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# / Author
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1 [747]
Substitute
2006-08-11
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wading pool...
underpants double as
swim trunks
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Link with 1110 (last): Lake / Pool
One day in July, 2006 we took a walk down by the Alberta Legislative grounds. There is a large shallow pool there that kids like to go wading in on hot days. Growing up I recall occasions when other kids didn't have their bathing suits and they would use their undershorts as a substitute. |
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2 [748]
Unexpected Guest
2006-08-12
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picnic table —
a hornet buzzes around,
settles on my pie
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Link with 747: Park.
I awoke one night and recalled summer memories of picnics and camping and the menace of these winged kamikazes. |
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3 [749]
David & Goliath
2006-08-13
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a robin on the road
stops a pickup truck —
tiny bug
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Link with 748: Insect.
Every Summer there are lots of robins in our neighbourhood. For some reason they like to hop around on the road. Many times I've had to slow down and in some cases even stop to avoid running them over. I imagined a large truck being stopped by a little robin...and the robin being stopped by a tiny bug.
This experience later reminded me of the following Issa Haiku:
the noble gets off his horse
and who makes him dismount?
the cherry-blossoms do
...which inspired my #509:
the star's limo stops...
what makes him get out?
the call of nature |
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4 [750]
Preoccupation
2006-08-14
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bread crumbs —
a pigeon hops around,
head bobbing
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Link with 749: Bird (Robin / Pigeon).
This is a common downtown winter image but a few weeks ago, in the middle of summer, I came across this scene. |
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5 [751]
Break Time
2006-08-15
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office front —
workers gather to smoke
and use their cells
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Link with 750: Consuming
Here in Edmonton it is smoke-free in all inside public areas. It is difficult to walk outside most days and not be downwind of a cloud of cigarette smoke. The other day I was impressed by the high number of smokers congregating in front of various buildings and office towers...and the fact that every second or third person had a cell phone glued to his/her ear. |
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6 [752]
Not-so-fast Food
2006-08-16
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smoke rises
from the hot dog stand...
long line-up
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Link with 751: Smoke.
There is a popular lunch-hour spot with a hot dog stand named "Fat Frank's". It is very popular. One day I noticed a big plume of smoke emanating from the grill where all the hot dogs that were being cooked. |
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7 [753]
New Surroundings
2006-08-17
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re-potted bonsai —
an emerging root reflects
the summer sun
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Link with 752: Long.
This was inspired by our ornamental fig which we transplanted in August, 2006. It is not exactly a bonsai but almost immediately after re-potting it a number of roots start emerging out of the top soil. I observed this one afternoon as the Sun shone through the window in front of which the tree stands.
There is a second level of meaning with this haiku. The re-potting is like someone who has moved to a different location and has quickly established new friends (roots). This seems pleasant as represented by the Sun. However, the quickly-made friendships may prove to be somewhat superficial...and an Autumn and/or Winter experience may soon be in store. |
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8 [754]
High Fliers
2006-08-18
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eight geese
glide high overhead...
noon-day sun
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Link with 753: Sun.
One August day I looked straight up and was amazed to see eight geese coasting along effortlessly. They were quite high up and gliding along quite fast and heading due West. They were as clear as a bell in the Noon-day Sun. |
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9 [755]
Foul Alarm
2006-08-19
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still morning...
a magpie's caw portends
summer's end
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Link with 754: Bird (Goose / Magpie).
I heard this sound in our back yard around the beginning of August, 2006. Although magpies are around here all year long, the sound of its caw had a quality that somehow reminded me of the cool days of Autumn and the coming winter. |
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10 [756]
End's Beginning
2006-08-20
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the mighty Yomato
succumbs to an onslaught...
at rest in the depths
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Link with 755: End (Summer / Ship).
"Conceived in the mid-1930's by the Imperial Japanese Navy, the Yamato and a class of sister ships were to be the greatest battleships of all — with more powerful guns, advanced optics, and impenetrable armor. But by the time Yamato entered service on December 16, 1941, aircraft carriers had begun to overshadow battleships. The attack on Pearl Harbor just a week earlier made it clear that air power would be decisive in the Pacific War. In the war's last days, as Yamato lay on the seafloor, orders were given to destroy all documentation of the ship. Fortunately, some photos and fragmentary drawings survived" For more details, see Nova's "Anatomy of Yamato":
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/supership/ |
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11 [757]
Still Serving
2006-08-21
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"Obstruction Ahead"...
the orange sign face up
on the river bottom
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Link with 756: At the bottom.
