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Greenlighter
For many years, I have been an active member of the Craigslist haiku discussion forum. As we have come to understand it, haiku in English are not limited to the 5-7-5 syllable structure taught in grade school. Instead, we use any three line poem of 17 syllables or less, with a cutting statement at the beginning or end. The reason being, Japanese syllables do not translate exactly to English syllables. A nature theme is preferred, but even Japanese writers are known to have various other focal points.
Without further ado, here is a collection of some of my haiku in no particular order. I am collecting for a self-published book (Christmas gift for family and friends,) feel free to let me know what you think:
wear and tear
the simple life
of a simple man
a lifetime filled
with death's slow meandering
at the water's edge
from shade to shade
a forgiving breeze fades
into dead heat
sun ever waxing
shirtless I stand
inevitably waning
under the moon
nearly full she says
only time between us
death knell rattling
the saber strikes
a chord
under moon's light
the morning star
stirs within
on spring's cusp
by the water's edge
I tread with death
gentle breeze
for just a moment
cockroach dreams of flying
mid-day inferno
this contract signed in blood
to spite the alchemist
across the great divide
passes a single tear
scar tissue
the stranger
behold a pale horse
and hell followed with him
stay frosty
spring will come
soon enough
striking a balance
the crow wanders
between the lines
solid handshake
and easy smile
like a real boy
dandelion daydream
a little weed
all grown up
life is what you make it
said the spider
to the fly
an axe to grind
nose to the stone
unequivocal
slow to rise
flames from
a wet pine
rainy day
fingers tapping
to thunder tunes
clear sky
early morning stars
shine for me
eating my tail
the eternal return
dung beetle
from kindling grew
a cleansing fire
in which to bathe
my mind wanders
into another
coffin nail
cool and distant
my lover
tonight
cut my hair
and hubris with it
re-breathing stale air
countless hours
buried in cool earth
the end in sight
cricket drone
a limb falls here and there
sonar overhead
this old pine grows
new efforts shot
into thin air
changing hands
fire whispers
to the pine
an orchid's last
petal slowly falls
upon cracked cement
shill game
sophists selling
empty shells
looking like rain
another cloud
passes my lips
eyelids weary
bearing heavy
baggage
elevator music
at the end of a long
dark road
Thanks for reading, again any comments/critiques are appreciated, these are (mostly) in chronological order, and will be re-organized before publishing. I will also be editing out repetitive words to make the book flow better all around. The title I have chosen is "In The Way," the opening quote will be:
“There is something to be learned from a rainstorm. When meeting with a sudden shower, you try not to get wet and run quickly along the road. But doing such things as passing under the eaves of houses, you still get wet. When you are resolved from the beginning, you will not be perplexed, though you will still get the same soaking. This understanding extends to everything...This is the substance of [the Way,] if by setting one's heart right every morning and evening, one is able to live as though his body were already dead, he gains freedom in the Way. His whole life will be without blame, and he will succeed in his calling.” -Tsunetomo Yamamoto
And the dedication page will simply say:
"A man's worth is measured not by the words he says, but by the ones he doesn't."
Without further ado, here is a collection of some of my haiku in no particular order. I am collecting for a self-published book (Christmas gift for family and friends,) feel free to let me know what you think:
wear and tear
the simple life
of a simple man
a lifetime filled
with death's slow meandering
at the water's edge
from shade to shade
a forgiving breeze fades
into dead heat
sun ever waxing
shirtless I stand
inevitably waning
under the moon
nearly full she says
only time between us
death knell rattling
the saber strikes
a chord
under moon's light
the morning star
stirs within
on spring's cusp
by the water's edge
I tread with death
gentle breeze
for just a moment
cockroach dreams of flying
mid-day inferno
this contract signed in blood
to spite the alchemist
across the great divide
passes a single tear
scar tissue
the stranger
behold a pale horse
and hell followed with him
stay frosty
spring will come
soon enough
striking a balance
the crow wanders
between the lines
solid handshake
and easy smile
like a real boy
dandelion daydream
a little weed
all grown up
life is what you make it
said the spider
to the fly
an axe to grind
nose to the stone
unequivocal
slow to rise
flames from
a wet pine
rainy day
fingers tapping
to thunder tunes
clear sky
early morning stars
shine for me
eating my tail
the eternal return
dung beetle
from kindling grew
a cleansing fire
in which to bathe
my mind wanders
into another
coffin nail
cool and distant
my lover
tonight
cut my hair
and hubris with it
re-breathing stale air
countless hours
buried in cool earth
the end in sight
cricket drone
a limb falls here and there
sonar overhead
this old pine grows
new efforts shot
into thin air
changing hands
fire whispers
to the pine
an orchid's last
petal slowly falls
upon cracked cement
shill game
sophists selling
empty shells
looking like rain
another cloud
passes my lips
eyelids weary
bearing heavy
baggage
elevator music
at the end of a long
dark road
Thanks for reading, again any comments/critiques are appreciated, these are (mostly) in chronological order, and will be re-organized before publishing. I will also be editing out repetitive words to make the book flow better all around. The title I have chosen is "In The Way," the opening quote will be:
“There is something to be learned from a rainstorm. When meeting with a sudden shower, you try not to get wet and run quickly along the road. But doing such things as passing under the eaves of houses, you still get wet. When you are resolved from the beginning, you will not be perplexed, though you will still get the same soaking. This understanding extends to everything...This is the substance of [the Way,] if by setting one's heart right every morning and evening, one is able to live as though his body were already dead, he gains freedom in the Way. His whole life will be without blame, and he will succeed in his calling.” -Tsunetomo Yamamoto
And the dedication page will simply say:
"A man's worth is measured not by the words he says, but by the ones he doesn't."
