pear green
marshmallow shapes graze
springtime seduction
blush petals swirl and caress
billowy kisses
bees busy busy
honey cakes on golden plates
sweet embezzlement
winter’s fare-thee-well
gateway to springtime folly
seeds begin their sprout
(c) Toni Leigh Turner-Wong 2021
fall season is here
the leaves begin to let go
they follow the winds
(c) Toni Leigh Turner-Wong 2021
reaching for sunshine
flowers growing petals bloom
spring is in full swing
(c) Toni Leigh Turner-Wong 2021
Ships surf frozen seas.
Spring rains feed fresh-furrowed fields;
birds watch, wait, then feast.
Spring brings spiders´ webs;
trawlers trail deep-hidden nets.
Covid can be caught.
Ships surf frozen seas.
Spring rains feed fresh-furrowed fields;
birds watch, wait, then feast.
walking along paths
the ocean kisses the shore
blue moon overhead
sand between our toes
the ocean kisses the shore
blue moon overhead
foghorn and lighthouse
beacons along rocky shores
blue moon overhead
autumn evening
the darkening city air
fills with hunting bats
shivering willows
the river breeze brings snowflakes
an owl’s bitter call
fleeting meteor
a northerly wind whooshes
through cherry blossoms
These are awesome, well done!
Butterflies fly high
Colors shining in the sky
Bye bye butterfly
Deep in the blue sea,
the waves they whisper to me,
secrets of the sea.
They both made it and,
had everything in the end,
but not each other.
Repeating life’s cycle,
waking up in the morning,
tired and alone.
1.
Caged in my own mind,
I wait for the Autumn birds
Just to see them fly.
2.
Peaches and cream on
Hot and heaving Summer dreams
Playing make-believe.
3.
Warbled tones from mouths
Of flightly beaks breathe life back
In dead winter streets.
s(mother)ed
sun’s solipsism
her children boiling in love
cry for them just once?
(dad)aism
moon’s calm rebellion
seen under the veil of sleep
make things right with mom?
ba(star)d
a million children
invisible in the night
the birds left their nest
Three Backyard Haiku
—
a chipmunk dangles
stretching for green chokecherries
just beyond my reach
—
a white cottontail
bobbing in lush undergrowth:
camouflage spoiled
—
a flash of goldfinch
plays like light on the green leaves
(one burns early red)
Leaves fall to the ground
grey skeletons stand exposed
desolate till spring
As deep as the mind
Unseen forces move the wave
Washed of past and future
The first rains or monsoon
Azure skies painted
With wild splattered hues of grey
Earth’s endless thirst: quenched
The tree in winter
barren branches now
– bloodied bark against the snow:
relentless fighter
Autumn leaves
are weak tiny boats
traversing tumultuous
waves in the cool breeze
Autumn smells of death
and it is so beautiful.
Life is changing. Leaves.
Gorgeous gardens bloom.
After months of delicate tending.
Oh no! A Hailstorm!
Crispy frost layers
every li’l nook and cranny.
Ice is in the air.
autumn afternoon –
in the corner of my eye
goldfinches feeding
cool breeze august night
multitude of clouds consume
unwitting blue moon
branches bare of leaves,
tight quince buds are rimed with frost.
dawn—one streak of red.
a box of white cheese
unpacked at the picnic’s end –
nursery-rhyme moon
strawberry’s blossoms
disguise themselves as clover
patient birds wait for fruit
softly falling rain …
on every umbrella
a few pink petals
Inspired by Jindabyne, NSW at various seasons.
I.
Rain falls on a pond
Distorts a soft, serene face
Cleanses winter tears
II.
Silver-lined clouds fade
Shimmer in lengthening dusk
On lonely lakefront
III.
Soft, lonely footfalls
Echo silent through white hills
And wandering soul
The shooting stars light
Rarefy darkness of night,
Granting the wishes.
O swift shooting star!
Carry the light of my wish
Through dreary darkness.
1. sun-drenched estuary
the double-banded plover
settles on a dune
2. greenhouse emissions
a puffer fish tries to hide
in the bleached sea grass
3. the old man’s shelter
a canopy of branches
dusted with snowdrift
Oh marvelous night!
The light of August shooting star
Warms the cockles of heart.
Monday through Friday
The long days of work and school
Going by very slow
Curiosity
Clouds the minds of young children
The world in their hands
Thank you Margaret and Toshiji for your useful advice and comments. There is much to learn. I have ‘gone back to the drawing board’ and composed new haiku poems. Hope these pass muster !!