During the August long weekend the sign was visible on the bottom of the Saskatchewan River from atop the Groat bridge. It was a remarkable image as the river is usually quite high at this time of year and very murky with silt. I'm not sure how the sign got there but the bridge had been re-decked in the past year or so. |
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12 [758]
Gift from Above
2006-08-22
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under the bridge...
a pigeon feather twirls
to the ground
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Link with 757: River / Bridge.
At the back of our house a path leads along a deep ravine down to the Saskatchewan River. Not too far along the path a traffic bridge spans the ravine overhead. One day we happened to be walking under the bridge at the exact same time that a feather came gently twirling down from among the ledges under the bridge where a number of pigeons like to perch. |
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13 [759]
Pure Yellow
2006-08-23
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a potentilla petal
settles on the ground...
spot of sunshine
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Link with 758: Descending (Feather / Petal).
Our potentillas were pruned earlier in the year and as a result only a few blossoms emerged over the summer. One afternoon we rushed out of the house to go somewhere when I noticed in the sunlight a single, yellow petal, pure and fresh...as if it had just fallen from one of the few blossoms above. |
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14 [760]
Liquid Vestige
2006-08-24
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wet spots
track across the yard —
pail of water
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Link with 759: Drops (Sunshine / Water).
This is an image based on childhood memories of our visits to the farm. This is a re-worked version of a haiku I had written for the May, 2006 Kukai. |
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15 [761]
Anyone Home?
2006-08-25
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trickling dam...
a full pond yet beavers
remain unseen
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Link with 760: Leaking Water.
On a trip to Coyote Lake we saw beaver dams with their ponds full of water. However, we did not see any actual beavers around...maybe they were having an afternoon snooze in their beaver house. |
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16 [762]
Teem Spirit
2006-08-26
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hot afternoon —
a city of ants swarm
upon a log
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Link with 761: Colonizing creatures.
We visited the Devonian Botanical Gardens on a sunny, hot day. I came upon this seething mass of ants, nestled in a rock garden in a remote corner of the park. |
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17 [763]
A Bonus
2006-08-27
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country well —
more brought up than
cold water
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Link with 762: Brought up.
This was partly inspired by the Pioneer Quest documentary (Canadian West, circa 1875) with their experience digging a well for their homestead and what they found in the well on some mornings. |
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18 [764]
Tilt
2006-08-28
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cool breeze...
on the edge between
summer and fall
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Link with 763: Cold / Cool.
We took a walk during lunch on a sunny day in late August. It felt like summer except for the cool breeze that brought a distinct notion of Autumn with it. |
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19 [765]
Help Me
2006-08-29
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up-ended turtle:
head and limbs flail
in the gentle breeze
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Link with 764: Breeze.
I had pet turtles when I was a child. I recall how helpless they seemed to be when occasionally they'd flip upside down. |
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20 [766]
Hangin' Around
2006-08-30
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a caterpillar
hangs from its middle...
robin's beak
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Link with 765: Helplessness.
One day at the farm this Summer I saw a Robin fly up onto the roof in such a way that it was silhouetted against the evening sky. It stood there for the longest time. I could clearly see a caterpillar hanging from its beak. |
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21 [767]
Summer Dreams
2006-08-31
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snacks and comics
in a pail lifted up...
tree house
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Link with 766: Food (Caterpillar / Snacks).
I never had a tree house but my friends and I dreamed of building one. We, in fact, started building a few of them but for some reason we never got them finished. Our dreams included the idea of taking up snacks and comic books and enjoying our summer days in the comforts of our own tree-top hacienda. |
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22 [768]
One Way or Another
2006-09-01
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the back lawn
watered... one boy wins
the contest
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Link with 767: Kid's having fun.
Boys will be boys, eh? |
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23 [769]
Refuge?
2006-09-02
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garden hose...
a tiny spider scurries
for cover
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Link with 768: Watering.
One day I saw a spider near the end of the hose in our backyard. I thought of him later when I went to turn on the sprinkler to water the lawn. |
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24 [770]
Survival
2006-09-03
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during a downpour
on our vacation... we get lost
in a bookstore
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Link with 769: Taking cover.
The event described in this haiku happened this year on our Summer vacation. A rain storm came up quickly and the bookstore was a welcome refuge. We spent a good time browsing through all of our favorite sections. |
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25 [771]
Way Back
2006-09-04
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sunday afternoon...
a visit with gram & gramps
in the museum exhibit
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Link with 770: Old thing collection.
