Dancing

dancing on surface

sun rays play tag with the fish

light shimmers across

KJ

Light creates illusions. Sitting at the edge of a lake the images across the water changed so quickly. I find it peculiar how nature will spotlight events, and the perspective changes so quickly with one subtle movement of the sun's rays. In our daily lives, what our eyes focus upon is where we tend to exert our energy. Closing my eyes --- I wonder sometimes if that is when I see what is truth and how I know what is the illusion.

Watchful

brown racing stripes

watchful scouting stillness

perched upon a stump

KJ

How many of us are watchful? What do we zoom our watchfulness upon? My mentor once shared the idea of a bulls eye target and organizing our desk with the things we use most often close to us. She also shared the idea with me of identifying the different layers of people in our lives, those we are closest to to those just out there in the Universe. So, I ask myself, what part of the circle in my life am I being watchful at this moment? This haiku is again from my trip in the forest as I observed the behavior of chipmunks.

Journey

partners on a search

the forest hillside knows them--

chipmunks separate

KJ

My brief few days in the National Forest in Oregon I wrote a series of haiku. My understanding is that one of the elements of haiku is the contrast of a natural situation. So, a pair of chipmunks start out together foraging and take their own path to then return to their burrow. This event brought to mind the relationships we have with people. I was taught that in a good marriage relationship the two people became one in all things. I am older and wiser now. We are more like the chipmunks.

Learning

a warm full day,

learning from this rock

to do nothing

Paul O. Williams

Everything naturally created has a purpose. Naturally created objects always have a message for me when I choose to listen. This what I've learned. Even the desert has messages after living here 20+ years.

Yellow Grass

scattered yellow grass ---

the air bends you so gently

delicate balance

KJ

I find it difficult to manage the delicate balance of my body. I think about the fall equinox and how the earth is held in our solar system on a constant tilt. I am in awe of the Universe's power of balance, I am then led to think of humanity's "free will" and how we so easily become unbalanced even with all the science and depth of understanding of the human psyche. 

Reflecting

the spirit, the truth

of silent prayer ---

just the moon on the road

Kikusha-Ni

The quiet evening is an acknowledged time for reflection. The moon reflects the sun's light as we reflect upon the day's events. The seeker takes this moment to listen for the truths learned that day. The spirit patiently waits for us to understand its messages.

Irish Proverb

A note today on the Fall Equinox...

Autumn days come quickly, like the running of a hound on the moor.

Petals

petals on the grass ---
you reach for the sun's light rays
only to fall back
KJ

Children are like petals on the grass. They slowly peek out at the world. They find the energy of the Universe and are fascinated. Like the stem and leaves, they grow and develop. A flower emerges. Then, the sunlight disappears. Sometimes the wind blows. They fall back for awhile and regain some strength. The stronger ones find within themselves the desire to again reach for the sun's light rays.

Wind

the wind

forced to blow

on concrete, steel, and glass

Jack Cain

Wind has a lot of freedom where I live. The northern pressure system from the Arctic and the air system just above the equator both enjoy traveling across northern Nevada mountains and valleys. Many times they love to converge along my latitudinal region. The force funnels through an opening towards the open Bonneville Salt Flats. My community rests on the edge of the mountain base with mountains running north/south on the west side of town and then east/west on the north side of town. I don't particularly care for the strong winds of winter but neither do I care for the stagnant air of summer. Of course, I like the perfect smooth air movement, the ideal of life's gentle changes.

Tall buildings here are minimal. The wind shaking the house's foundation and lifting off roof tiles is common.   When the wind has a destination, only the mountains have the power to hold their place. Yet, you can see the impact of the wind against the rock after a span of time. So, what does that tell us about the natural world? Even strong composites of life are forced to change from the invisible energy force.

The Rules

brave little chipmunk

feasting on the human's crumbs

breaking all the rules

KJ

We all break the rules sometimes. I believe breaking the rules set by others is a way we learn how to grow. We also break our own rules when needed. Have you ever watched children create a game and after a few minutes change their own rules so that the game works in their favor? We do this as adults also, we are just more subtle about it. We change the rules in relationships, in government, and how we manage our daily life. This is a necessary survival skill, I think. If we are not flexible, well...life becomes even more challenging.

Yack Yack Yack

yack yack yack yack yack

broken quiet in forest

solitude in trees

KJ

Have you ever noticed how sound can influence your mood? When I awake before the rest of the household I enjoy the quiet, though not as much as sitting in a deciduous forest without people talking. The house creates its own sounds of modern life. Then, when even one person is up and making noise the day has changed.  After experiencing a ruptured eardrum a few ago, I became much more attuned to the noises about me. Since that unexpected eardrum rupture, recordings designed for meditation became a necessary tool for relaxation. I continue to use them to focus my energy when writing.

