“A Few Haiku & Senryu (59)”

On By Mike U.In Poetry

(c) 2023 by Michael L. Utley

(#349)

thunderclaps
the sound of birth and death
bookends of nothingness

…..

(#350)

between earth and sky
there is only everything
in the emptiness

…..

(#351)

this frozen sky
tries so hard to snow but can’t
my winter heart

…..

(#352)

do not interrupt
the slow dreams of drowsing trees
fickle winter moon

…..

(#353)

pardon the mountain, dear moon
for his heart is stone
and his burden heavy

…..

(#354)

somewhere in this life
I’ll lose myself or find myself
a soul’s journey

45 thoughts on ““A Few Haiku & Senryu (59)””

    1. Many thanks. Glad to know these spoke to you. Incidentally, I was thinking about your blog post today and that bag of pine cones. Hopefully, I can write a haiku or two about pine cones soon. They really are kind of magical, you know? 🙂

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    1. I hear you, Nigel. I live this one 24/7. I, too, am pretty sure folks can see it in my eyes no matter what facade I assume to hide it. As the late indie musician Daniel Johhston once sang, “Some things last a long time…” Sending you some hope, my friend. 🙂

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    1. Thanks, David, I kept coming back to that image of a frozen heart, one that’s so numb it can’t feel anything anymore. On the farm where I was raised, there were so many winter days where the sky was heavily laden with low clouds, trying so hard to snow, but ending up passing over instead. Those tears never could fall from that sorrowful sky. I thought it was an apt metaphor for folks who are emotionally numb and have difficulty feeling anything anymore, something I wrestle with on a daily basis.

      I appreciate your kind support so much, good sir. Wishing you and your family all the best. 🙂

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    1. Kindest thanks, dear Ellie. I’m so pleased to know you found these to your liking, my friend. I find myself writing so often about nature, anthropomorphizing the moon and mountains and trees. I feel like that mountain, so heavily burdened that it’s hard to feel anything anymore. There’s so much beauty and goodness in nature, and it helps me to remind myself of this when things seem so dark.

      It’s always a delight to see you visit. I hope things are going better for you, my friend. Sending you gobs of hope and strength from my world to yours. 🙂

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    1. Many thanks, Ashley. Indeed, this bunch is a little more upbeat than my last offering, although these are still pretty melancholy. “Write what you know,” right? 🙂 I always appreciate your visits, kind sir, and I hope your week is going well. 🙂

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    1. Hi, Cassa. Yep, I saw that Gabriela was putting together a haiku anthology a while back, and coincidentally, Diana sent me an email today to let me know, too. I plan on submitting some haiku. It would be such an honor and a delight to be included in this anthology. I’ve got to go through my collection of 354 haiku and senryu and find six to submit, and that’s going to be sort of challenging! Anyway, thanks for thinking of me and sending this link. It’s very kind of you. 🙂

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    1. Thank you kindly Lauren. I love Japanese short verse. Writing in such a brief and austere format really focuses my mind. There’s poignant sorrow and brief joy in short verse, and it’s incredibly satisfying when clarity appears and something meaningful flows into being. I’m really happy to know these spoke to you, my friend. 🙂

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  15. All beautifully written, as always! Nature, creation is one of my favorite topics. I love the mountain one – truth and insight. My favorite is the last – we are always on a journey through life, searching for our best self. Thanks for sharing your gift!

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    1. Thank you kindly, Peggy. I love writing these little ones, and I hadn’t been able to do so for so long. It was good to see some poke their heads out of hibernation. I’m glad to know these resonated with you. You know me–I love writing about nature, and haiku is the perfect format for that, I think. I appreciate you, my friend: )

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