cannery row
bluefin tuna circle
the big tank
23 June 2001
loneliness
the out-of-town guest
at the block party
23 June 2001
fog lifting
the bean vines climb
a little higher
25 June 2001
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
haiku retrospective cxlii
city playground ~
one red m&m melts
on his hands and face
7 June 2001
brake lights
on the beach freeway ~
heat rises
12 June 2001
summer solstice ~
the bubble caterpillar
sheds his skin
21 June 2001
one red m&m melts
on his hands and face
7 June 2001
brake lights
on the beach freeway ~
heat rises
12 June 2001
summer solstice ~
the bubble caterpillar
sheds his skin
21 June 2001
Sunday, May 29, 2011
haiku retrospective cxli
same old moon
the blur of insects
against the stars
3 June 2001
tropical sunrise
guatemalan security checks
the overhead bins
7 June 2001
hot morning
a bright red poppy buzzes
with seven bees
12 June 2001
the blur of insects
against the stars
3 June 2001
tropical sunrise
guatemalan security checks
the overhead bins
7 June 2001
hot morning
a bright red poppy buzzes
with seven bees
12 June 2001
Friday, May 27, 2011
haiku retrospective cxl
temper tantrum ~
the ring of the axe blade
on redwood
15 April 2001
mountain thyme
the bumpy flight
of a hornet
3 June 2001
flapjacks
a large raven rummages
through the compost
3 June 2001
the ring of the axe blade
on redwood
15 April 2001
mountain thyme
the bumpy flight
of a hornet
3 June 2001
flapjacks
a large raven rummages
through the compost
3 June 2001
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
haiku retrospective cxxxix
restless night ~
tree branches toss
in the wind
29 April 2001
sunday deadline ~
the child climbs on my lap
in tears
29 April 2001
creek canyon
every trail leads
uphill
10 May 2001
tree branches toss
in the wind
29 April 2001
sunday deadline ~
the child climbs on my lap
in tears
29 April 2001
creek canyon
every trail leads
uphill
10 May 2001
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
haiku retrospective cxxxviii
ocean dusk ~
reflections of children
in the wet sand
4 February 2001
four am ~
the silence between tick
and tock
29 April 2001
unsettled weather ~
storm clouds gather
in my sinuses
29 April 2001
reflections of children
in the wet sand
4 February 2001
four am ~
the silence between tick
and tock
29 April 2001
unsettled weather ~
storm clouds gather
in my sinuses
29 April 2001
Saturday, May 21, 2011
haiku retrospective cxxxvii
old pickup truck ~
the woodcutter shaves
in his rear-view mirror
Up here, there are a lot of woodcutters. They often park their loaded
trucks downtown with signs that say things like "Oak $220 a cord."
This fellow looks dapper and fairly prosperous. He's around 50. His
truck has definitely seen better days. He likes to park right outside
the health food store. I've seen his truck
there a lot.
I don't think he lives in his truck (although I could be wrong). I think
he was just sprucing up for a Friday night date while waiting to see if
he had any customers during the evening grocery rush.
Another strange thing was that he had a short, cropped beard. He was
using his razor to trim around the beard. Like I said, he was dapper.
On the way home from watching the woodcutter shave, I saw the emergency
strobe in my rear-view mirror, so I had two rear-view mirror haiku out of
one trip to town.
26 January 2001
the woodcutter shaves
in his rear-view mirror
Up here, there are a lot of woodcutters. They often park their loaded
trucks downtown with signs that say things like "Oak $220 a cord."
This fellow looks dapper and fairly prosperous. He's around 50. His
truck has definitely seen better days. He likes to park right outside
the health food store. I've seen his truck
there a lot.
I don't think he lives in his truck (although I could be wrong). I think
he was just sprucing up for a Friday night date while waiting to see if
he had any customers during the evening grocery rush.
Another strange thing was that he had a short, cropped beard. He was
using his razor to trim around the beard. Like I said, he was dapper.