Cool touch of a mist,
Silky tendril caressing.
Early morning web.
Cool touch of a mist,
Silky tendril caressing.
Spider’s morning web.
Dear Judith,
I’m very glad to see that you responded to our comments quite positively. These new ones seems to me much better. This time as ‘spider’s web’ is a seasonal word in summer and every description finally focus on the word, these haikus are perfectly adapted to the standard rules of haiku. I also hope your success in this contest!
(Strictly speaking, ‘mist’ is a seasonal word in Spring, as Mr. Grave explains as follows.
https://worldkigodatabase.blogspot.com/2005/06/fog-mist-haze-and-more.html
But even in Japanese kigo list, there is an entry ‘mist in summer’ and the fact that mist is seen virtually every season and the word can be used every season is explained in reference books of haiku. In Judith’s haikus, as main kigo is ‘spider’s web’ and the scene clearly set in summer, I don’t think the use of ‘mist’ is not ‘kigasanari’ [using more than two seasonal words corresponding to different seasons.] )
Sorry, I made a grammatical mistake in the final sentence. I’d like to say as follows, that is , the use of ‘mist’ in Judith’s haiku is acceptable.
I don’t think that the use of ‘mist’ is ‘kigasanari.’
I.
Grey clouds spread across
The sunlit sky. Clear rain turns
To vibrant color.
II.
Moon rises slowly,
She creeps into our beds, and
Wakes the hearts of dreams.
A dream, screams,
Shattering the dark,
Black moon scratching at the doors.
Constantly yearning
For the moon’s radiant glow
Time to suck your blood!..
A lonely mountain
Dormant sleeping giant lies
When will he arise?!
The pale martian moon
stirs resting corn-fields into
fleeting fingertips
1. Fiery Arbour
A mild, serene breeze
Fails to put out the gold fire
Of dewy, cool trees.
2. Winter Throes
Nowhere blooms a rose,
Our thatch is covered with snow,
Hailstorm blows and blows.
3.
Dawn– still the cold stings,
People had a trembling sleep,
Hark! The church-bell rings.
Lightning cracks the sky!
Water falling everywhere,
Washing away heat
Toes hopping quickly
(Before the sand can burn them)
Into the cool waves
The northern wind comes
Bringing colour to the leaves
And my rosy cheeks
Oh, wee darling buds
Pops of colour in the grass –
a changing carpet
Jacarandas jive
purple-skirted arabesques
Confetti Cascade
Rivers of cheap beer:
where misery goes to float
and dreams go to drown.
Spring turns to summer;
once cooled desires now burn
for new adventures.
Living in your head,
dreaming of nirvanan seas
while your well runs dry.
When the rain-drones drop
Kaleidoscopes explode from
Namaqualand’s soul
Daffodil teacups
Beckon bees and hummingbirds
Sharp frosts now dew soft
Bergwind burgeons, blows
frays tempers like rotted string:
Summer’s dragon breath
Forest skeletons
And trees waiting to be burnt –
Human hands ashes.
The Rose
To feel her beauty
One must see past the sharp thorns
Therein lies her soul
They all fall again
near the walled-in Capitol:
the cherry blossoms.
The young boy splashes
in the backyard swimming pool,
facing subs and sharks.
This is just to say,
this withered chrysanthemum
is too sumptuous.
The middle one resonates with me. Thank you for posting.
Drop of dew frozen
A moment in forever
The grass blade quivers
The sun dazzles my eyes.
The warm rain washes my roots.
I’m mighty Fuji.
May all with deep love
exploring depths of the heart,
experience peace.
————————————
Have been to deep depths.
Stood on the peaks of mountains.
Joy is where you are.
————————————
Welcome to springtime!
Nature in full bloom today,
staring back at us.
Dark columns head north
Wildebeest cross the Mara
Crocodiles’ delight
Together for life
Sharing what comes good and bad:
Two crows on the lawn
One bite at a time
Stay no longer than needed
Bird feeder manners
Jays squabble in tree
Squirrels chatter in distance
The dog sleeps in peace
Monochrome stipples
Disturb the lazy current:
A zebra crossing
I have rethought my first two pieces with some salient feedback and would like to resubmit them:
Have been ocean deep.
Stood on the white mountain peak.
Bliss is where you keep.
————————————
May all who journey
exploring seas and swift tides,
experience peace.
