Whirling with Robert Hass

 
The first line of each haiku or senryu is taken from poems in Time and Materials by Robert Hass.
 
This week’s whirling words are: marrow, link, store, anchor, wake, navigate, stern, deck, pitch, sink, rail, port
 
 

You learned long ago
that buried in your marrow
deadly secrets lie.
 
~~ ~~ ~~
 
It is good sometimes
to be the link that’s missing
or an untold tale.
 
~~ ~~ ~~
 
Outside you can hear
frozen shadows chattering—
they store wasted light.
 
~~ ~~ ~~
 
We cannot have it,
an anchor for our longings,
till we fast and pray.
 
~~ ~~ ~~
 
someone falling down
loud enough to wake the dead—
and then a whimper
 
~~ ~~ ~~
 
Where dust and sunset
navigate the crooked road,
shadows seek a home.
 
~~ ~~ ~~
 
Telling the story,
she became stern and wrathful—
whip about to snap.
 
~~ ~~ ~~
 
When the lights went out,
we were standing on the deck—
seven fireflies sang.
 
~~ ~~ ~~
 
For the thirsty ones,
fill these cups with boiling pitch,
bid them drink their fill.
 
~~ ~~ ~~
 
Now she’s getting dressed;
soon she will sink to her knees
and beg for mercy.
 
~~ ~~ ~~
 
His wife is upstairs,
leaning against the oak rail,
plotting her escape.
 
~~ ~~ ~~
 
Lustrous in moonlight—
Jaffa, the port where Jonah
ran away from God.

 
© 2012 by Magical Mystical Teacher
 
 
More The Sunday Whirl, Wordle 67
 
More The Poetry Pantry #109