Winter dies slowly
under the jay’s watchful eye
harbinger of spring.
The ghosts of winter
hide behind the Sun,
the hawk hears them.
Frail pink petals fall
onto slowly warming earth
the winter concedes.
Haiku
A SOUTHERN WINTER (HAIKU)
In the dark of night
clouds gavotte across the sky
we awake to rain
There is no snow here –
we dream of Fujiyama
imagine winter.
A thousand cranes rise
take wing over the city
smiling at the sun.
EDGE OF WINTER (FOUR HAIKU)
The clouds build slowly
threatening to overtake
the maple’s red leaves.
October cloud knives
Slice branches from saddened trees
Leaves fall in mourning
Dogs peer at dawn’s sky
And slowly don winter coats
Knowing geese take flight
Tomorrow the snow
Will not fall from evening clouds
But soon, very soon
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE NOVICE HAIKUIST (AND AN EXAMPLE)
INSTRUCTIONS:
Make certain that you
carefully count syllables
and mention summer
EXAMPLE
perhaps not a bang
certainly not a whimper–
summer’s arrival.
ABSURD, YOU SAY?
Here in Haikutown
verisimilitude can
be found in line two.
But over in Tankaville
it can have three addresses.
THREE THOUGHTS (HAIKU)
The pelican dives
beneath an ominous sky –
this is no Koi pond.
Snowy egret stares,
his reflection returns it
calm pond undisturbed.
Haiku is perfect
if you adhere to the form
in all four seasons.
THREE HAIKU
an entire flower
and a single rose petal
duplicate beauty
a whole universe
exists in a drop of dew
life evaporates
two crested ducks pay
no attention to people
offering nothing
