In the years I spent teaching English I would sometimes introduce my students to the haiku form to challenge and focus their writing skills, and to encourage personal expression. The syllable restriction of three lines of 5-7-5 required that they (and I) choose their words carefully. With a minimum of preparation I found that the results were often surprising. While traditional haiku is strongly identified with the seasons, the form is a durable one and easily expanded to include a wider range of topics. Like my students, I have used haiku to record meaningful life events and observations as well as seasonal themes. This file will be further amended as poetry intersects with life.
Autumn comes, the days
Grow short…look there, my old cat
In the garden sleeps
Beautiful diamonds
Lord Jesus, Buddha, Krishna
And I am…gravel
I saw them one fall
Locust trees, by the railroad
Leaves gold…like my mind
The old ragged pine
Still puts forth some brave new shoots
Every year…like me
Grandmother told me
While making some French pancakes
First one–throw away!
Of all diseases
All it takes is only one
To bring someone down
Accident sculpture
Much better than I could make
Three pots…fell over
Sitting on my deck
Am I now Christ…or Buddha?
Devotee…a cat!
Wind and rain today
Seagulls, wet grass, white daisies
Put on…galoshes!
Near home…in a field
Lost my sense of direction
How mysterious!
My first memory
Crib, windows, morning bright light
Mother…is smiling
Walking with mother
Spring clouds, Black Pine, gold poppies
Picture…etched clearly
On the low table
See and smell chrysanthemums
Soon…will pass away
Caw! Caw! Caw! Caw! Caw!
Minimalist symphony
Morning song of crows
The gardener’s hands
Bent, bronzed, wrinkled, old, and worn
Like the tree he tends
Three plum trees at dawn
Were glowing, glowing, glowing
Eternal rose pink
The door is open
The cats come in and the same
Cats go out again
I am retired
And I finally have time
To watch trains pass by
Mindfulness is this:
Be sure to turn off the stove
And zip your zipper
Old people will die
When no longer able to
Open their own food
I’ve found out that deer
Are old-time bonsai masters
…Reincarnated
Divinepersonhood 