Unafraid

hiding under the table

gathering food unafraid

looking straight at me

KJ

The chipmunk entertained me for an hour. I sat and watched it complete its daily chores of gathering food. It then raced back to its burrow and a few minutes later searched for more. Clearly it was cautious but not completely afraid of my presence. It tended to stay further away, however, when my family members returned to camp. I thought how similar this animal's behavior is to the behavior of some people I have met.

Irish Blessing 4

May God give you...

For every storm, a rainbow,

For every tear, a smile,

for every care, a promise,

And a blessing in each trial.

For every problem life sends,

A faithful friend to share,

For every sigh, a sweet song,

And an answer for each prayer.

The Stick

a stick goes over the falls at sunset

Cor Van Den Heuvel

This poem is not formatted like the other haiku I've posted. Different ideas of the modern haiku are being discussed in poetry societies, I've learned.

I like this one because I immediately recall throwing twigs, leaves, and other natural objects into the streams. When I w was a child I was always drawn to the water when camping. Even now I love to stop at the pull-outs along the Idaho rivier highways and simply watch the water rushing along its path.

Perspective

subtle movement of

air across the water plane ---

life lives underneath

KJ

While sitting at the lake's edge I watched my family enjoy the cool mountain lake.  My position gave me a different perspective than what my children observed from their non-motorized boat. They jumped into the water sending ripples. Fifty yards from their location I notice differences in the water's movement. I find this experience as an example of how we can spotlight specific areas of life and miss what is happening somewhere else so close to us.

Big Fly

buzzing overhead

Why are you hovering me?

annoying big fly

KJ

It is summer. Flies are simply annoying. We wonder why they are part of the natural world. I recognize, though, that there must be some purpose. Events in life can be like a fly. And, unfortunately, sometimes I can recall a person who at particular moments I could label as a fly in my world. So, the real question is, how does one respond to the annoying big fly?

Charred Fields

across the fields of stubble

flame stalks flame

David Cobb

I have seen the farmer's deliberate field burning. I can also recall May 18, 1980, when the beautiful blue sky of a Sunday morning turned suddenly a new shade of gray. Ash from Mt. Saint Helens fell from the sky and I was amazed at the power of nature, probably really felt it for the first time, as the mountain was 400 miles from my existing location.

I don't claim to fall into the "wise old woman" category but my observations of life so far --- this haiku says a lot. After a field has given all it is capable, a burning season is needed so that things can grow again. In life, the flames usually don't feel too great. Sometimes, just when we think the flames are finished, more arises. I remind myself, though, of the before and after images of the contemporary volcano. Once charred, it now now flourishes with growth.

Dragonfly

dragonfly I see

now feasting on mosquitoes

tiny blue buzzing

KJ

Dragonflies can be annoying and I still like them. Something about them makes me wonder, if insects have an emotional element, would they say they like their role in nature? Dragonflies bring a balance to nature, I think.

Lotus

a white lotus ---

the monk decides to cut it!

Buson Yosa

As I explore the work of early haiku writers, I learn more about the Asian belief systems. For example, the lotus is a Buddhist symbol. The flower exemplifies purity and is found in muddy water. A key aspect of the Buddhist belief is the Enlightenment and the white lotus symbolizes this process.

Ancient Pond

ancient pond ---

frog jumps in

sound of the water

Basho Matsuo

Frequently I have come upon this haiku as a known example by Basho. Something about the essential life source of water connects to readers. We have hopefully all heard the sound water makes when something like a frog jumps in. I think a key word here is actually "ancient." We so easily forget in our more developed, modern environment that water and other other essential elements existed before human life.

Spirit

spirit carries you

through the thinly grown grasses

orange wings flutter

KJ

Again, I love the symbolism of the butterfly. The delicate and intricate details the Creator gave this creature is alluring to me. I think the words penned speak for themselves for this one.

The Doe

unaware of sleep ---

evening crackling twigs

doe explores the meadow

KJ

My family went camping and I have difficulty sleeping on the ground due to health issues. Our first night I discovered that my air mattress could not hold the air. So, sitting up I contemplated my options. I hear something outside the tent.  Then there is clarity of hooves. As the sound travels around the tent, I gaze out the open window and see a doe moving through the space we currently occupied. 