On the way home from watching the woodcutter shave, I saw the emergency
strobe in my rear-view mirror, so I had two rear-view mirror haiku out of
one trip to town.
26 January 2001
haiku retrospective cxxxvi
weekend wind shift ~
two magpies beat their way
to work
“Beating” is one of the ways of sailing upwind -- a rough and
unpleasant way to get a nasty job done. Shifting winds can
presage a storm.
29 November 2000
two magpies beat their way
to work
“Beating” is one of the ways of sailing upwind -- a rough and
unpleasant way to get a nasty job done. Shifting winds can
presage a storm.
29 November 2000
haiku retrospective cxxxv
abandoned dredge ~
a wattle-and-daub home
for osprey
21 November 2000
weathervane ~
the dead leaf spins
on spider silk
8 January 2001
four am ~
the silence between tick
and tock
29 April 2001
a wattle-and-daub home
for osprey
21 November 2000
weathervane ~
the dead leaf spins
on spider silk
8 January 2001
four am ~
the silence between tick
and tock
29 April 2001
Friday, May 20, 2011
haiku retrospective cxxxiv
strong hint ~
the baby moves the spoon
to her left hand
When I was a baby, my mother placed my spoon in my right hand.
I took one look at the situation and switched the spoon from
my right hand to my left. My mother got the hint.
Later, after many attempts at teaching me to tie my shoes
the orthodox way, my mother gave up. She showed me how to
make two loops in my shoelaces and cross them over one another.
playground joke ~
she can't even tie her shoes
the right way
Later, as an adult, I found out that the unorthodox way of
tying shoes lies flatter and holds better.
shoe-tying lessons ~
she teaches her children
the wrong way
16 November 2000
the baby moves the spoon
to her left hand
When I was a baby, my mother placed my spoon in my right hand.
I took one look at the situation and switched the spoon from
my right hand to my left. My mother got the hint.
Later, after many attempts at teaching me to tie my shoes
the orthodox way, my mother gave up. She showed me how to
make two loops in my shoelaces and cross them over one another.
playground joke ~
she can't even tie her shoes
the right way
Later, as an adult, I found out that the unorthodox way of
tying shoes lies flatter and holds better.
shoe-tying lessons ~
she teaches her children
the wrong way
16 November 2000
haiku retrospective cxxxiii
republican moon ~
the hole in the guillotine
where you put your neck
I read once that the French populace called the hole in the
guillotine "la lune republicaine" during the French Revolution.
Shine atop the gallows, O Republican Moon!
the hole in the guillotine
where you put your neck
I read once that the French populace called the hole in the
guillotine "la lune republicaine" during the French Revolution.
Shine atop the gallows, O Republican Moon!
15 November 2000
haiku retrospective cxxxii
fallen oak branch ~
tufts of spanish moss fill
the hollows
4 November 2000
wind storm ~
a swirl of fir needles falls
from the oak
4 November 2000
splitting the bill ~
the ex-wives turn
to conversation
21 November 2000
tufts of spanish moss fill
the hollows
4 November 2000
wind storm ~
a swirl of fir needles falls
from the oak
4 November 2000
splitting the bill ~
the ex-wives turn
to conversation
21 November 2000
Thursday, May 19, 2011
haiku retrospective cxxxi
all hallows eve ~
green glitter glue
on the carpet
31 October 2000
hazel fronds sway ~
a soft rain darkens
the path
4 November 2000
autumn deepens ~
redwood needles blanket
the fir stump
4 November 2000
green glitter glue
on the carpet
31 October 2000
hazel fronds sway ~
a soft rain darkens
the path
4 November 2000
autumn deepens ~
redwood needles blanket
the fir stump
4 November 2000
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
haiku retrospective cxxx
bearded iris ~
the hues of the iguana's skin
in sunlight
I recently saw an iguana in the sunlight. The colors of the
iguana's skin were so delicate, so flowery. At the same time,
iguanas are somewhat grotesque.