I never went to a real museum with my grand parents. However, in some museums I have visited, it is like being there with them in that era in which they lived so many years ago. |
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26 [772]
Surprise!
2006-09-05
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birthday party...
i see an alarming image
in the hall mirror
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Link with 771: Looking back in time.
The passing of years can sometimes catch one by surprise. |
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27 [773]
Rude Awakening
2006-09-06
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early morning...
friday's alarm setting
still active
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Link with 772: Alarmed.
One Friday I forgot to "turn off" the alarm clock and, of course, it went off the next morning... |
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28 [774]
Almost
2006-09-07
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second by seconds
in a three-legged race —
sunday picnic
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Link with 773: Timing.
At one summer picnic I recall competing in several races and running my very best in each of them. The best I could muster however was second place in two of them. |
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29 [775]
Got Away
2006-09-08
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my liquid marble
rolls under the fridge...
quick silver
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Link with 774: Losing Something.
As a kid I aquired a small quantity of mercury in a bottle. We would take it out of the bottle and had fun playing with it and rolling it around on the floor. The dangers of this substance, of course, were not as well known back then. |
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30 [776]
Evidence
2006-09-09
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wind storm...
a yellow leaf caught
on her sweater
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Link with 775: Caught.
This was inspired from a run we took around the neighbourhood at the start of the Fall season. |
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31 [777]
New Start
2006-09-10
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century-old elm —
a young branch attached
to the trunk bottom
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Link with 776: Leaf / Branch.
I saw the image in this haiku one day when we were out and about in our neighbourhood. |
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32 [778]
Asphalt Wasabi
2006-09-11
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former building...
once a place for sushi,
now a parkinq lot
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Link with 777: New from old.
This poem came from a recent dream in which an old aquaintence had come to town for a visit. My friend wanted to go to one of his old favorite restaurants in the top floor of a downtown building. But unfortunately the building had not too long ago been turned into a strip mall with a parking lot. |
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33 [779]
3-D Mirror
2006-09-12
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air bubble —
a tiny globe suspended
in a drop of rain
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Link with 778: Within (Parking lot / Bubble).
Recently I observed an air bubble in a drop of water. Perhaps this isn't uncommon but my imagination took over thinking about this world within a world. |
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34 [780]
Not Here
2006-09-13
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power blackout —
i find the spot where
the flashlight isn't
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Link with 779: Localized area.
Late one night a thunder storm produced a sudden blackout. Where I thought I'd last seen the flashlight was in the basement, two flights of stairs down through pitch blackness... |
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35 [781]
It's Okay
2006-09-14
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terrible dream...
i awake to the soft glow
of the nightlight
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Link with 780: Dark.
Sometimes small things can provide a bit of comfort. In this case the hallway nightlight was a gentle reminder that all was well. |
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36 [782]
On Guard
2006-09-15
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street lamps...
each seagull stands
at attention
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Link with 781: Light source.
It is not unusual to see seagulls perched on the top of street lights. One day, however, I came upon about six or seven of them in a row. |
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37 [783]
Greener Pasture
2006-09-16
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grocery checkout...
i switch lines but i still
get through last
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Link with 782: Standing in a line.
This invariably seems to happen for me whenever I see that the next line is shorter. |
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38 [784]
Double Exposure
2006-09-17
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estate lawn...
automatic sprinkers compete
with the rain
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Link with 783: Competition.
One morning this week it was raining pretty hard. As we drove by a manicured yard I was amused to see the automatic sprinklers happily watering the lawns. |
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39 [785]
Pleasant Moments
2006-09-18
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riverside promenade —
seniors stroll through
fallen leaves
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Link with 784: High-class Real estate.
A lot of senior's live in high-rise apartments overlooking the river valley. The Victoria Hill prominade runs in front of these high rises. On nice days it is common to see many people, and especially seniors, taking a walk along the prominade. |
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40 [786]
To the Dark Side
2006-09-19
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turned-up compost...
the red worms wriggle
back under
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41 [787]
One of Them
2006-09-20
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autumn breeze...
a cabbage moth among
the scattering leaves
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Link with 786: Turned-up / Stirred-up.
