In the sunlit park
the small dog watches the man
go fetch the thrown ball
Maple leaves emerge
almost certain that winter
is now history
A rain of petals
cherry snow covers the ground
we await the fruit.
Haiku
GROWING
Buddha cares little
for the endless prostrations
preferring Summer.
The sun ignores the Buddha
and bows to the greening rice.
The grass is growing
When we are present to watch
Without us — growing.
SEASONINGS (HAIKU)
above only sky
beneath only dark gray clouds
the sun is content
a mountain of clouds
rises from white tufted bed
the earth is watered
in winter’s icy chill
ripples from autumn’s pebble
await the spring sun
the leafless ginkgo
taunts the first snow of winter
with the dream of spring
MARCH APPROACHING (HAIKU)
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.
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.
