haiku retrospective cclxviii

march sunshine
forget-me-nots in the chinks
of the brick pile


9 March 2003




broken shovel
forget-me-nots sprout
from the brick pile

which I think is better.

This brings back memories of the aftermath of the '89 Loma Prieta earthquake, which destroyed downtown Santa Cruz.

wrecking rig
black willows push
through the rubble

....which doesn't do justice to the willows. After 100 years beneath the stone foundations of large commercial buildings, the willows sprouted and covered the gaping holes of the downtown with exuberant greenery.

At the time, walking the downtown streets with a grieving heart looking at the wreckage of my city, I thought "War is worse than this."

A WWII image from the London Blitz that haunts me:

september sunshine
children play four square
in gas masks

11 March 2003

haiku retrospective cclxvii

first daffodil
ah, here we are
again

7 March 2003


willow buds
the sound of rushing water
beyond the thicket

9 Match 2003


birthday party
a big, black dog stretched out
on the sofa

9 March 2003

haiku retrospective cclxvi

february clouds
an ant on the cup I use
to wash ants down the drain

22 February 2003


bare trees
mourning doves still
against the fading light

25 February 2003


cloud hands
her frosty breath drifts
past her mitten

7 March 2003

haiku retrospective cclxv

white narcissus
sunlight through the slats
of the new fence

18 February 2003


spring gale
raindrops on the raw wood
of the new fence

18 February 2003


winter's end
another bite
of green curry

19 February 2003

haiku retrospective cclxiv

pacific storm --
a sprouting yam
on the windowsill

american pie --
pumpkin peels everywhere
but the compost

winter storm --
tater tots sizzle
in the toaster oven

winter storm --
the three-year-old howls
outside his sister's door

sudden chill --
my aunt corrects
the children's manners

winter weekend
the splatting of raindrops
against the skylight

dinnertime conversation --
picking the crumbs
from the cornbread pan

15 February 2003

haiku retrospective cclxiii

orange alert
the children surround the bowl
of tangerines

15 February 2003

spring cleaning
cumulus clouds pile up
against the ridge

18 February 2003

spring starlight
she adjusts the frames
on her new glasses

18 February 2003

haiku retrospective cclxii

roses and glory
live
tonight on fox

not yet delivered
osama's valentine
to george

korean missiles in flight
now i lay me down to sleep

15 February 2003