We were passing under some large elms. A gentle breeze stirred a number of fallen leaves and out of the midst of them flew out a white cabbage moth. |
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42 [788]
Grand Entrance
2006-09-21
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sumo ring...
a tiny spider descends
on a silk thread
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Link with 787: Silk.
The inspiration for this came when one day I found a spider in the basement. At the same time a Sumo wrestling match was on NHK Japan TV. |
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43 [789]
Coming Days
2006-09-22
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a koi rises
to meet a falling leaf —
cool afternoon
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Link with 788: Descending (Spider / Leaf).
I've often thought of what happens to koi in ponds when winter rudely arrives. This haiku is partly from the koi's perspective...seeing the autumn leaves falling into the pond and realizing a chilly season is not far ahead. |
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44 [790]
Sink Beach
2006-09-23
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stove-top espresso...
the feel of grounds while
cleaning the pot
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Link with 789: Expended.
On most evenings I like to make an epresso. Afterward, when cleaning the pot, a little quantity of grounds often pours out of the basket into my hands. It has a very theraputic feeling... like beach sand sifting through one's fngers. |
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45 [791]
The Passing
2006-09-24
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railway crossing...
i count the cars and read
their serial numbers
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Link with 790: Passing by.
Counting the rail cars takes me back to my childhood days. And reading the serial numbers...isn't that what they are for, to be read? |
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46 [792]
What's the Matter?
2006-09-25
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cold porridge —
i examine this matter with
grey matter
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Link with 791: Examination.
There is nothing too profound in this one today, folks. Just a gratuitous play on the word 'matter' and the colour 'grey'. :-) |
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47 [793]
Overnight Gift
2006-09-26
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green lawn...
pearls of dew reflect
an early sunrise
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Link with 792: Off-white.
I saw this one morning driving to work. The Sun was reflecting on the lawn at a low angle. It appeared to be covered by thousands of sparkling diamonds. |
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48 [794]
A Token
2006-09-27
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rose bouquet...
a tear forms on her cheek,
falls on the card
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Link with 793: Drops (Dew / Tears).
...an image capturing one of several possible emotions. |
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49 [795]
A Happy Place
2006-09-28
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north shore...
each wave laps then
falls away
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Link with 794: Falling (Tear / Wave).
This is just a simple, happy image of life on the sunny side of the lake or sea. In the Nortern hemisphere the North shore is on the sunny side. If you're from down under then maybe it's still happy as I hear it can get pretty hot down there. |
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50 [796]
Random Patterns
2006-09-29
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autumn afternoon...
thirty or forty seagulls
circle overhead
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Link with 795: Seashore.
On a lovely autumn afternoon I happened to look up and noticed a large number of seagulls circling high overhead. The group didn't seem to be going anywhere in particular and they didn't seem to be concerned about anything on the ground. They eventually just slowly moved off to the Southwest, still flying around in random circlular patterns. |
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51 [797]
Pedestrian
2006-09-30
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a fat pigeon
struts at our feet...
oh, how tame!
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Link with 796: Bird (Seagull / Pigeon).
The pigeons downtown here are very well fed. They walk around the noon-hour crowd as if they were pedestrians themselves. The pigeon in this poem was especially tame and came strutting up so close to me that I felt I could almost reach down and pick him up like a kitten. |
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52 [798]
Annoyed Landlord
2006-10-01
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the upstairs tenant
refuses to pay rent...
cheeky squirrel
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Link with 797: Wild life nearby.
We have a free-loading, little squirrel who has somehow found his way into our attic. He is a very annoying tennant as he seems to like to make noise just at the times when we are trying to sleep. Grrr... |
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53 [799]
Resting Place
2006-10-02
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garage floor...
a maple leaf settles
under a tire
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| Link with 798: House / Garage. |
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54 [800]
Public Inquiry
2006-10-03
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words sprayed
on a downtown building:
"Are We Safe Yet?"
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Link with 799: Concern for Danger.
Not too long ago I saw this graffiti on the wall of a run-down building. I'm not sure if the author was sarcastically referring to the state of the building or commenting about one of the world conflicts (e.g. 9-11, Afganistan, Iraq, Lebanon). In any event, I recently noticed another graffitist had written an answer below, "NO". |
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55 [801]
Tough Mama
2006-10-04
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smoke break...
a red heart tatoo
on her arm
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Link with 800: Graffiti / Tatoo.
