Haiku

These are haiku/senryu I’ve published on Threads, and then Bluesky. Each is preceded by the day’s single-word prompt by @haikufeels / @annemorrigan.

plan For six decades now what I planned, what has happened— little overlap	ache A winter sunrise— purple as a new bruise—an aching reluctance	agony Pair of glasses gone Blurred hands pat blurred surroundings Agony of loss
fall A lunar orbit— unending free fall—never closer, never there	eternal Nothing’s eternal— not joys or lives or suns or moons— we love, we let go	infinite In finite time, one thinks only so many thoughts— choose wisely, thinker
travel Moraines, drumlins, fjords— glacier travels to the sea— remakes the world	stone Stone sinks in water— heavy but drifting slowly— thus let worries pass	together To get her, you must secondly find her—firstly you must find yourself
crave,kiss,belong I crave the kiss of the one who I belong with— faithfulness confirmed	devour Once-high oak crumbles— no rough predator—just time and prying fungus	embody A tidal surging, gravity embodied, moon kneading earth through time
contain A world in a grain of sand—sands in worlds— now I am dizzy	only Only a tear-down, an eyesore, a nuisance—just someone’s only home	heart To get to the heart of the matter: just tell me: what do you fear most?
harmony Hey, I’m no rock star— singing harmony is fine— you go strut your stuff	harvest Look in the mirror, watch myself age—and decide which wisdoms ripened	best I snapped, said too much, and they said nothing; I am bested by silence
patient A stalagmite forms— a drop per decade—and we think we are patient	soon Soon, I will regret. Soon, I will apologize. Maybe not today.	mend Tatters of torn cloud, rent by gales blowing in, mended by darkness
gaze Sun gaze on desert, unflinching and merciless— just the dry survive	inflict A knife inflicted upon onions; the onions take it to the eyes	redo If Adam and Eve walked back, spitting apple seeds— renegotiate?
juggle How many balls could an octopus juggle? Bet she’d manage twenty.	trap Trapped in a bookstore. Oh no. I’ll live as long as there are sandwiches.	juggle How many balls could an octopus juggle? Bet she’d handle twenty.
drink Drink to me only with thy words, and I’ll not ask for sobriety	destroy A beach: rocks destroyed, no, transformed, graduated, into sifts of sand	show A waiting in line— a needless smile given— a decency shown
hurt Does a leaf feel pain— browned, furrowed, detaching from its solid old life?	spell A moonlit hovel, fire within—gnarled hands still—voice weaves wonder	let Poseidon stands up, mighty feet on sandy beach, letting water fall
forget Hewn oak’s rings count time, deep down through the centuries, forgetting nothing	clutch Clutching literal pearls to chest, she heard me swear— Grandma, I’m sorry	dare Dare to lift the rock and you will find damp and bugs: family therapy
flee Eyes open, dreams flee— struggles fold, weird stories fade— the humdrum reclaims	risk Earliest tendrils curl out from under stone, risking a refreeze	win Endless bickering— no one wins but the devil— he who laughs at pain
talk Pinecones and grasses, whispering in summer breeze, talk loudest in storms	drum Rain on summer roof— a million droplet fingers drum the night away	multiply Freeway traffic jams— confoundments multiply—a flourish of delays
profess Profess or confess? I’m for multiple fessings— Let’s just all fess up	recruit A prickle of fear— one worry recruits the next— now insomnia	slink A snake slinks—people chew on knowledge and apples— a garden is lost
dive Hours have gone by— halfway through the book—forty foot dive into it	zoom Heron flaps skyward, turns, zooms down—sharp beak spears fish— this is no swan dive	stand Fallen roof, walls stand— yesterday’s captivity a prison relic
forge Hammer’s blow forges steel, makes us stronger, no? Ow ow ow ow ow.	draw A bowstring is drawn An archer’s breath is held still Deer leaps, fast enough	bind Ulysses wrist-bound so he couldn’t crash the boat— no hands-free mode there
stick To stick the landing: practice it a thousand times, but don’t forget to ...	make With a stroke of ink Satan scores a soul—what sly plans the signer makes?	keep Sea’s stony depths keep secrets of one who wandered, squinting from the prow
grasp With "Et tu, Brutē?" Caesar grasped the gravity of his ambition	patch Aging gunslinger works his patch of land. One day, new client rides up.	order Thoughts of doom follow like railcars on the tracks: fear deviates not
scheme Shutting my piehole: that is my cunning scheme to let you think you won	linger Desire lingers at lips’ door, awaiting the moment, if only	train Down in a tunnel under a river, two loves met on the R train
recur That recurring dream— all goes wrong, lost and alone— begone, foul menace!	squall Don’t scoff at the squall— your life might change, on what was a three-hour tour	offset As carbon offset: gaze at clouds and dream of flight, at play in the sky
view Seen from the air— farms and fields, no state lines— checkerboard nation	assist End-of-workday stress— blood simmers down from boiling— sunset breezes help	stare On a ship becalmed, sailor squints at horizon, willing winds to stir
throw Sneezed, threw my back out; let fear win, cowering down, and threw my soul out	combine Combine blue, red, white— swirl, mix—lilac ensues, with luck, unbidden	rotate Wyoming prairie— lone windmill touched by faint breeze— creaks, turns, stops again
arrange A shipwreck. Arranged upon coral: open suitcase, starfish, dawn’s breezes	gamble New York collective noun: "gamble" of jaywalkers— in numbers, safety	practice One woodpecker, one tree— a specialist, a project— a private practice
yell Horns honk, people yell— introvert’s regrets renewed— why did I leave home?	mire Behold the heron: knee-deep in muck and mire, it jumps, flaps, glides free	shuffle CD on shuffle High-tech apotheosis Try that, cassette tape!
