“A Few Haiku (23)”

On By Mike U.In Poetry

(c) 2021 by Michael L. Utley

(#133)

winter blizzard
mountain’s clouded mind confused
avalanche of thoughts

…..

(#134)

my life stains the page
complicated crimson kanji
too obscure to read

…..

(#135)

arctic kitsune
little blizzard stalks the drifts
crimson raicho plumes

…..

(#136)

darkest winter night
echoes of abandoned prayers
dwindle in the void

…..

(#137)

wind and sea and sky
permanence of change
impermanence of life

…..

(#138)

snow on footbridge
heron tracks the only sign
of life that matters

18 thoughts on ““A Few Haiku (23)””

    1. Thanks, Mark. Your essay on impermanence has really stuck itself in my head–I keep going back to that concept and there’s so much imagery that lends itself to it. Also, I’m a big fan of the band Rush (back when I could hear well) and they have an old song titled “Tom Sawyer” that includes a line that goes “He knows changes aren’t permanent, but change is…” That always stuck with me, too. So, yeah, the irony of change being the only thing that’s really permanent or constant in life… Thanks for the nice comment (and the continued inspiration of your essays). 🙂

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    2. Hendrix is the greatest guitarist of all-time IMO and my personal favorite. Hugely influential for me back when I could hear well enough to play my guitars. Now I’ve got a challenge to work him into verse somehow! 🙂 Also, Neil Peart was not only one of the best drummers to ever grace the stage, he was also an incredible lyricist. So many Rush songs are highly poetic. Man, I miss both of these guys…

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    1. Thanks, Rhyan. Winter lends itself so easily to melancholic symbolism. Those long, cold nights can be brutal for those of us who deal with depression, insomnia and isolation. It really does feel like being abandoned at times during those dark nights of the soul. Anyhoo, thanks as always for your kindness–I appreciate it! 🙂

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    1. Hey, David. Yep, a snowy theme appeared in this collection. A blizzard struck about a week or so ago during the night and the wind was howling so loudly I could actually hear it;. I peeked out the window at about 2:00 a.m. that night to see drifts forming in the parking lot of my apartment complex and snow blowing horizontally. A day later, it was mostly melted, although there are remnants here and there in the shadows of bushes and buildings. The nearby La Plata Mountains, San Juan Mountains, the Lone Cone, and the mesas of Mesa Verde (all in Colorado), and the Abajo Mountains and La Sal Mountains (in Utah), all have snow. Now you have some stuff to google! 😀 I could do without snow, but we need it here desperately since it’s an arid region with lots of farms.

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    1. Thanks so much, Xenia! I’m not much of a winter person but this season is rife with stunning imagery so I enjoy it in that regard. It lends itself to some introspective analysis, with plenty of metaphor all over the place. I’m so glad you liked these. Much appreciated. 🙂

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