Haiku, Cinquain, and Tanka
Cinquain
sensing
warm memories
of fingers tangled in hair,
cookies crumbled beneath bare backs,
heart skips
words roar
through open hands
slip into crumpled hearts
the moon dances stories of hope
rising
suitcase
plopped by the door
our dog whines his goodbye,
your coffee still on the table
steaming
Tanka
wedding photo face down-
daisies dance around
my old veil
your body a granite wall
smiles suicide off its lip
Cinquain
seas roar
tides tease bare toes
fish nibble chaste ankles
jump into the water, they sing
swim free
Cinquain
crimson
staining clover
strawberry fields forever
white crosses mark missing footfalls
gently
All of the above published in Short Stuff 2003
bare bones
shadows creepwalk
past headstones
where bones party
waiting for us
to absorb to ground
Published in Short Stuff 2003
Haiku
shadows dance
on my morning bedspread
two mockingbirds courting
leaves fly
trees bare their limbs
against long-fingered clouds *
purple ocean
waves roar quietly
towards sunset *
IV drip
throughout the night
gentle rain *
just the cock's
yellow beak crowing-
barely dawn *
instant messenger
midnight coffee presses against
my bladder
a praying mantis —
motionless in my backyard
sunset
body-
dance for me once more
before sunset
dinnertime
the antique kettle sing
to fleeing moths *
spring planting
a bee sings
in my mouth **
purple skies
campfires flare circled
by swirling skirts **
the owl
hoots hoots hoots
a boot flies through the air! **
(above three published in World Haiku Review**)
(haiku with a * beside them were published in Simply Haiku.
Spring Issue)
at the edge
of a moonbeam
a whipperwill's cry
The above haiku took second place in
Moonset's 2007 annual contest
For a haiku in motion, click HERE
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