rally Through summer’s torpor souls languish, linger, rally, saved by quiet rain	balance The heart of the dead in left pan, feather in right: a god’s scale weighs	rehearse To rehearse the lies one tells oneself, and keep them, can be a life’s work
yawn Chasm yawns, clichéd: but its belch surprises me— then, wow, it whistles!	run These colors don’t run— but they blame, bicker, cavil, despair, wail, wither	engrave Jabberwocky lasts engraved in my mind and heart, a wordsmith’s magic
count A hand holding mine, trust extended—if this counts not, then nothing does	braid Kids home from college, one coming and two going— airplanes braid the sky	burn Can a vampire get a moonburn? No, wait, I’m asking for a friend
send Summer-camp send-off— other years, there were tears—now, she strides, long-legged	sigh Summer deluge ends— gutter’s rain drips on earth—wind leaves with one last sigh	ring Forest mushroom ring encircles faerie portal— humans unwitting
cry Cry echoes in canyon Hawk soars, eyes search left and right A pair bond’s ending	walk On that moral arc— do we bend it as we walk? Or take it easy?	fold Mountain ridges fold west, lighter and lighter blue, fading into mist
soar Eagles soar, but lo, the albatross: lives aloft, thriving in the sky	pinch Pinches on a map— streets zoom to states, continents— one great shared green globe	blink Baby’s first cry sounds a new life—blink, she’s making breakfast on her own
glaze Bad in a lecture, good on pottery: glaze, two kinds of endurance	raft Three turtles, a log, river, sunshine, time—unlashed, yet bound by patience	sprint When they say you’re too fragile—don’t walk, run—a pox on all such houses
lose Sidewalk broken egg Emptied nest at unseen height One less voice in spring	flip River bear—jaws gape over rocks and spray—salmon leaps, flips, between teeth	challenge Just see if you can ask about their day, listen, with no one-upping
dance Moons around planets, planets and suns—galactic pulls of attraction	smile Toddler stands his ground, fights injustice of power— I mask my smile	mix Subway-tunnel halt One hundred lives together No one says a word
pore Dictionary pored in boyhood; grandfather’s joy still dwells in the word	hit Every meteor that never bounced and flew free: a one-hit wonder	rewind Complain all you like— twenty-four forward, one back is still fall progress
sweep Atop mountain peak Bald head swept free of grey gloom Sun, perspective gained	clamp Yadda yadda ya goes the corporate meeting— my lips clamped, mind numb	fly Bluebottle nuisance learns: even a horse’s ass has a flyswatter
read I was so busy reading the room, I forgot to open my mouth	scoff Bird trills splendidly; another flaps hard, takes wing— avian eyeroll	mangle Sincere intent wends its way over tongue, past teeth— mangled—wince ensues
drill, scale Two days down; I lack haiku. Muse and I have used neither drill nor scale.	hack A cabbie coughing, A coder stealing, a bad writer chopping trees	dwell May we dwell on earth til mountains move and canyons carve, etched in history
pursue Pursued by ill dream, first conscious thoughts take slow shape; a self reappears	correct Can our own children correct their elders’ delusions? Reader, let us hope	slip Let slip the dogs of sneering indifference and watch the world burn
fight Fight has no more "ghuh", nor flight nor fright, neither thought— silent, elided	cling Ulysses loosens fingers from his splintered raft, eyeing the far shore	kick Knees, elbows: baby first moves the world by touch before by its words
capture Pawns, rooks leave the board— not so the king—when cornered, hands up, surrenders	stir Hobbits climb uphill— standing in mist between stones— barrow-wight’s bones stir	grip Gripping crucifix, demons to cast, young priest chants— within, pleads all gods
remove Remove the gift horse, O people of Troy—beware crafty Greeks within	propel Our octopus friends, like poets, propel themselves with ink, fleeing fast	maple Much fades in autumn but not the maple: red, forked, brings glory to ground
shimmer Vacationers sleep— a moonlit beach, three a.m., shimmers for itself	recede Sea fingers recede from shore, sand hisses, moon glints— tide builds its return	point The icicle’s tip— sharpest, cruel, yet liquid— pendulous, hopeful
cost That one extra word that burns—what would it cost you, friend, to leave it out?	try Try me, bruh, just try— and see how fast I ... shrug off, defeated and wincing	snub Food in the cat dish, tail on high—legs departing— eyes squinting distaste
water He’s as unwelcome as water on a basement floor, sinuous, dank	poll Poll the leaves which sun is best, then forgive—they’ve grown under just one sky	teach Wisdom flows often from child to parent: this revives all my hopes
oblige Cruel words oblige bitter response: we lift up only with some grace	sculpt Sculptor releases what’s already within stone? No: their skill creates.	gain Cold words land clearly; repeated. Old ardor ends. Heart gains a lightness.