I was passing by a group of smokers one lunch hour. One of them was seated on a bench. I noticed on her arm a distinctive red tatoo in the shape of a heart. |
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56 [802]
A Veritable Fountain
2006-10-05
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exotic smoothness
flows from her mouth...
bottle of shiraz
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| Link with 801: Red (Heart / Wine). |
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57 [803]
Winter Vacation
2006-10-06
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the bird house
occupied this summer...
now empty
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Link with 802: Emptied.
We have a few bird houses in our neighbourhood. I recently noticed their occpants from the summer were now nowhere to be seen...another sign of winter's relentless march in our direction. |
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58 [804]
Night Passing
2006-10-07
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after midnight —
the sound of a car fades
in the distance
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| Link with 803: Previously present. |
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59 [805]
Surrogate
2006-10-08
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a full moon
bright and clear... above
the flitting moths
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Link with 804: Night.
One evening I stopped to fill up with gas and across the street I saw moths flitting around the street light. Just above the street light and the flitting moths was a full moon. It is ironical that the moths were fooled by the fake moon when the real moon was "so near by". |
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60 [806]
Left Behind
2006-10-09
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a sunday crowd
crams the italian deli...
olives on the floor
|
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61 [807]
After the Storm
2006-10-10
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rain drops
on a long blade of grass...
early morning
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| Link with 806: Little spherical objects. |
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62 [808]
Not Alone
2006-10-11
|
country weekend...
a faint rustling sound
in the walls
|
Link with 807: Pitter-patter sound.
Some time ago I spent a few nights in a lake-side cottage. We had the joy of falling asleep to the sound of little critters scurrying around in the walls and attic. |
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63 [809]
Childhood Focus
2006-10-12
|
toy box...
the toddler has more interest
in kitchen utensils
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Link with 808: Little feet.
I've known little ones, my brother included, who were always more intrigued with what was in the kitchen cupboards than with the toys that had been bought for them. |
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64 [810]
Chase Scene
2006-10-13
|
light breeze...
one leaf tumbles,
follows another
|
Link with 809: Interest.
I saw this one day in a mall parking lot. There were exactly two leaves tumbling along as if one was in hot pursuit of the other. |
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65 [811]
Autumn Panorama
2006-10-14
|
mountain vale —
autumn colours reflect
the afternoon sun
|
Link with 810: Leaves.
Many years ago we were driving in the foothills of the Rockies. As the Sun descended behind the mountains in the near distance, the illuminated autumn leaves of the trees in the valley presented a breath-taking panorama. |
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66 [812]
Those were the Days
2006-10-15
|
an old tire
rolls down the hill...
kid inside
|
| Link with 811: Mountain / Hill. |
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67 [813]
Not Alone
2006-10-16
|
junk yard...
the glint of two eyes
out of a tire
|
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68 [814]
Fall Behind
2006-10-17
|
he waves to me
from behind the falls...
spray and mist
|
| Link with 813: Looked at. |
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69 [815]
Yellow Divider
2006-10-18
|
highway line —
a little paint between
speeding masses
|
Link with 814: Separation.
I was inspired for this when I was one day driving along a road. The aftenoon sun clearly reflected off the yellow line that ran off into the distance as far as I could see. |
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70 [816]
Afternoon Wind
2006-10-19
|
mid-day heat —
we sit in the sea breeze
under a palm
|
Link with 815: Scent.
Have you ever noticed that there is usually a breeze blowing in off the sea? It is a real phenomena called "sea breeze" that makes the shore cooler than it is inland. In the daytime, cool breezes invariably blow in from the ocean toward the land, rather than the other way around. They begin several hours before sunrise, reach a peak in the afternoon, and die out toward evening. Why does this happen?
Here's why: In the morning, the sun beats down on both land and sea. But the sea isn't noticably warmed by the sunshine because it is so cold and vast. It has an inexhaustible appetite for heat energy. The land on the other hand is substantially warmed up by the sun's rays. As the land warms up, it warms the air above it, which expands and rises. The cooler, denser air that is sitting over the water then rolls in underneath it, sweeping over the beach and cooling bathers.
Adapted from "What Einstein Didn't Know" by Robert L. Wolke, page 143. |
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71 [817]
Baking Lesson
2006-10-20
|
apple pie...
playing backqammon
as it cools
|
Link with 816: Cool.
One Friday aftenoon not too long ago I went to a friend's house and he showed me how he makes pies. We baked a blueberry and an apple pie. While they were in the oven we had espresso and played backgammon. |
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72 [818]
Meals on Wheels
2006-10-21
|
a crow pecks
at something on the road...
left-overs?
|
Link with 817: Food (Pie / Trash).