Frederick

quiet Frederick

others work, scurry, and fret ---

I know your spirit

KJ

A favorite children's story, Frederick by Leo Lionni, is about a mouse who is not like the others in his family. His family members have difficulty truly understanding his uniqueness and role. Eventually, they do have an opportunity to accept his contributions and identify him as a poet.

A Time for Everything

White plum blossoms

return to the withered trees ---

moonlit night

Buson

The progression of seasons in nature are necessary illustrations of relationships. What I mean is, is that the concrete changes show cause and effect. People also change and we frequently use the phrases like "during this season of my life." Ecclesiastes 3 (Old Testament of Judaic Christian Bible) expresses that there is a time for everything. So, there is a time for the tree to wither so that there can be a time for blossoms to return. A rhythm exists. An understanding of cause and effect is expressed. Human relationships are like this. Human relationships are challenged to be like this plum tree --- to find energy to produce goodness after difficult events and changes in the environment. This goodness, though, may be difficult to see.

Yellow Butterfly

the solo artist

wisping in the distant trees

yellow butterfly

KJ

I have always been fascinated by butterflies. My daughter's name is Vanessa, which in a name wordsmith references Vanessa to mean butterfly. A complex idea of the metamorphosis is so beautifully expressed through this creation.  

Irish Blessing 2

May you always walk in sunshine.

May you never want for more.

May Irish angels rest their wings

right beside your door.

Tangible Sweetness

not seeing

the room is white

until that red apple

Anita Virgil

I believe contrast is needed sometimes to gain clarity. The white scene brings to my mind the message of purity. However, the red apple is what brings the sweetness of the purity. The tangible apple experience complements the scene as we need a sensual experience in our brain to connect the abstract ideas.

Winter Light

Full winter moon:

the icicle

the icicle's shadow

Geraldine Clinton Little

The light of the moon on a cold dark night --- sometimes life is like that. It is quiet outside and the moon is a light source but only because it reflects the source of the sun, it doesn't give the heat. This is actually a fascinating science concept.

So I'm wondering, can the moon guide down the right path or is it's purpose to push us into a deeper understanding of discrimination? Maybe it is in the moonlight that we are asked to see the darkness for what it is. Maybe the moon is to remind us of the light during the patterns of life.

Thin Layer

moonlight ---

through thin clothes

to naked skin

Hisajo Sugita

This haiku communicates a sensual experience. When light is given opportunity, the perspective of what is, is revealed. An artist learns that the angle of light influences the perspective of the image. I imagine the author laying out in a field and feeling the moon as it travels its arc above her.

Our clothing is just a thin layer of protection. We project who we are, what we want to be, how we see ourselves sometimes. Underneath though, we are vulnerable humans, more alike than different and yet, still unique. I wonder what additional thoughts passed through the author when she experienced the moonlight and then penned these words. I wonder what thoughts would pass through me if I allowed the moonlight to reveal my image.

Prairie or Desert?

bright sun

the seen of tall grass

when it bends

Jim Kacian

I can see this image on the prairie. A sense of respect exists between even the elements of nature. In the desert I live, few grasses or other plants exist that can bend when the wind blows and the sun rays fall. Plants generally grip the hard desert pavement and stand stiffly. Or, it has such minimal root structure that it becomes the blowing tumble weed. What a contrast between the resources and responses of the elements in the prairie and the desert.

I see the symbolism in these two environments. I have experienced both the social human community of the prairie and the desert. I feel as though human behavior, the relationships and responses to events, are very similar to that of the plants of the environment in which they live. On the prairie I have observed the farmer and his rhythm and response to the seasons while cultivating the land. In the desert people make a distinct decision of how to survive the different conditions and many times the limited resources.

Which environment do you prefer to exist?

Punctuation?

shaking

the packet of seeds

asking, are you still alive?

Kiyoko Tokutomi

The way this haiku is punctuated, a person is asking the seeds a question. What if ---

shaking,

the packet of seeds asking --

are you still alive?

How does this shift your emotional response to the words?

Letting Go

i catch

the maple leaf      then let

it go

John Wills

Letting go of an idea, object, or relationship is not an easy process for many people. I  wonder if this is partly due in my case to the teachings of Christianity. The words of Christ do speak of this process. However, I feel as if the Christian church has either misinterpreted or intentionally manipulated those words. For example, in the patriarchal social structure of the Hebrews, this idea of "letting go" to be man and wife gave the power of the relationship to the male in the relationship. The women, in many relationships, is eventually devalued as a result. I have difficulty believing that this was the message of Christ.

I believe another result of the teachings is the difficulty in the grieving process. There is a lack of something, maybe it is understanding, ritual, or space, that prevents people from "letting go" with a sense of peace. I like the way this author illustrates this as a peaceful process.

