Haiku

                                                   summer storm
                                                   the knocking wind
                                                   finds a way inside

                                                   the heat wave broken
                                                   morning coffee sweetened
                                                   with a cool breeze

                                                   city park
                                                   pausing for the silence
                                                   of grass

Bottle rockets, Aug, 2010
Country & Abroad, Sept. 2007
Daily Haiku, Oct.25,2009

Haibun

 

                                                A SUMMER EVENING

I am eight years old and walk from the trolley stop to the amusement park. My aunt and older sister are with me.  From two blocks away, odors of cotton candy, hot dogs, fried fish.  The wind from the ocean sweeps these odors in and out, along with the noise.

                                                 beyond the park lights–

                                                 the growing darkness
                                                 of the sea

The fat lady with her maniacal laugh stands at the entrance to the fun house.  Too scared to go in; too scared to wait outside alone.

                                                 sneaking a peek

                                                 in the darkened tunnel–
                                                 eyes half shut

 Any ride we want, my aunt says. The giant Ferris wheel, caterpillar, bumper cars. Rides my father would not allow.

                                                 screams and laughter
                                                 on the roller coaster–
                                                 which is mine?

 I try games of chance and skill.  The penny toss, spin the wheel, pop the balloons. Have neither skill nor luck and leave with no prize and a long face.  "Cheer up," my aunt says.  "Time for one more ride."

The merry-go-round. The best for last. I choose a big black and white horse.  An outside horse, one that moves up and down.  No stationary animal for me.  Gaining speed. The calliope pumping a tune, quick and gay. I reach for the brass ring.  Arms way too short.  Next year, I think.

                                                   head held back

                                                   whirling into the wind
                                                   a taste of sea salt
                                    
  Frogpond winte 2006(revised from published version)

Haiku

                                             mid-summer
                                             in the garden umbrella
                                             a baby bat

                                             fishing the river
                                             shore to shore
                                             gulls
                                 
                                            
                                            wild grapes
                                            from the fogged in road
                                            grinding gears

Shamrock, June 2013
World Haiku Review, March 2013
Simply Haiku, June 2012

Haiga

Daily Haiga, 6/9/2014

Haiku

                                                       picnic by a brook
                                                       on the road nearby
                                                       an idling truck

                                                      woodland trail
                                                      in the trees above
                                                      the pit-pit of rain

                                                      respite from the heat
                                                      we put our discussion
                                                      on hold
Stylus, 4/2007
Stylus, 10,2007
A Hundred Gourds, 6/2013

Haibun

 

                                                    NEST BUILDING

 

Deep inside an evergreen bush a robin is building a nest.  She is not alone.  With help from her mate, the nest takes form. Twigs, sometimes longer than they are, grasses, bits of fluff.  A well choreographed dance.  One at a time, in one side and out another.  Drop the building material, sit on the pile and twist and squirm to shape it.

                                                   bare dirt–

                                                   setting in the first plant

                                                   for the garden

 

Contemporary Haibun On-line June 2007

Haiga

From a series "Fantasy Garden,"
now in Haigaonline, featured
in the Gallery, June 2014
http://www.haigaonline.com/issue15-1/issue.html

Haiga

 

 

A Hundred Gourds, 9/2012