haiku retrospective ccclxxxvi

wuthering wind
the smooth young bark
of the eucalyptus

cold frame
calla lilies bow
in the wind

bent grass
the dark maroon petals
of the bearded iris

cut flowers
evening sunshine flickers
on the damask chair

evening wind
a cone of light surrounds
the old gas stove

flaking paint
bunches of herbs hang
upside down

disconnected telephone
the wavy glass in the farmhouse
windows

cast iron pans
a chrysanthemum petal
on kwan yin's nose

26 May 2006

haiku retrospective ccclxxxiv

may roses
a spider scoots along
its silken thread

10 May 2006


lunch break --
the scent of apple blossoms
in the sunshine

13 May 2006


weekly planner --
a hint of coolness
in the evening air

14 May 2006

haiku retrospective ccclxxxiii

april stars --
two brass buttons
on the nightstand

21 April 2006


potted marigolds --
a thin layer of algae
on the chaise longue

21 April 2006


wind chimes --
maple catkins heavy
on slender twigs

21 April 2006

haiku retrospective ccclxxxii

flood --
a pregnant doe browses
the huckleberry

19 April 2006


morning sunshine --
the cracked bell chimes
its note

20 April 2006


flute song --
the faint scent
of the easter lily

20 April 2006

haiku retrospective ccclxxxi

drenching rain
a stellers jay adds another twig
to its nest

5 April 2006


hearty amen --
the congregation makes a beeline
for the hot cross buns

14 April 2006


Easter Sunday --
a chocolate banana slug
in the cineraria

16 April 2006

haiku retrospective ccclxxx

blades of grass
the would-be haiku warriors tilt
at windmills


spring drizzle
another robin sings
the same old song

3 April 2006


deserted highway --
wind-driven rain pummels
the new maple leaves

4 April 2006

haiku retrospective ccclxxix

spring fever
the sun sets on the mountain
where he lives

30 March 2006


night rain --
a raccoon slurps water
from the wading pool

30 March 2006


ribbed saguaro
a line of fluff balls follows
the quail

30 March 2006

haiku retrospective ccclxxxv

evening break --
the late spring roses
faded white

18 May 2006


broken bottle --
the empty swing sways
in the breeze

25 May 2006


last call --
the first sip of his fourth
harvey wallbanger

27 May 2006

haiku retrospective ccclxxviii

fine rain --
a faded plastic flower
on the window

dusty crystal --
rains keeps falling
on the flattened grass

new growth --
rodent droppings
on the window sill

28 March 2006

haiku retrospective ccclxxvii

silent worship
my heart gets up and dances
across the room

25 March 2006


spring rain
the new woman seems too small
for your chair

28 March 2006


spring breeze --
small fingers trace the shape
of the moon hare

28 March 2006

haiku retrospective ccclxxvi

lowering sky
a dark-eyed junco pauses
on the woodpile

16 March 2006


break in the clouds --
i try to write a haiku with
mayonnaise

16 March 2006


morning rain
the tea kettle
boils over

20 March 2006

haiku retrospective ccclxxv

mixed rain and sleet
the hothouse rose drops
another petal

22 February 2006


distant siren
the hurricane lantern swings
on its hook

27 February 2006


blue sky
a patch of snow in the shade
of the cedars

11 March 2006

haiku retrospective ccclxxiv

cold basement --
just put the christmas tree stand
next to the crutches

falling wood smoke --
a crooked stack of boxes
on the shop shelf

january sunshine --
a little fir tree leans
against the fir stump

sunlit raindrop --
scattered redwood fronds
on the brown tarp

paper snowflakes --
a little redwood wreathed
in wood smoke

grass sprouts --
the weathered slats
of the compost bin

january sunshine --
the little boy puts on
a pair of shorts

8 January 2006

haiku retrospective ccclxxiii

nightfall --
shooting stars
on the power lines

6 January 2006


winter night --
the linemen's floodlights glow
in the fog

6 January 2006


watercolor sky --
the leafless sycamore trembles
in the breeze

12 January 2006

haiku retrospective ccclxxii

January--
the health club crowded
with resolutions

2 January 2006


late december --
my son's new year's resolution is
1680 X 1050

2 January 2006


gray dusk --
new speed bumps in the road
to my old school

3 January 2006

haiku retrospective ccclxxi

christmas break --
sniffly kids wrapped in quilts
by the fire

23 December 2005


presents --
the calico cat settles herself
on the hood of the car

25 December 2005


new year --
the slow march of raindrops
on the roof

2 January 2006

haiku retrospective ccclxx

drawn shades --
the suncatcher swings
on its chain

14 December 2005


solstice ::
the candle in the putt-putt boat
goes out

20 December 2005


early winter --
a fixed smile
on her new face

21 December 2005

haiku retrospective ccclxix

This started with an online discussion with my friend Jennie over an attempt to write a haiku to express a particular moment in her life. The discussion evolved to a playful series of haiku about haiku failures.

winter wind --
she uses her failed haiku
to start the fire


(And that's not, either)


christmas muzac --
pale sunshine skims the tops
of the trees

This started as something like:

christmas muzac --
the pale sunshine can't make it
through the trees

or

christmas muzac --
the pale sunshine can't penetrate
the trees

or

christmas muzac --
the stubborn sunshine won't filter
through the trees


Winter sunshine is so weak and anemic compared to the summer variety. I feel like I live in a dark hollow under all these trees when the days are short.

Have a lovely weekend, Jennie.

christmas muzac --
no sign of the sun
in the mall

9 December 2005