shirk Besides blame, duty— What else can be shirked? Reader, I would shirk it all	get I just don’t get it— I try, and I try—I try— what is "skibidi"?	ruin Bricks loosen and fall Too much questioned and answered Old faith in ruins
ignite One more cruel word— when mood simmers in silence— will blow the lid off	name He said, "My name is Inigo Montoya—you’ve seen this movie, no?"	provide Pessimism provides a low bar for decencies, wanly delighting
intend I did not intend to show you my every wound but now here we are	refrain I would refrain from speaking my mind if I weren’t so strung out with hope	spin Dead or living, all worlds spin on their axes, ticking all the time
grind Pencil down to stub Dregs at coffee cup’s ending Workday defeats me	invite Longing invites grief, who brings regret—soon it’s a self-pity party	roam I waken, return to the prosaic from far and hopeful roamings
note A hint of regret lofted over a shoulder, message of pain left	peck Peter Piper picked more peppers than I, for one, would want to pickle	shower Bringing simple joy, April showers need no May to justify them
grow There’s a light within— greening what can’t live outside— we must keep it safe	nix Daughter of Chaos, mother of Day and Darkness, night goddess, take me	impact Impacted molar, begone! And leave my mouth in gappy harmony
putter Puttering in the attic of the mind—idle— is a day well used	groove Between desk and bed wears a deep groove, a track of loves and labors lost	spry On top of Pike’s Peak— age twelve—"Don’t run!", they said, but boy could I breathe then
numb My leg going numb, and it’s time to stand, but end of chapter, soon	immerse Meteor ends flight immersed in Earth’s atmosphere, briefly afire	rummage As life gets longer, memory’s attic deepens, old joys found within
primp Bald guy, no makeup— to primp is more to look, wince, offer silent hopes	spring Buds reach, fingertips— cycle as old as the sun— forever welcome	blend Some metro rando head down, scrolling, blending in— heart beats pure fire
rave Morning regret roosts— empty bottle on the floor— I rave: "nevermore!"	colour Grey is the colour of my true love’s hair, in the evening, as we fare	render Elections render unto voters what they choose, for good or for ill
catch The catch in my throat? Oh, it’s nothing—all these years— so nice to see you!	mean While the mean measures normalcy, lose not hope in the deviation	jog Jog my memory— you’re the ghost of Christmas past, or Christmas future?
lend Earth has lent us breath and we have lent our labor— fruit ripens, hanging	wave Red wave or blue wave, we once cheered—constitution now my only hope	dig, climb A haiku two-fer— climbing out of hole I dug— no post yesterday
select Eagle soars on high— eyes roam—lake below—sweet trout— downward dive begins	plunge Moon plunges into earth’s bloody shadow—crosses— emerges clean, bright	tailor If a suit should make the man, then greater the praise to him who measures
fix Planets—wanderers— advance, retreat, then advance against the fixed stars	accuse Saturday morning— two cats await on haunches, squinting injustice	shake Like Zeus’s knuckles, the bony dice gods roll to chance with human life
dash Dearest Emily— you are—my hero—in this as in all—the things	glue 1986 we were glued to the TV— dreams falling to earth	return “<Person> is typing: ...” says Slack ... and my gut tightens ... please just hit Return
bathe Ishmael got more than a salt cleanse, Ahab down, whale triumphant	respect Ozymandias, who commanded respect, lost all of that and more	cleave A mighty arm, a thud that lands in butcher block— meat’s on the menu
say What the moon would say to the earth: without you I’d raise no tides, no hopes	precede Ebb precedes flow, yet also follows—sand footprints forever undrawn	hammer Hammer and chisel, heart and knowledge—without both, life’s lath lays uncut
attach Monday, hand in hand, more miles walked down the street, through thin and through thick	mortar Night is to day as mortar to brick—we ascend each morning, grateful	push Push on the Pull door— Midvale School for the Gifted— story of my life
wreck Episode Seven— Star Destroyer in the sand— ozymandian	tear An unsent letter, hopes expressed, ink still damp, falls downward, ripped in half	construct So three ex-cons trucked down the road, and chicken crossed— where was the punch line?