Irish Blessing 3

You'll never plough a field by turning it over in your mind.

Criteria

summer grasses --

the wheels of a locomotive

come up to a stop

Seishi Yamaguchi

I believe that a reference to nature is key to the criteria of a haiku. Modern creations can be included but they are used to illustrate a contrast, another element of haiku. If the poem does not have a natural reference, I see it simply as a free verse poem.

Turning the Spade

when the spade turns

the soil in our garden --

how different

Ion Codrescu

I do not consider myself a successful flower, fruit, or vegetable gardener. During my college years I enjoyed assisting with a small garden that had an established fertile soil. I loved the fresh tomatoes, zucchini, and green beans we grew. Later I moved to a poor soil for gardening -- the northern Nevada desert adjacent to the Bonneville Salt flats. Here, I don't enjoy gardening. The results from the effort -- the financial cost, the taste of the product -- just doesn't seem worth it.  I do prefer organic products and maybe some day I'll again turn the spade with my own hand when I am not living in a desert.

Relationships

he says a word

I say a word:

autumn deepens

Kyoshi Takahama

When I read this I think --- human relationships. As the result of a spoken word the path of a relationship moves forward. Even if the word causes us to pause, we are then required to make a decision. A parent knows when a toddler learns the meaning of the word "No." The child pauses and then decides upon a course of action. This sets a path for the relationship at that moment. What words have been pivotal for you? Think of one person, one situation, one clear shift in a relationship. What word was spoken that caused you to pause and then choose your path?

Tree Trunk

stiff tree trunk

along an ocean shore

eventually breaks

KJ

Have you ever noticed which trees survive in different environments? Some trees are intended to be massive in trunk and others are not. Some trees sway their multiple limbs like a woman bends over and tickles her infant with her long thick strands of hair. I am constantly amazed by the lessons nature has to show me.

Neutral

neutral

static energy hovers

against change

kj

Asking the Universe to keep things the same is an act of resistance. Resistance requires energy, in some ways, this requires more energy than moving forward. The ideal is finding the natural flow, as in the natural flow of a river. Holding still, in almost any body of water, requires effort. The question is, which state do I want to be in at this moment?

Happy Child

shown a flower

the small baby

opens its mouth

Seifu-Ni

When I read this haiku I think -- contentment. A child who has their basic needs met and has connected in a relationship with a caregiver responds to the simplest things in life with a sense of awe. When I am with a child in this state of contentment I can more easily set my own worries aside and am able to join that state of mind. The child is reminding me what contentment can be.

Do you see this flower?

Smell this flower?

Feel this flower?

Hear this flower?

Know the the joy this flower brings?

I am sharing it with you, without judgment, without asking for anything in return.

I found I love the role as Aunt Kelly. I am not ready to be grandma, but love sharing my time with my nieces and nephews. 

Irish Blessing 1

If God sends you down a stony path, 

May he give you strong shoes.

A Thought

The spirit is the abstract joining humanity with nature. KJ

Many times we think we know what and where we are to be. Then, nature presents itself in a surprising way and we are pushed to go another direction. That push is not always a sudden event, it can be a slow nudging of the spirit that is difficult to identify.  

The Riot

after the riot --

such a perfect

moonlit night

Hekigodo Kawahigashi

This writing simply reminds us that conflict is part of the natural cycle of life. We strive for the contentment of the perfect moonlit night. And yet, we cannot feel the moon until we experience the riot. It is like the riot is necessary for us to appreciate the perfect.

On the Patio

on the patio

the afternoon drifts along

with the butterfly

Patricia J. Machmiller

I live in a conundrum. I want to drift like the butterfly and at the same time feel a need to accomplish something. I am trained to "do" and not "be." Yet, it is when I am simply being that I am most authentic. And when I am most authentic I can do what I am intended to do. 

Humor

the warbler poops

on the slender

plum branch

Onitsura Uejima

This is an example of the humor that may be found in Haiku. We all experience something this haiku expresses. I also think about popular phrases of the modern use of language to express events in life like “shit happens.” I personally think that the poet’s choice of words is a more creative visual.

Healthy Release

letting go

of a slanderous heart --

while shelling the beans

Hosai Ozaki

Expressing emotions is natural. Unfortunately, as one becomes a member of a culture one learns which emotions are acceptable, which are not, the way one in which one is expected to experience it, and just how much that community of people with tolerate the release of that emotion. When an individual acts differently with their emotions than the tribe well, I think I'll let you the reader recall your own observations.

