Blog Archives
Five Haiku with Tea
1.
Rainy afternoon—
a broken silk umbrella
lies in the gutter.
2.
How placid the cat
curled seemingly forever
in the old man’s lap!
3.
How satisfying
to drink clear, cool spring water
from a clean white cup!
4.
In darkness the hills
hold lurid conversations
with the river stones.
5.
Autumn advances—
the maple’s leaves turn crimson
without fuss or noise.
More The Whirligig #320
More Haiku My Heart at Recuerda Mi Corazon
More Writers’ Pantry #72 at Poets and Storytellers United
Nonsense to Celebrate Daylight Saving Time
Water spilling from a cup—
Will you help me wipe it up?
Grass is crying in the rain—
Watch out now, here comes a train!
Throw the broken plate away,
And then ask your friend to play.
Sing and sway, don’t rock the boat!
Just remember: Stones can’t float!
Poem © 2021 by Magical Mystical Teacher
Birds, Songs, and Longings
1.
As we near the lake,
geese arc over the water,
honking a greeting.
2.
Settling on her nest
at the water’s edge, a duck
keeps her egg clutch warm.
3.
Rippling mountain stream,
who composed the song you sing?
Surely not the crow!
4.
Drifting and gliding
over the ocean’s surface,
seagulls hunt for fish.
5.
Midwinter longing—
if I had wings like a dove,
I’d fly far away.
More The Whirligig #307
More Haiku My Heart at Recuerda Mi Corazon
More Writers’ Pantry #59 at Poets and Storytellers United
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
In This Sizzling Heat: A Haibun
In this sizzling heat we feel as though we’re descending into hell. The river has shrunk into a thin sliver thread. Our grapes are turning brown. They need water. I cannot tell you how eagerly we look for a cloud—one cloud!—to bear even a few drops of rain to the grapes. The neighbor boy flies his kite. It casts a shadow over the dying grapes. But I’ve had enough of watching for clouds that never come. I dig out our passports. “Come on,” I say to my beloved, “we’re going to Norway where it’s cool and it rains. Oh, wait! Americans aren’t welcome in Europe these days. What a clusterf*ck!”
I can’t remember
the last time I quenched my thirst
from a mountain stream.
More The Whirligig #274
More Writers’ Pantry #28 at Poets and Storytellers United
Water or Chardonnay: A Weird Little Haibun
When the choice of drink is water or chardonnay, I usually take water. I don’t want to end up in some faraway place, sleeping under a bridge, and wonder how I got there. Nobody’s going to rescue me from my own stupidity. If someone asks why I prefer to eat by candlelight, I say, “It’s fine to dine in the dark, but the last time I tried that, I nearly ate my finger, mistaking it for a French fry. Don’t you think it’s important to be safe rather than sorry?”
Yellow butterfly,
will you meet me on the path
to the mountaintop?
More The Whirligig #257
More Writers’ Pantry #11 at Poets and Storytellers United
Wine into Water
Water heals her wound
the evidence comes
as a scar blossoms in her flesh
like smoke rising
from burning leaves
it has been a long struggle
sometimes she dreams
of lying in her casket
when this nightmare is over
but for now her thoughts are clearing
maybe Jesus is turning her wine
into water
More Sunday’s Whirligig #243
More Pantry of Poetry and Prose #7 at Poets United
Release the Horses
Release the horses into the deep,
Water the foxes until they sleep.
Necks of the foxes? Smell them with fear!
Horses’ hooves pounding? Get out of here!
Things that you’ve owned? Not destined to stay!
Things that you cherish? Fading away!
Sending this quickly, only one time—
May you find truth somewhere in this rhyme.
Poem © 2019 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Sunday’s Whirligig #237
More Poetry Pantry #498 at Poets United
Welcome Every Word
Face the other way and write, write these words down fast:
Seizes, eases, water, gathers; then, write current last.
Other words than these might do, or possibly, might not.
Thus be ready always, friend, to change your poem’s plot.
In pursuit of poetry, you take what fate doles out.
Welcome every word’s arrival with a joyful shout!
Poem © 2019 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Sunday’s Whirligig #228
More Poetry Pantry #491 at Poets United
Ask the Bucket
Ask the bucket what it knows;
Ask the water where it flows.
Call the fish forth from the stream;
Call the widow from her dream.
Tap the teapot, swirl the tea;
Tap the night dreams, flowing free.
Wash the dishes, light the lamp;
Wash your face, but leave it damp.
Climb the stairs up to the roof,
Climb, because you need no proof
That your life’s about to end—
Ah, I wish you well, my friend!
Poem © 2018 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Sunday’s Whirligig #180
More Poetry Pantry #421 at Poets United
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