find A box unopened— not one I will throw away— old letters from her	raw So many choices— oysters, data, footage, nerves, old pain, and new pain	lope Blood courses through veins— heart lopes its duty, stopping only once to rest
endorse Three times Caesar put the crown back; thrice Antony held: a wink, a nod	parry Staff meeting; eyebrows; left-handed compliment. Reply: Thank you for sharing	inspire Up the tower stairs— cramped, narrow, winding—roof door— wind in hair, view spreads
class Service staff upstairs to wait on the roomy rich— some things never change	extend A three-day weekend extends delight, delays the inevitable	gauge When the black needle swings past five, six, and seven into the red—then—
discharge What else discharges but duty, and icky things? Asking for a friend.	search Lighthouse beam explores family beach house, at dark night— Ramsays, stay watchful	muse At half past midnight pen skritches on paper— it must be written
arrive The future is here— no automatic progress for us mere mortals	fort Fortified behind a wall of fiber, I hope for digestive health	understand No longer sheltered by parents’ umbrella, she raises her own now
sprawl Years sprawl out ahead, but plans and intentions—oh, they sprawl far wider	brink Lips parted to ask— doubt wafts up from heart to brain— indecision wins	gist Gist, from iacere— I picked up what you put down— at least, most of it
prosper Go forth and prosper he said, counting not from whom taken, nor by whom	group Group me not among my peers, O Lord, but know me as contrarian	location A dislocation Things bent sharply out of joint Twisted, and throbbing
merchant What foul merchant trades money for comfort, and then what foul buyer buys?	trace Brown couch, spilled coffee— buyer’s wisdom revealed— no trace of this klutz	drought Deluge of chaos, drought of empathy—what dark day follows this night
argue Had she called me a better person, I would have argued—silent; done	bounce From such things, now said, one does not simply bounce back— new paradigm born	resolve Of the day’s resolve— dissipated, worn, and dusked— a faint intent remains
peak Peak energy at thirty; eyesight best at ten; wisdom? To be seen.	barter Labor for wages— the weary scribbling, hunched backs— did we sell too cheap?	drone On and on and on and on and on and on and ... still the inner voice
chip Mirror each morning— time chips away, at its pace, carving wisdom lines	boom Existential dread— ever an issue—these days, is a booming business	queen Queen—bishop plus rook— better than being a king, hobbled like a horse
shift Tectonic plates shift just a smidge—homes and souls quake, imbalanced, askew	fee Charon’s obol rate— still one per soul? Inflation? Or is he bankrupt?	outstrip Worries, calm breathing, often in balance—some days, calm is not enough
form In the form of a “growth opportunity”, hard words land with a wince	magnet Magnets and mirrors: proof to my young self, magic exists in the world	intake Saw her in the park— I kept walking on, with a wait to exhale
engage Scrolling: whether to suffer the slings and arrows without engaging	joker Kings, queens, jacks suffered —but the joker—an Americanism	king Kings, queens, jacks abide broadly; the joker is an Americanism
hundred If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a hundred times— don’t exaggerate	liquid Ground brewed coffee beans, dark liquid I pour back in— my soul now restored	unite Workers of the world ... Oh, who am I kidding? Can we ... stay in touch?
remake Were I Jehovah, would I make in my image? No, I’d aim higher	stitch A stitch in time saves ... who am I kidding? Never am so foresightful	jumble A jumble of thoughts— good night, good morning, who am I—having woken
link Like chain mail but less warlike—each life’s lesson links, protecting me	wake Her life was outsized— services over, I spun dazzled by her wake	wake If I die before I wake, hope they find nothing incriminating
develop In my golden years, I should develop more than just a longer beard	react Angular, React— yes, fine, snazzy—just give me good old ES6	compound In grief compounded grows kindness: old teaches young a soft word, a smile
glance Poor Pippin—a glance into the Seeing Stone was one eye too many	race If the race goes to the swiftest, save me, O gods, from love of racing	just It’s just a flesh wound— so said the Black Knight, indeed, and so say we all
frolic Worries frolic like wise sages, portending woe— little liars, they	prepare Lovely dinner out. High point? No. Long walk after, reader: better yet.	feast With full plate: there but for the grace of gods go I— yet, I give no alms
penny Her name was Penny, red Irish Setter, named by kids who grieved her too soon	initiate The initiate smashes garlic, then peels it— proud father smiles	moor Canoe pushes off— workday worries drift away, equally unmoored
give To give is to lose patience, sometimes, for those who live without thanking	shine I took a shine to sarcasm too young—young man’s remorse, old man’s joy	wander Bilbo, noble soul— not all who wander are lost— bigger than the Ring
