“A Few Haiku (17)”

On December 1, 2021February 12, 2025 By Mike U.In Poetry32 Comments

(#97)

I have burned my hands
In the furnace of the past
Stoking memories

…..

(#98)

Stars write arias
For the bashful moon to sing
But who will listen

…..

(#99)

I have made my peace
Sitting under willow trees
In the green shadows

…..

(#100)

Does the floating leaf
Fear whitewater’s treachery
It has no regrets

…..

(#101)

Rest my ear aground
Listen to the planet’s heart
Know my place on earth

…..

(#102)

In the hushed forest
Eternity speaks to me
In jade whisperings

“A Few Haiku (16)”

On November 28, 2021 By Mike U.In Poetry12 Comments

(#91)

How can hope survive
Solitary kitchen chair
And the empty bed

…..

(#92)

These old feet are numb
Memories are bitter cold
I must watch my step

…..

(#93)

I sought from the fox
Wisdom; he gave me instead
A flash of his tail

…..

(#94)

Breeze in bamboo grove
Sake choko clattering
Empty memories

…..

(#95)

Who has spilled the sky
Into the pond? Sunset fire
Burns lotus blossoms

…..

(#96)

Once, in the forest
Autumn taught me of sorrow
What will winter bring

“A Few Haiku (15)”

On November 22, 2021 By Mike U.In Poetry10 Comments

(#85)

Fruit rots on the ground
In unattended orchard
Our love slowly dies

…..

(#86)

I plant hopes and dreams
In the fertile soil but I
Still must pray for rain

…..

(#87)

Sly kitsune slinks
Among magenta kiku
Shrewd white-tip-tailed imp

…..

(#88)

Thirsty tamarisk
In its drunken reveling
Drains oasis dry

…..

(#89)

Let the bitter plum
Remind you to cherish the
Sweetness of the pear

…..

(#90)

Those old stars above
Whisper of antiquity
And enduring hope

“A Few Haiku (14)”

On November 21, 2021February 11, 2025 By Mike U.In Poetry12 Comments

(#79)

Under darkened skies
Of depression even my
Shadow flees from me

…..

(#80)

Light devoid of warmth
Casts the moon as villainous
Skulking through the trees

…..

(#81)

Myths of ancient days
Etched in runes on ruined wood
Worm trails on old trees

…..

(#82)

Those cicadas know
What lies ahead is better
Than what’s left behind

…..

(#83)

Desiccated husks
Of bad memories remain
Rattle restlessly

…..

(#84)

Memories of lilac
Wild rose and hollyhock
Melancholy prose

“A Few Haiku (13)”

On November 20, 2021 By Mike U.In Poetry6 Comments

(#73)

Those who lost their way
In Aokigahara
Must be remembered

…..

(#74)

In the sea of trees
Koto and shamisen play
Sorrowful dirges

…..

(#75)

When the mist is thick
I can’t see the whip-poor-wills
Calling out to me

…..

(#76)

The cold moon sails on
A black sea of bitter stars
Wake of cosmic tears

…..

(#77)

Early morning mist
In the green konara copse
Forest holds its breath

…..

(#78)

Autumn has no shame
Strips away the world’s facade
Exposes our sins

“A Few Haiku (12)”

On November 16, 2021November 16, 2021 By Mike U.In Poetry4 Comments

(#67)

Regret stills haunts me
Even though my heart tells me
I did all I could

…..

(#68)

When I am in need
God responds to all my prayers
“Return to sender”

…..

(#69)

The days come and go
But sometimes inside my heart
The night never leaves

…..

(#70)

Summer sun has gone
That impostor in the sky
Only leaves me cold

…..

(#71)

Autumn’s thievery
Has left more than trees barren
Summer leaves no heir

…..

(#72)

Seasons’ edges blurred
Snow on flowers, freezing rain
I seek clarity

“A Few Haiku (11)”

On November 14, 2021December 29, 2024 By Mike U.In Poetry8 Comments

(#61)

Earth, sea and sky have
Tales to tell; be patient
For they speak slowly

…..

(#62)

I attain wisdom
Not from church or pagoda
But from woods and streams

…..

(#63)

When winter wind blows
All pretense is torn away
Bares my soul to all

…..

(#64)

Whispering sea shell
Tells of life I could have had
If I’d dared to live

…..

(#65)

This overgrown path
Filled with rocks and thorns cannot
Lead me home again

…..

(#66)

bitter early snow
I don’t recognize this world
anymore

“A Few Haiku (10)”

On November 12, 2021 By Mike U.In Poetry18 Comments

(#55)

Caught like wounded prey
In sharp fangs of granite crags
Dusk sun spills its blood

…..

(#56)

Those coins that fall through
Gaps in floorboards forgotten
Like old memories

…..

(#57)

My heart recalls you
Like my broken bleeding thumb
Recalls the hammer

…..

(#58)

Do my deafened ears
Make me any less human
I hear with my heart

…..

(#59)

Scarlet gilia
Weep sweet tears in sage meadow
After thunderstorm

…..

(#60)

On my back porch step
There’s so much to think about
And so little time

“A Few Haiku (9)”

On November 10, 2021October 6, 2024 By Mike U.In Poetry5 Comments

(#49)

The silent garden
My mother’s memories
Germinate

…..

(#50)

There is never joy
In the dark night of the soul
I embrace the dawn

…..

(#51)

I still hear the sound
Of breezes in bamboo groves
When I think of you

…..

(#52)

Some days all I need
Is to watch the spotted cat
Chasing butterflies

…..

(#53)

It is my hope when
Kiku bloom in time to come
You’ll remember me

…..

(#54)

My old hoe is dull
And the weeds resist its blade
Still I toil on

“A Few Haiku (8)”

On November 8, 2021 By Mike U.In Poetry15 Comments

(#43)

Sweat upon my brow
Dries to crystal salt; my toil
Earns ivory crown

…..

(#44)

Early morning mist
Mother cloud comes home to nest
Earth is safe and warm

…..

(#45)

Insects whispering
Secrets filled with mystery
As I plant the rice

…..

(#46)

In the pond I learned
All I need to know of life
Koi glide peacefully

…..

(#47)

My old white dog tries
To catch the swift stream but he
Only ends up wet

…..

(#48)

In these callused hands
There is dirt beneath the nails
Strength and wisdom too

Silent Pariah

Tag: haiku