Haiku and Senryu: A Baker’s Dozen
Who was dreaming what
when the restless monk appeared,
chanting holy writ?
~~ ~~ ~~
For all my wisdom,
I know not how to balance
love and loss and light.
~~ ~~ ~~
From brooms and baskets,
from things bizarre and brittle,
no one coaxes praise.
~~ ~~ ~~
on a moonless night
beggar woman salves her sores
with dust and starfire
~~ ~~ ~~
cracks in your whistle
rusty trumpet’s sticking valves—
you know how it is
~~ ~~ ~~
she seeps into sleep
into deep rivers of dreams
too deep for wading
~~ ~~ ~~
This is what I know—
the journey that forms my heart
can shake down the stars.
~~ ~~ ~~
shadowy repast
coffee and orchids and mist
mingled in teacups
~~ ~~ ~~
my house is too small
to hold thirty-seven ghosts—
I ask them to leave
~~ ~~ ~~
Did compassion die
when soldiers scorched my orchard,
leaving me no plums?
~~ ~~ ~~
question on question
nestled in my heart’s corners—
feral kittens nap
~~ ~~ ~~
Midnights she wonders
how she will loosen the straps
that lash her to him.
~~ ~~ ~~
smudgy letter G
legible R-A-C-E
have faith in fragments
© 2012 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More The Sunday Whirl, Wordle 44
when the restless monk appeared,
chanting holy writ?
~~ ~~ ~~
For all my wisdom,
I know not how to balance
love and loss and light.
~~ ~~ ~~
From brooms and baskets,
from things bizarre and brittle,
no one coaxes praise.
~~ ~~ ~~
on a moonless night
beggar woman salves her sores
with dust and starfire
~~ ~~ ~~
cracks in your whistle
rusty trumpet’s sticking valves—
you know how it is
~~ ~~ ~~
she seeps into sleep
into deep rivers of dreams
too deep for wading
~~ ~~ ~~
This is what I know—
the journey that forms my heart
can shake down the stars.
~~ ~~ ~~
shadowy repast
coffee and orchids and mist
mingled in teacups
~~ ~~ ~~
my house is too small
to hold thirty-seven ghosts—
I ask them to leave
~~ ~~ ~~
Did compassion die
when soldiers scorched my orchard,
leaving me no plums?
~~ ~~ ~~
question on question
nestled in my heart’s corners—
feral kittens nap
~~ ~~ ~~
Midnights she wonders
how she will loosen the straps
that lash her to him.
~~ ~~ ~~
smudgy letter G
legible R-A-C-E
have faith in fragments
© 2012 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More The Sunday Whirl, Wordle 44
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Posted on February 19, 2012, in The Sunday Whirl. Bookmark the permalink. 13 Comments.
Interesting set of verses, mmt. As always, they left me wondering, “How does she come up with them?” Well wordled.
As always a wonderful set of haiku …
“.she seeps into sleep
into deep rivers of dreams
too deep for wading” is simply stunning!
I marvel at your word talents
This one’s my favorite this week:
shadowy repast
coffee and orchids and mist
mingled in teacups
The 6th one hits with a truthful, impacting, sadness.
Beautiful… all of them, but I especially love that the beggar woman salves her sores with dust and starfire.
I am going to now have “faith in fragments”…. and in all things smudgy. Wonderful writing!
Some really good ones here. My favourites:
This is what I know—
the journey that forms my heart
can shake down the stars.
my house is too small
to hold thirty-seven ghosts—
I ask them to leave
And I love the untold story of this one:
Did compassion die
when soldiers scorched my orchard,
leaving me no plums?
my house is too small
to hold thirty-seven ghosts—
I ask them to leave
Sounds so Japanese. I love this one.
on a moonless night
beggar woman salves her sores
with dust and starfire
best one!
Wow, these were terrific. Love the line “she seeps into sleep.”
I agree with Mary! I cannot choose a favorite. There are too many beauties BUT this is gorgeous…’
shadowy repast
coffee and orchids and mist
mingled in teacups’
I love the HUGE variety of thought these words have spawned.
“For all my wisdom” caught me first. I love that last line, the alliteration. And also “Did compassion die”. And that last one; we all need more grace.
Richard