Five minutes scrolling…
‘Bottom of haiku contest.
Nice nature poems!
in the kitchen sink…
the last light of autumn dies
on a carving knife
To cut a rose
a stinging scratch
is a small price
the sudden shower
to break a harmony
start singing songs
static August air
old dog dozes on wood porch
waiting for a breeze
Liquid Ambar glows
sun tea sweats on the tile
five outstretched fingers
3 haiku about water: (Can you tell I live in Florida?!)
1.
A glittering sea:
Sharp sun cuts through blue-blood waves.
The lost ring sparkles.
2.
All is chlorine calm.
Muscles bow to monotone.
Beep! Released limbs lunge.
3. Inner Tube Peace
Relentless salt sprays
Bodies bouncing over wake…
Fingers clutch this day.
I’m thinking about
nights long ago when you could
really see the stars
From bright red flowers
Green pomegranates sprout—
New dawn arrives
Sunshine’s ambush
Golden leaves, golden windows—
A perfect morning
Marigolds’ scent in
A beautiful countryside
Signals a new spring
Haiku:
frenzied autumn winds
crash-land the last raindrop on
a child’s umbrella
1.
Steam rises gently
In misty sublimation
From the ice-glazed fence.
2.
One small tear-stained face,
An empty cone; the earth bears
Melting tragedy.
3. Cricket
Lone entertainer,
Rejoin the evening chorus;
Your solo annoys.
the last autumn bee
just before epiphany
beehive fulfilled?
bee looking at fall
queen bee in rumination
marvel of buzzing
an autumnal bee
sleeping or awaking – time?
beehive as temple
1.
Trees yearn heavy rain
To break the hold of dead leaves
From sturdy branches
2.
Heartbeat is finite
Nature’s pulse beats eternal
Beyond our last breath
3.
Like great guest storm comes
All prepare for its coming
Storm leaves, nothing left
1)
•Two frogs silent; Perched.
•Flash of green! Splash! None are seen.
•Reflection – now merged…
2)
•Silver flash’ on green-
•In the air, past the brown bear..
•A chuckling stream.
1. picking for limu (seaweed in Hawaiian)
off the shores of Lahaina (city on the island of Maui)
wash and eat – ono (good/tasty in Hawaiian)
2. breezy summer night
hazy full moon floating by
whistling winds at sea
3. wild yellow gingers
growing in forests on stalks
scented stems in earth
pandemic prayer
the tree of our family
losing its branches
time tears books apart
but fragrance of a pressed rose
remains and lingers
ever out of reach
challenging humanity
stars in the night sky
My #3 is Senryu but meh..
3)
•Desperate measures tried:
•Fell upon celadon eyes-
•Forgiveness denied..
Spiral Out..
K.. not even Senryu..
this long hot summer…
noticing the absence of
bobwhites and june bugs
I might also say
long hot summer day…
noticing the absence of
bobwhites and june bugs
Trees skirt grassy draw
gnarled trunks and grasping branches
waiting for water
it’s raining so hard…
they went under the awning
even the gray geese
the first thunderstorm
in a barrel of water
foxtrot of petals
Silky tendrils hang,
Early morning web glistens.
Locust satiates.
Strands of sticky steel –
Entangled damselfly wings
Ring the dinner bell
autumn leaves …
grandma’s palm
on mine
this summer’s pink wind
even around the corner
he caught up with me
cafe veranda
in colorful butterflies –
summer thunderstorm
a seagull touching
the stagnant water with wing –
a storm in distance
torrential rain…
inner demon advise me
to walk in yard naked
past lives recalling
the butterfly flies over
a caterpillar
Impelled by swift winds,
Pure cloud maidens flee beneath
Prince Azure’s palace.
The Hummingbird
This little bird flies
While humming a summer song
With its wings alone.
–
A Butterfly
A wingèd rainbow
Keeps its colors ’til the snow
And then fades to white.
–
After the Storm
A divine pruning
Tears apart the apple tree;
Its fruits still taste sweet.
silence of the brook
parents start splashing around
amid greenest hills
Maine wild blueberries
Ripen in our brief summer
Grown in wood stove ash
Bad choice mimicry,
Mockingbird in magnolia:
Here kitty kitty
1.
Crickets lay fine sound
casing natures queer silence
as the roosters doze
2.
Milk festers with soul
Of winter’s frigid embrace-
life as dismal hue
3.
Barren lay nature
as demeter is alone-
December still looms