quiver Ever so eager, Cupid draws another and fires—enough, bub	splurge Not only the rain, but long aftermist—sweet, clean— nature went beyond	meet Sun meets horizon— minutes later, color fills once-bleached skies
puzzle Debugging; my life. Could I but know how different— had I elsewise loved?	impart The office frenzy as always—now snowflakes waft— moment of silence	ski Life’s one-way venture— with any luck, whiz past trees— existential whoosh
freeze A splashy fountain holds brittle, frozen in time— awaiting release	bear Who is that bearded face in the mirror—grizzled, yet more polar now	dress Position papers, market analyses—all just dressed-up jealousies
embroider Rationalizing what I should not say but will— embroidered reasons	clamber Nerves, best intentions— clambering over my tongue, words stumble, inept	shade As one half of earth shades the other—an orange curtain hues the sky
meter Rhyme is charming, yes, if done well; meter, truer, beats like human hearts	posture Don’t google “headaches”— it will scare you. Mom was right: “Sit up straight, young man!”	forum Forest waterfall far from road, from noise, from haste— now let us listen
clerk ldle time riffles through memory like a clerk through stacks of paper	demonstrate “Unmonster this room”— new word like defenestrate— you’re very welcome	wrestle So Jacob wrestled an angel—all I’ve got is Slack battles, all tied
uncover End of dreams and rest— I never yield easily— morning’s first step up	tell Humility warms; condescend, and we are done— that is how I tell	rove Is the human heart nomad or sedentary? Mine, reader, changes.
perform Making a living— corporate America— retirement, can’t wait	obscure Thick of the planet obscures most of the sunlight— Solstice approaches	recognize So few words exchanged— a smile, a nod—strangers—yet kindred spirits known
saunter Anger saunters in; depression slinks, claiming truths self-evident	sink Seeing your smile, my sunken heart floats back up to forgotten heights	break Break my heart, and then I’ll break another’s—stones to gravel, loam, soil
escape Every forest hike— wind through trees, river running— part of me remains	demon Supernatural— who needs it? Good and evil abound in each soul	mortal Leaves fall in autumn Monochromatic grey beard— less hued, more anchored
flock Thoughts cozen up like the flock they think they are—bam!— mindfulness claps hands	ogre Ogres have layers— hail all oniony thriends, non-parfait people	husk Last day of move-out— bare floors, walls—key locks shut on husk of a marriage
mash Middle age is a mashup of hopes abandoned, worries jettisoned	shadow Things we don’t admit— envies, hatreds, wishing harm— only shadows speak	scourge Self-awareness is hope, doubt, humor, longing—and the scourge of regret
decide I was twenty and humbly accepting silence— deicide? freedom?	decorate Like aged ornaments, memories decorate souls— sparkling, or sharp-edged	recoil Just to think of it— cringeful words spoken by me— decades don’t soften
consume Each worry consumes another moment that could have been quiet joy	frown A frown upside down— spin doctors notwithstanding— is headstood sadness	main Childhoods, all but few, extrude souls always wanting, forever wounded
visit Night visitor whispers “You’re not good enough” into my dark dreams	herd Corporate groupspeak Homo sapiens, yes, but— Herd mentality	tutor Neighbor on the bench enjoying the afternoon I have much to learn
avoid My muse is silent— today’s haiku prompt, blank space— who’s avoiding whom?	ooze The stronger the pitch the less I want their hocked wares —sellers ooze distrust	bite Wind—bald, hatless head— October winds, starting small, foretaste winter’s bite
bet Pascal’s wager is lost on all the other gods— one can’t win them all	weld No marriage, no vows— each morning we choose freely— strongest bond of all	chill An October chill— always welcome and timely— moreso this century
scuttle Regrets, worries, pride scuttle the leaking plankwork of my mortal soul	feed Fears feed on those souls who can dare to look within at their own weakness	absorb World changing so fast— it is a daily challenge— even to absorb
portend October waxes— portends haikuists’ scribblings— full moon; an owl hoots	hex I’m 37— a youth, a spring chicken in hexadecimal	pass The hours will pass with my eyes closed or open —I choose awareness
lesson Don’t cheap out, Gramps said, less’n that’ll cost you more over the long term	feather Light as a feather, the good days—and the others, as heavy as lead	study Study: verb or noun? I am happiest doing one in the other
sing Old friend Walt Whitman sings the body electric— mine sputters and sparks	prickle I like a srandwich with prickle and tromato, mrustard and mrayo	lather Meetings, deadlines, Slack have me all in a lather— thank goodness for rain
sail An introduction— no ego, kindness, delight— and hopes set sail	enforce Diet of kindness enforces a regimen of kindness returned	crawl Four-thirty Friday Work week not yet done: email Time slows to a crawl
diet The corporate life a diet of stress and strain paycheck and no more	clasp Putting in edgers. Quick work? No. Just down, old roots. Digging hands clasp time.	gouge A glacial cleft, a gouge in the horizon— young iceberg is free
