Whirling Haiku and Senryu

 
The first line of each haiku or senryu below is taken from “August” by Arizona poet Richard Shelton.
 
This week’s whirling words are: hips, marrow, crocuses, stillness, massive, secret, flower, grief, window, perhaps, hand, clatter, colors
 
 

As if she owned them,
she charged her hips to swagger
down the dusty street.
 
~~ ~~ ~~
 
bruised moon and darkness
the marrow of the heavens
leaking from cracked bones
 
~~ ~~ ~~
 
a great blue peacock
seven golden crocuses—
eight spring gifts for you
 
~~ ~~ ~~
 
Our little fingers
settled into stillness,
then formed holy signs.
 
~~ ~~ ~~
 
We see her old ship,
its massive sails billowing—
no one at the helm.
 
~~ ~~ ~~
 
The lady in black
imparts to me a secret—
I decide to flee.
 
~~ ~~ ~~
 
In the market place
she buys a single flower—
then it turns to stone.
 
~~ ~~ ~~
 
She wears the postures
of grief and consternation,
mumbling to the fox.
 
~~ ~~ ~~
 
over her window
a map of all the sorrows
she has ever known
 
~~ ~~ ~~
 
We bring her our hands—
perhaps she can persuade them
to write poetry.
 
~~ ~~ ~~
 
With its dark cargo,
my hand is fit companion
for the furtive ones.
 
~~ ~~ ~~
 
Run out on the floor
with a clatter and a shout—
Spirit wants to dance!
 
~~ ~~ ~~
 
As if they belonged,
the colors settled on us—
lingering spirits.

 
© 2012 by Magical Mystical Teacher
 
 
More The Sunday Whirl, Wordle 57
 
More Poetry Picnic Week 36