Haiku

Spring Haiku

Daffodils in spring -
green sprouts pierce lingering snow,
seasons embracing.

Tips of brighter green
cap the boughs of evergreens –
future greets the past.

Peony blossoms –
ants crawl among the petals,
immersed in beauty.

The window’s stained glass
tries in vain to catch the sun -
deigns to let it pass.

Golden finch, rare sight,
alights to drink with sparrows;
springs aloft in flight.

Salmon snatched by bear -
leaping, tumbling, everywhere
silver sprays the air.

How can a million
shades and hues of vibrant life
be condensed to “green”?

Calm lake, mirrored sky -
ripples stirred by gentle wind
rip the clouds awry.

Cranes with missing legs
stand among mimicking reeds:
legs with missing cranes.

Tiny buzzing wings,
humming drones beneath those tunes
the chanting bird sings

The preying mantis
waits until her prey comes near -
a flash of lightning!

Twirling blades above
blow away the summer heat -
a couple in love.

Rose petals scattered
on the stream float gently by -
a romance shattered?

Dappled forest shade –
swirling shadows flecked with sun
flood the silent glade.

A single green leaf,
tickled by a breeze, shivers
among still sisters.

Graceful twining vine,
shiny trefoils, berries white -
lovely danger sign!

Impatient ivy -
climbing trees to get its share
of summer sunlight

Squirrel on wood pile
holds aloft his curly tail -
furry parasol.

Stag leaves his bower,
brushing a tree with his rack - 
pine-needle shower.

Hark! A babbling brook -
water sings its warbling song,
tumbing over stones.

The sun starts to sink
slowly through clouds in the west -
Rhapsody in Pink.

Spears thrust through the clouds,
violating pristine curves -
contrails in the sky.

Fireflies’ twilight flight -
echoed in darkened sky by
stars that light the night

Mouse pauses, then runs,
as the clouds part for moonlight -
the flapping of wings

No moon lights the fox
creeping into the barnyard -
the flapping of wings

Turquoise sky, full moon, 
no clouds above, no sun, no stars –
summer day wiped clean.

Trees line city streets, 
relieving searing sunlight
with cool pools of shade.

Dappled sun on lawn,
checkerboard for deadly game -
birds and butterflies.

Deep purple flowers –
like open portals to strange
new universes.

Summer afternoon –
trees are frozen in the sun
like a photograph.

Summer storms depart –
the fallen leaves and branches
become roof gardens.

The fluffy seeds float
slowly through the summer air –
sprites with silver hair.

Locust tree’s secret:
fragile leaves are delicate,
but those thorns are not!

Blue to gray to green –
that lowering sky could mean
hail will soon be seen.

The smell of cedar
sharpens the moist summer air –
but where are the trees?

Weeping willows wait,
branches poised like thousands of
preying mantises.

The perfume of trees
fills a summer afternoon  –
magic scent of love

Hazy mist bathes trees;
dim grey light precedes the dawn –
the scent of campfires.

Sandy soil, pine trees,
family on vacation - 
soon, the salty breeze

Trail of prints, wet sand -
waves erase all human trace,
and yet, here we stand.

The rising sun paints
the sky, the sea, and the sand,
using the same brush.

Warming sun breaks through
hazy sky and cloak of fog,
burning morning dew.

Cloudy autumn day -
no matter - captured sunshine  
glows from golden glades.

Autumn leaves shaking,
shimmering golden ripples,
a river of wind

Wind and fallen leaves
swirl and dance a sprightly reel -
whistling ‘round the eaves.

Sparkling with firelight,
decorating distant trees - 
raindrops on windows

Though sheltered from winds,
hedge flutters as in a gale -
birds perched on branch ends.

Red berries, red birds -
autumn honeysuckle bush
serves cardinals’ feast.

Too heavy for fog,
too light for showers, yet wet -
unseen drops of mist

Rainbowed oil slicks shine,
reflecting neon lights in
patent-leather streets.

Seen from a distance,
junipers dusted with snow -
bagged leaves and sunbeams

A blanket of snow,
warm cabin, fireplace aglow,
and nowhere to go

Children are waking
as morning light is breaking -
gingerbread baking.

Snow swirls off the roof
in isolated flurries -
miniature storms.

Mingled smoke and snow
white on white above the flue -
water hot and cold

Like lace on velvet, 
white and green are intertwined -
patchy snow on grass.

Awakened from sleep 
by scent of Christmas baking -
remembrance runs deep.

Smiling girl in crowd
illuminates the season -
borrowed happiness.

Luminarias
line the streets on Christmas eve -
lanes of fallen stars.

Candles cast dim light -
luminarias brighten
far more than the night.

Christmas lights aglow,
or captive angels’ halos? -
spruce in heavy snow

Christmas candy canes
sadly echo shepherds’ staffs - 
the blood of the lamb.

Candles in windows -
helping the lost and lonely
to find their way home

Branches claw the sky,
scratching paw-like for the Spring -
trees afraid to die

Yellow splashed on white –
territorial markings,
or mischievous boys?

Paw prints in fresh snow
wind among the trees, then end —
a splash of crimson.

Corn stubble, cut low -
single crow leaves trident trail
in new-fallen snow.

A week of gray clouds -
returning sunshine brightens
more than gloomy skies.

Color explosion!
Sunlight sweeps remnants of gray
into the shadows.

Chips of ice at night,
diamond-like, trap rays from lamps -
shine with inner light.

Sun warms frozen ground
with memories of summer -
January thaw.

Penguin stands on ice,
eggs and sperm between his legs -
future nurtured twice.

Brilliant sun on snow
strikes our eyes with blinding force -
eyelids, closed, still glow.

White birch in winter,
deathly pallor, brilliant glow -
which one do you see?

White birch in white snow,
ready to dazzle and glow –
dark sky spoils the show.

Space and time entwine -
light beams stretch to where and when
stars began to shine.

A world of wonder 
shines through a baby’s bright eyes -
every sight is new.

The chains grow longer
as the clock ticks and weights fall -
our lives grow shorter.

Rocks and stones lie still,
serene and uncomplaining -
but their history!

Branches drooping low,
Hemlocks cling to Mother Earth;
Spruce embraces sky.

The tiny pigeon
lies in state, but no one cries -
the last of its kind.

Men who are lettered
carp about rules, but I like
Haiku unfettered.

Fly buzzes, tongue flicks,
frog is hungry, frog is quick,
tongue connects, fly sticks.

Koyaanisqatsi* - 
dung beetles overwhelmed by 
humans and their pets!
* - nature out of balance

A little turkey?
Stuffing? Stuffing? Stuffing? Stuffed!
Those Thanksgiving Blues.

The fisherman snores -
neatly skewered bait becomes
shish kebab for fish.

Warm wife in warm bed
greets husband bold with feet cold -
a scream in the night!

Heroes stalk villains
while painting the town; BANG! SPLAT! -
Men and boys - same toys.

Japanese maples,
lacy reds and shocking pinks –
nature’s lingerie.

Orange peel scraped clean,
lemon crushed to pulp and seeds - 
bittersweet fight scene