graze In hindsight, their slights only grazed me—one needn’t be quite so wounded	slither All eyes are on him— they listen with rapt regard— envy slithers in	hear Standing stock-still—now, an hour after parting, hearing what he said
exit When I sit—just sit— for a while, watching the clouds— ego slips away	bait Midge on pond water, free, fearless—alas for fish, there’s a string attached	classify Among other Wednesdays, this one falls in the middle— hump of the bell curve
summer At Labor Day’s end— equinox notwithstanding— summer’s a lame duck	horseback “O Muse, we are lost!” I cried until hoarse, back when I knew we’d fail	landscape Each soul a landscape of feeling: dull plains, bright peaks; crevasses; quicksand
act O Staff Meeting! Thou art Shakespearean in thy cunning treacheries	rip Leave me high and dry— I’m fine. Tell me I don’t try— my heart rips in two	seek Friday feet seek porch and sunset, end of strife, like soft rain weeps downhill
navigate Life, though short, is long No two decades are the same River rapids; rocks	repeat Arise. Black coffee. Slack messages await. Thus the rent is paid.	wear He wears his summer like a brown glory—nineteen months old, triumphant
conjure Sea, sand, family— and work deadlines all on pause— conjure simple peace	monsoon Monsoon is the wind that carries the rain—power of metonymy	sunburn What of Icarus and his nose? feathers, wax, yes— did it tan, or peel?
evict Eve, icked out by snake’s over-eager sales pitch, casts doubt on apple	focus Attention’s spotlight drifts away from Slack, spreadsheets— rain on windowpane	learn Feet and time trace paths on the rug and down the hall —our places learn us
planet Planet: wanderer in Greek, dwelling at home in no constellation	choose Raindrop on tree branch— debating on when to fall? If not now, then when?	leak Today’s roof leak— nature’s probing fingers seek future time’s ruins
roll A lakeside sunset— waves roll forth, then whisper back on into dark night	fuse A well-used candle and its dish, cold and solid— fused in work well done	journal Journal cover is a coffee-ring palimpsest— layered thoughts within
plummet As lemmings to cliffs, we charge ahead, cluelessly, until the plummet	spread Western setting sun spreads orchid, rose, and amber wide to eastern sky	smolder Old hurts still smolder, flaring into flame at the breath of fresh contempt
vessel Pottery shards in dark earth—a vessel of hopes old, maybe broken	lazy Be not fooled—lazy river carries along a continent of silt	rile Stones in the river— seaward flow disrupted— riled, then smoothed out
lawless Birds at the cat dish— no remorse, no recompense— feline law withheld	tackle With block and tackle, heavy loads are lifted by weak hands—and much rope	moment “I am not sleepy!” In times of such great moment, child’s power stands tall
lug To carry regrets is human; to let them go is a gift to self	lecture Etymology of lecture is just reading— more peaceful that way	wise Following Socrates, I’m wisest when admitting, at last, I know squat
pollen Panspermia is pollination, but on a galactic scale	wine In the wine-dark sea, raft smashed, Ulysses was free— “I’ll swim for it”	monarch Death mask made of gold— Gaze on glory, ye who see!— tourists in flip-flops
tarry On late autumn porch, sun now sets earlier—dusk— time enough	commit Sins tabulated: envy, pride, sloth, crankiness— we forgive ourselves	rebuild Decades in I know not all is best the first time— we rebuild, better
lease Life itself—to lease, not own—borrow and return, parents to children	reuse Read old books with eyes open—re-use old lessons, make your own new ones	observe Sparrow overhead— silent, head tilted—watching my every errand
subtract Joy is added to by random acts of kindness— petty spites subtract	machine Show me a machine that makes me happier—then I’ll buy it, else no	mature Middle-school humor, fifty-year-old humor have surprising overlap
layer Sudden rages burst— Why? Acquiescence thinly layered on old pain	manage How did Mom manage job, Dad, us two kids fighting? Too late to ask her	leap “Pleased to meet you”, smile, and turn—no great leap to guess: no love is lost there
collect In my sixth decade— regrets, joys, hopes collected— interests compounded	sleep To sleep, perchance to wake not icked out by spawn of my subconscious mind	jump You cough behind me— so hilariously, I jump out of my skin
paint While I’m awaiting “Your call’s important to us!”, paint on wall peels	squash Microaggressions ruin life’s joys, bleed soul dry, squash optimism	compose The way she kissed me, poetry composed itself— oh so long ago
hold Snared between bear’s teeth— salmon flips and away—scarred, freedom is better	knit Rain tapping on roof; heartbeats gathered together underneath, close knit	glitch Noble bird spies cave— warm, inviting, food within— one glitch—window pane
glide Goose, wings wide, gliding low over river water— I would trade places	seethe At age seventeen I could not wait to get out— incessant seething	quench Plunged hissing, steaming, into cold water—red-hot iron now cold, cruel
acquire Post-breakup move-out: not happy, yet occasion to lighten the soul	nudge With a nudge of oar one is afloat on water, unmoored from worry	canoe Full moon glints jumbled on inky river ripples— paddle pulls homeward
