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Four Haiku
at the water’s edge
the saved wait to be baptized—
old-time religion
shadows by the bridge
sculpted from hollowed-out light—
great blue heron’s cry
feet follow cinders
leading to the temple gate
a place of great grace
fingers framed by light
clutching an old rosary
carved of human bone
Haiku © 2020 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More The Whirligig #281
More Writers’ Pantry #35 at Poets and Storytellers United
Walk
Robert J. Moody Demonstration Garden, Yuma, Arizona
A small wooden bridge—
first, we walk through the shadows,
then into the light.
Haiku and photo © 2017 by Magical Mystical Teacher
First Whirl of February
The first line of each breath-of-a-poem is taken from phrases found in A Year in the World by Frances Mayes.
~~ 1 ~~
their morning coffee—
spring, summer, fall, and winter
taking it with cream
~~ 2 ~~
on the balcony
sharing an afternoon drink
fragrant vin rosé
~~ 3 ~~
on an envelope
one thin line of poetry
trailing to the edge
~~ 4 ~~
clutching photographs
faded ones from long ago
in her tight right hand
~~ 5 ~~
a votive candle
casting a shadowy spell
in the holy place
~~ 6 ~~
through the spice bazaar
following an old woman
laden with saffron
~~ 7 ~~
open till midnight—
a sign taped to the window
restoring our hope
~~ 8 ~~
on a lamp table
two little stacks of spare change
enough for bus fare
~~ 9 ~~
from her only son
a letter written with flair—
loops and flourishes
~~ 10 ~~
a heap of rubble
where the freeway bridge once stood—
earthquake aftermath
© 2016 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More The Sunday Whirl, Wordle 236
Bridging
A footbridge, Japanese Friendship Garden, Phoenix, Arizona
bridging the morning
with broken bits of moonbeam
splinters of the sun
Text and photo © 2015 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Wednesday Waters #16
More Carpe Diem: “Basho’s ‘Bridge of Morning'”
Fishing Tales
~~ 1 ~~
seven fishing boats
rocking imperceptibly
in a gentle swell
~~ 2 ~~
fishing line tangles
twice around the willow limb—
Elijah returns
~~ 3 ~~
fishing through the mess
in the middle desk drawer—
pages torn from Psalms
~~ 4 ~~
fishing from the bridge
with a stolen rod and reel—
Egypt lies downstream
~~ 5 ~~
how her heart aches
fishing for compliments
that never come
~~ 6 ~~
deep-water fishing—
nothing God says in mercy
keeps Jonah on land
~~ 7 ~~
sharp prongs of lightning—
a fleet of fishing trawlers
limping back to shore
~~ 8 ~~
fishing boots with holes—
watching prophets weave and sway
limping round puddles
~~ 9 ~~
guts bloody the sink
from this morning’s fishing trip
to Lake Galilee
© 2014 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Poetry Pantry #198
More Carpe Diem: “Fishing”
More The Sunday Whirl, Wordle 157