I'm juxtaposing the iris to the iguana here because the iguana's
coloring and skin texture reminds me of a bearded iris. Also,
it brings out the flowery beauty in the iguana's skin. Bearded
irises also have grotesque little frills that recall the reptile's
frills.
rosebud on the vine ~
the new baby suckles
at his mother's breast
Rosebuds and babies are hackneyed, of course. That new baby's
rosebud lips, rose petal soft skin, sweet scent. I wanted to
highlight the baby's continued connection to the mother ("on
the vine") here.
funeral flowers ~
the refrigerated body
in the coffin
Line 1 was originally "orchid corsage." I wanted to show the
connection between the boxed, dead, prettified flower and the
boxed, dead, prettified body. Other possibilities for line 1:
orchid spray, lily spray, orchid wreath, lily pillow, etc.
I have this feeling that, with the right tweaks, this could
be powerful.
orchid spray ~
the refrigerated body
wears a smile
the hues of the iguana's skin
in sunlight
I recently saw an iguana in the sunlight. The colors of the
iguana's skin were so delicate, so flowery. At the same time,
iguanas are somewhat grotesque.
I'm juxtaposing the iris to the iguana here because the iguana's
coloring and skin texture reminds me of a bearded iris. Also,
it brings out the flowery beauty in the iguana's skin. Bearded
irises also have grotesque little frills that recall the reptile's
frills.
rosebud on the vine ~
the new baby suckles
at his mother's breast
Rosebuds and babies are hackneyed, of course. That new baby's
rosebud lips, rose petal soft skin, sweet scent. I wanted to
highlight the baby's continued connection to the mother ("on
the vine") here.
funeral flowers ~
the refrigerated body
in the coffin
Line 1 was originally "orchid corsage." I wanted to show the
connection between the boxed, dead, prettified flower and the
boxed, dead, prettified body. Other possibilities for line 1:
orchid spray, lily spray, orchid wreath, lily pillow, etc.
I have this feeling that, with the right tweaks, this could
be powerful.
orchid spray ~
the refrigerated body
wears a smile
24 October 2000
Saturday, May 14, 2011
haiku retrospective cxxix
ruby slippers ~
maraschino cherry juice
on her lips
23 October 2000
october wind ~
the baby drops the leaf
again
23 October 2000
foggy night ~
the bridge lights tie the city
to the shore
23 October 2000
maraschino cherry juice
on her lips
23 October 2000
october wind ~
the baby drops the leaf
again
23 October 2000
foggy night ~
the bridge lights tie the city
to the shore
23 October 2000
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
haiku retrospective cxxviiii
toes in the sand ~
the small boy draws patterns
with a stick
23 October 2000
autumn wind ~
a crooked oak branch
in the maple
23 October 2000
raking the roof ~
a drift of walnut leaves hides
the station wagon
23 October 2000
the small boy draws patterns
with a stick
23 October 2000
autumn wind ~
a crooked oak branch
in the maple
23 October 2000
raking the roof ~
a drift of walnut leaves hides
the station wagon
23 October 2000
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
haiku retrospective cxxviii
first cold snap ~
opening a new box
of tissues
15 October 2000
push broom ~
a ridge of golden leaves
on the asphalt
23 October 2000
sand shower ~
the black cat opens
one green eye
23 October 2000
opening a new box
of tissues
15 October 2000
push broom ~
a ridge of golden leaves
on the asphalt
23 October 2000
sand shower ~
the black cat opens
one green eye
23 October 2000
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
haiku retrospective cxxvii
scent of autumn ~
the first bite of an apple
crunchy and sweet
6 October 2000
three rocks
in the raked sand ~
a sip of tea
7 October 2000
untended garden ~
a child crouches to watch
a spider
8 October 2000
the first bite of an apple
crunchy and sweet
6 October 2000
three rocks
in the raked sand ~
a sip of tea
7 October 2000
untended garden ~
a child crouches to watch
a spider
8 October 2000
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