One man's (or bird's) trash can be a another bird's dinner. |
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73 [819]
Leaf Catchers
2006-10-22
|
sidewalk...
coloured leaves adhere
to shallow puddles
|
Link with 818: Road / Parking lot.
It is the morning following a night of blustery wind and rain. We come out and witness several large puddles, or rather uber-wet-spots, in which every square centimetre is pasted with a freshly-fallen leaf. |
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74 [820]
Undecided
2006-10-23
|
small tree...
a campaign poster catches
on a leafless branch
|
Link with 819: Stuck / Caught.
Sometimes political promises come too late for those that would benefit from them.
This haiku was actually inspired by a long banner-like ribbon of paper. It had blown into a tiny tree and had somehow gotten intertwined in its branches. |
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75 [821]
Guerilla Gardening
2006-10-24
|
flower box —
a cigarette butt planted
face down
|
Link with 820: Garden.
When in need one has to make do with what one has at hand. I suppose the person that did the planting in this case was in need of an ash tray. |
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76 [822]
One in the Crowd
2006-10-25
|
through a cloud
of falling leaves... one clings
to the windshield
|
Link with 821: Planted.
To our right along this remote country road is a long row of 60-year old poplars. The Sun is shining and there is a breeze from the West that is showering us with thousands of golden-coloured leaves. They all brush off the truck but as we come to a stop at the corner, one of them sticks right in the centre of the windshield. |
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77 [823]
On the Go
2006-10-26
|
swift breeze...
a clump of thistle fluff
drifts by
|
Link with 822: Drifting.
I recently saw this out on the farm where a lot of thistles grow. In the Fall you will often see huge bunches of fluffy seeds being carried in the wind. |
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78 [824]
Glacial Turf
2006-10-27
|
first frost —
ice-capped blades of grass
greet the morning
|
Link with 823: Fluffy white.
The first frost seems magical to me as the early Sun reveals a world that seems as if it had been dipped in cake frosting. I suppose maybe that's why it is called 'frosting'. |
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79 [825]
Please Proceed
2006-10-28
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green light...
a vacant intersection
after midnight
|
Link with 824: Green.
Have you ever driven through town in the dead of night? Almost everything is shut down and everyone is at home asleep (well, almost everyone). There is this funny feeling you get coming to an intersection and you're the only traffic that there is around. |
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80 [826]
Seaside
2006-10-29
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tidal pool —
glistening pebbles nestle
in a driftwood log
|
Link with 825: Cycle.
A tidal pool in the hollow of a log...a not so uncommon sight along the West coast of Canada. |
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81 [827]
Green & Gold
2006-10-30
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the golden leaf
of a poplar floats down...
lands on a hosta
|
Link with 826: Nestled.
I saw this one day at the back of our house. The poplar leaf had landed exactly in the middle of the hosta leaf. It was picture perfect...shoulda got the camera, it sat there for about 3 days before it "disappeared". :-( |
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82 [828]
Long Gone
2006-10-31
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first snowfall...
a tuft of feathers hang
on the birdhouse hole
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Link with 827: Floating down.
This is a re-work of #803:
the bird house
occupied this summer...
now empty |
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83 [829]
Trailer
2006-11-01
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drizzle... a child
in a tent on wheels pulled
behind a bicycle
|
Link with 828: Tiny enclosure.
It's amazing how they make these little bicycle tent trailers for toddlers these days. The little tykes are completely protected from the elements. |
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84 [830]
Meeting Weary
2006-11-02
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the board chairman
arises to adjourn the meeting...
snoring sounds
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Link with 829: Leading.
No one particular meeting I've attended inspired this senryu but I have been to many meetings in which not only the chairman was bored. |
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85 [831]
Plea Bargain
2006-11-03
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i dream i ask
for a lighter sentence...
snooze button
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Link with 830: Sleep.
Ah, the snooze button. What would you do without one? |
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86 [832]
Rapid Descent
2006-11-04
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autumn rain —
a brown leaf plummets
to the ground
|
Link with 831: Light / Less light.
I am driving home in the rain. Just before I turn into our the road leading to the back of our house a large leaf from one of the elms in the neigbourhood falls straight down in front of me like a rock. |
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87 [833]
Grounded
2006-11-05
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overcast day...
a withered baloon among
leafless branches
|
Link with 832: Spent.