Suppression of emotions can become a primary coping mechanism. The problem with this is that a point comes after the suppression for an extended period time when the emotion eventually surfaces in a contorted way. Then that response and situation is frequently misunderstood.

So culture has created its own emotional dilemma and the phrase, "I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't," comes to my mind. I wonder if the poet is reminding us the value of allowing the emotion to exist in its natural state and then it is a healthier release. 

Herbs Green

picked

by an old woman’s hand

herbs green and glowing

Soen Nakagawa

I thought of a friend when I read this. We are now older, seeing life differently than during our youth, and she understands the herb garden with a clarity I am still learning. I avoided getting my hands in the dirt for a long time. She explored different herb gardens.  I am figuring out what I want mine to be like during this season of life. Eventually we all have to get our hands in the dirt. The plant is only as strong as the soil.

Perspectives

holding the water,

held by it --

the dark mud

William J Higginson

I have not been mentored in the craft of poetry. I do enjoy relating the words of others to my own experiences. The above haiku is poignant to some recent events. There is also an American culture phrase, "Until you've walked in those shoes, you can't know." Well, that may be true and at the same time I like this haiku on perspectives.

Recently I was in a boating incident. The skilled driver of the river boat was in essence "holding the water." He was managing his boat with control. And then for an instant nature informed him and me and the other passengers that we were "held by it." We were all tossed by the power of water and the result was some physical discomfort. One could say, "we experienced the dark mud." In the poem however, I haven't decided if the purpose of the words "the dark mud" is to represent the experiences in life or simply the object in the water. I do believe our perspectives of boating on the river changed. And, all of us also have different perspectives because of our different experiences. 

This haiku also reminds me of an event that has occurred in more than one of my friends' lives. The past experiences of my friends and me have some commonalities and differences. That is a given. We are traveling the same river, just in a different boat. I can feel the same "dark mud" even though I am in a different place nearby along the river. My reference to the "dark mud" refers to the things that can occur in relationships. The mud is necessary, part of nature, can act like a bonding agent, and has unique properties. Sometimes mud is a healing agent, sometimes it causes us to get stuck, sometimes it feels good, and unfortunately it can also be painful.

While on my boat trip another boat was actually observing ours with a video camera. They felt the water throw us because they were nearby. They likely had a similar experience or could relate to the situation because they had similar challenges and choices. I know this from the observers' expressions when they offered their help in the aftermath.  

I cannot walk in someone else's shoes. I can still feel the mud trodden through. My natural response is to attempt to understand the different perspectives of that mud.

Violets

violets here and there

in the ruins

of my burnt house

Shokyu-ni

Have you ever seen the violets on a stressful day? Has a friend given you flowers simply because they care? On the last day of school a friend gave me a Gemstone orchid, dyed a fantastic blue. I am looking at it as I write this today. The gift symbolizes more than the giver recognizes. I was on a path that I believed was the right path. Then the Universe suddenly told me otherwise. On the day I received the gift, I felt the words of the haiku.

Cart or Heart?

a heavy cart

rumbles by

peonies tremble

Buson Yosa

‘Cart.’ ‘Heart.’ My first read was: a heavy heart rumbles by peonies tremble. Hmmm…I wonder if the author felt a heavy heart while putting these words on the page. 

Sequence of Thought

this spring in my hut

there is nothing

there is everything

Sudo Yamaguchi

I wonder if the thoughts change if the reader first encounters this haiku with the 2^nd and 3^rd lines reversed.

this spring in my hut

there is everything

there is nothing

In the original writing one sees a sparsely filled dwelling and the author is saying, this is how it should be. By having little in material things, one also has the ability to know what is vital to living. When the sequence of lines is changed, is the same message given? I haven’t decided.

Authenticity

“Be honest to yourself; and write what is there.” Teijo Nakamura, Japanese woman haiku master

This statement is a writer’s tenet. This is how I need to live. On the page I am authentic. I am more real on the page with words than I am in the classroom. Those who observe me in the classroom identify that teaching is my gifting. And yet, writing is where the honesty is known. So, here I am, in a state of life transition. And on this page I am honest to myself. I write what is here.

I love poetry, especially haikus. I am exploring haikus for many reasons. One aspect of haikus that I am drawn to is the juxtaposition. Haikus are known for their resonance with nature. Well written they also reflect the beliefs of the Asian cultures.

Following are chosen haikus that others have written with my observations penned. Also, at times an expression may appear with the authoring initials KJ. I am not a master by any means, though I enjoy being the instrument for putting the words on the page.

Enjoy,

KJ Eveleth