volunteer She planted daisies every year, my grandma, then —behold—hydrangea	buy Every time you say I’m just over-sensitive I’m not buying it	gallop Waiting quietly, showing no worry—inside, a galloping heart
stall Unsavory task is ready for me to work on it ... excuses ...	evade But how was your day? I hasten to add, hoping you’ll follow the slip	conclude Office workday ends Drink on porch with beloved The sun sets; meaning
knot In knots, I say what I fear leaving unsaid—I hang on your reply	whole Four billion years old— bruised, pockmarked, pummeled, cratered— still a whole moon	sauce Silent resentments, simmering hot and red like a sauce, bubbling
solid Eons of waves make sand into stone—still solid, yet differently so	stay It is cold outside— no hurrying meteors— let’s wait a bit more	connect Stuck for long delay side by side on the metro— someone cracks a joke
twist The oldest of trees rises not straight and easy but twisted, like pain	divide Rocky Mountain drop of rain lands on summit and teeters, east, or west ...	plant Asphalt sidewalk, once during civilization’s peak—now broken, green
curl Ancient paint curls and flakes, which once lay flat—in motion we don’t see	begin Seven years estranged— eyes sideways, hesitating— mouth opens to speak	relish Workplace victory is yours—are you happy now, relishing your ruse?
mother This day, at my age, no need for card or phone call: smile, remember her	cast Late-night cringy thoughts— those I’ve ever mistreated— a cast of thousands	eat The center can hold— spider cafeteria— a web of flies
fence A look of distaste— your face falls as I walk up— never mind, I’ll go	zigzag Life goals from day one? No, I’d say I’m getting there caroming like a pinball	lounge Atop arm of couch, domesticated killer flicks tail and squints
garden Stranger on metro, silent—what hopes dwell within? A garden of their own	swim Under the kayak swim fish unseen—tending to errands of their own	sew Mom reading aloud to us when young—forever sewn in memory
move Lying still as mud, in my chest a tap of pulse— never motionless	carve One patient river and millions of years—just wait— made the canyon grand	scrub I love spring leaves—but— car bedazzled with pollen— it needs a good scrub
abuse What went wrong? To start, “you’re just imagining things” did us no favors	recycle Out in the forest— no leaf rake, scooping, or bags— a thick palimpsest	reform Chastised, we regret while planning next steps—to wit: don’t get caught next time
shoot Meteor’s demise— billion years, silent orbits— seconds of bright flame	nap The job pays the bills and I do need to eat—but oh, to nap sometimes ...	value White snow—no nuts seen— but our squirrel friend knows where each one is
turn Beard greys as leaves turn— mind toward knowledge ever yearns— old passions still burn	punish Many will shame you for wanting their honesty— parents, or partners	embrace Catch-all cooking tip: when in doubt, add more garlic— embrace the moment
discover Blank sky, calm water— then, with goggles, dive below— intricate marvels	mask Microaggressions leave me not angry enough to fight—just despair	enlist After the big scene— truly asking, please tell me— was I the jerk there?
unwind Modern-day irony: getting up to exercise— best way to unwind	flick The cat is now “fed”, inasmuch as there’s a dish of food—tail flick—bye	eclipse My heart has broken so many times—yet with you all else pales behind
suspect Weekly staff meeting— one person is defensive— another sits smug	permit Saturday morning— no to-do list, no guilts tripped— consciousness can wait	pay One more drink can’t hurt—? Except at my age, oh yes, by morning it will
ghost Fifty years they had— good ones, both said—reminders of the possible	discount Discounting the risks, our friend chicken crossed the road for reasons untold	rest Turtle on day off, northbound geese coasting mid-flight— rest is relative
prank (April 1 2024) There once was a poet named Anne who cooked up an internet plan to inspire haiku in the hearts of all you but Fools’ Day is now here at hand	elope Paper and scissors have finally worked it out— poor rock, all alone	lie On riverbed floor lies a stone cast in anger eight hundred years ago
scam Palaces and yachts; hovels, starvation; all on an abundant earth	dream As cats chase mouse toys, humans chase dream homes, cars, wealth— ever compulsion	rinse After desert rain, once-dusty streets now glisten momentarily
drive High up and southward geese beat their wings, veeing heads- first into cold rain	lift Spring pollen arrives— much aloft—and to my nose— another tissue	embark Drop of melting ice quivers on hillside tree branch: ocean, here I come
guess Wondering if this will go well—already your jaw sets—I guess not	want For want of a nail the shoe was lost—alas, poor tilty three-shoed horse	have Of all the moments that ever were, only one, only now, is ours
nod Flowers nod in breeze —cliché, I know—sorry, folks— a long day at work	wash Arroyo, wadi, wash: shaped like a river, but dry almost always	sacrifice Green leaves without rain All droop; seven green, three brown How are they chosen?