The day is cool and muggy. It feels like we are high up in the mountains in the summer time. I discover a little baloon that is shriveled up and lying in a flowerbed amidst some leafless shrubs. |
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88 [834]
Graceful Glider
2006-11-06
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sudden gasp...
a hot air baloon drifts
right overhead
|
Link with 833: Baloon.
Most of the time you see hot air balloons off in the distance. Once in awhile they sneak up on you. It is an uncanny experience to hear the swoosh of hot air and then to look up and see a giant air-bloated blimp right overhead. |
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89 [835]
Bowing Out
2006-11-07
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first snowfall...
stalks of rhubarb begin
leaning over
|
Link with 834: Over.
When the rhubarb takes a stage right, it's a wrap on Summer! :-) |
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90 [836]
Clue
2006-11-08
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parkade...
one car covered
with leaves
|
Link with 835: Covered.
When one car out of many is covered with leaves (or snow later on) it's a sign that it is likely the owner doesn't have a garage. |
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91 [837]
Discovery
2006-11-09
|
fancy dinner...
a single piece of gum
found under
|
Link with 836: Single.
A previous dinner guest must have placed their treasure there and forgot to retreive it after the dinner was over. |
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92 [838]
Autumn Serenity
2006-11-10
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bare branches
set the valley at peace...
fallen leaves
|
Link with 837: Piece/Peace.
This was inspired by our Saskatchewan River valley and from this haiku by Hoitsu:
Flower petals
set the mountain in motion-
cherry blossoms.
From Haiku Landscapes, page 35. |
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93 [839]
Returned
2006-11-11
|
tour of duty...
our boy comes home
in a wheel chair
|
Link with 838: Fallen.
Remembrance Day / Veteran's Day. |
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94 [840]
Season's End
2006-11-12
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summer cottage...
i lock the boat away
one last time
|
Link with 839: Going home.
We don't own a summer cottage but we have friends that do. Every year they have one last weekend at the lake before freeze-up where everything is cleaned up and locked down. Then it's back to town for the winter, like a bear settling in for a long hibernation. |
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95 [841]
Too Late
2006-11-13
|
bags of groceries...
i spot my keys on
the car seat
|
Link with 840: Locked (Boat / Groceries).
This sort of thing happened to us once, to my Dad at least once, and to a friend most recently. And with modern Japanese cars the old coat-hanger-through-the-window trick doesn't work (you'll need a crook or a locksmith). |
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96 [842]
Best Before
2006-11-14
|
cafe patio...
a red leaf falls into
a plastic tree
|
Link with 841: Within (Car / Tree).
I drive by a restaurant with an outdoor patio. Just beyond the little fence surrounding the tables are several green plastic trees. They looked quite smart back in July and August. |
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97 [843]
Winter Stores
2006-11-15
|
mountain ash —
clumps of berries beside
last year's
|
Link with 842: Red (Leaf / Berries).
I was intrigued to recently see a mountain ash tree loaded with clumps of ripe red berries from this year along side clumps of darker red berries that were still on the the tree from last year. I'm not sure why these berries were still in abundance as last January I saw hords of bohemian waxwings feasting on these berries (albeit they were on a different tree). That inspired this haiku:
556.
bohemian waxwings
descend on a mountain ash...
feeding frenzy |
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98 [844]
Taking Root
2006-11-16
|
cold day...
wet moss on an old
cedar roof
|
Link with 843: Tree.
I look out our second floor window and below is the roof of the first floor. It had rained all night and today it is a quite cold out. The moss growing in the cracks of the cedar shakes are now dark and wet from the rain. Nothing too profound here but these words evoke powerful memories for me. |
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99 [845]
Buddies
2006-11-17
|
a stone supports
the curled, dried leaf...
mountain path
|
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100 [846]
Sojourn
2006-11-18
|
autumn kitchen —
a buzzing fly settles
on an edge
|
Link with 845: Settled.
At the end of summer the flies outside begin looking for places to hide out for the winter. In the Autumn, in this old house of ours, a fly will sometimes mysteriously appear having somehow found its way into the house. |
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101 [847]
Feet Up
2006-11-19
|
early winter...
in the sill, a ladybug
on its back
|
Link with 846: Bug.
Like the fly in haiku #846, sometimes a ladybug sneaks into the house. In some cases I think they fly in through an open door. These little critters, of course, only have a limited life span. The one in this poem perhaps reached its end trying to get out through the window. |
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