drizzle Drizzle all morning No punctuation—and then a crack of thunder	soak Five days of rain now and still counting—rivulets wending riverward	snag Just one more thing, sir— before you board the airplane— have you your passport?
tidal Locked eternally facing Earth’s aches—does the moon wish for innocence?	drift Sit, said Master Thay, like a pebble drifting down to rest in water	tumble Twisting river, roar approaching, fall of water, down to stones below
hike We climbed that mountain Above the clouds, fog all around— a different heaven	accident It was a third date— Mom and Dad had barely met— and now here I am	lullaby Gentle roof murmurs Open-window petrichor Night rain soothes the soul
bend Breeze bends through curtains as light as memory, heavy as wistful regret	vacant Uncircled peace signs end abruptly in mid-beach— shorebird flew away	river Long runs and rushes— the ancient seaward river folds, turns, flows through time
fickle The weather, and cats— what else is fickle? My own creativity	cake Baby elephant caked with mud, small and forlorn— Mom’s nasal shower	meditate Still air, pond, hot sun Dragonfly alights on stem— waits, and longer waits
assemble Sidewalk scattering— O Pigeon Optimism!— there aren’t enough seeds	pick Seagull drops a clam to the stony shore below— dines on the halfshell	cut Orchard branches pruned— in with good, out with bad—but who wields the knife?
need Becalmed in mid-sea, three side-eyeing sailors wait for a hint of breeze	weave Final breath—she let loose strands of life she had so carefully woven	question Grey clouds hang shaggy Like sheep’s untended belly wool Hints of maybe rain
design Brand-new spider web Bead of water glints in sun No insects fooled yet	paddle Mallard pair: brown, green On water, silence—before and after rainfall	see Always five stars: six, one night—what solar system’s birth or death unfolds?
exclude Old man and the sea spoiler alert: fish get caught, no white whale, no sale	request Mrs. Dalloway plot summary: rejection comes back to party	debate Treeful of swallows; another dawn; cacophony ensues, and then flight
describe Bare, waving branches describe hopes for the future upon a grey sky	elicit Two tentative buds feeling sun, loosening bonds, risking a late frost	include I water my plants almost as much as I should green leaves, one yellow
clean Dishwasher is full and run. My conscience is clean. And who needs cupboards.	vibrate Aspen leaves in fall A million quivering glints Hillside ashimmer	fire Cold ash: job well done Unburnt wood lumps: you refused to help out last night
subdue People are coming and going, all the day long Cat squints; tail twitch	play Hot day in summer People seek shade and water Petals sway in breeze	condemn Century-old home Now grey and splintered timbers Sunlight peeks between
reply Deep cavern, darkness Water, no sun, no algae One plink, one echo	sketch Horizontal sunset Green tree, black shadow on wall Two trees side by side	code Bird chatter fills trees One certain distant trill—one wide-eyed bird aroused
stab Cringing to think of an ineptitude of mine thirty years ago	protest Two cat dishes placed One whiskered head bows to eat One raised tail departs	cook Desert sun’s hammer blows left me reeling, out of state seeking shade eastward
negotiate Past root, bole, and fen, the many-voiced river wends murmuring seaward	confused Eyes closed in the woods Leaf, bird, bug, deer, snake, mouse sounds A confusion of lives	retreat Mouse tiptoes outward Owl flies low; moon silhouette A hungry retreat
create Winter’s first snowfall Asphalt creations shrouded Silence surrounding	spend Snowcloud burdens spent, silent fields lie sparkling crisp under starlight	allow Noonday sun allows the night storm’s icicles one brief pendulous drop
add Snowflakes add, glacier ancient and ever higher until the world changes	collapse Melting icicle sparkles, drips, not yet fallen— sword of Damocles	allocate Beet, pea, cabbage seeds, hidden all in their rows, sleep under winter soil
imply Cold and rainy still Trees yet twigged and skeletal Squint to see bud tips	forgive Rat-a-tat-a-tat Door slams; woodpecker pauses Rat-a-tat-a-tat	accept Leaves curled, they need water—gratefully they yield joyful petrichor
laugh Little icy brook tumbles laughing over old dead fallen branches	insist Green tendrils wending, like fingers prying barred doors, up through crumbling brick	remember Grandfather’s keys, coins, knife, life gone—leaving only scratches on old desk
whisper Late, silent attic Leafing idly through yearbooks Memories whisper	educate Mom and Dad fighting He won, she lost; he smiled smug Decades she waited	model Airplane window seat— all simple below—one of my favorite places

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