Four haiku: the four winds (2019)
I
sailing to the south
nurse the sea, the muffled waves
feed the toddler’s mouth
II
sailing to the north
sounding bells ring through the clouds
in your dreams, go forth
III
sailing to the east
spirit flask on either hip
prepare for the feast
IV
sailing to the west
where ye go, my darling son
anchor of my chest
Ten haiku with a touch of nature (2002-2003)
I
spherical raindrop
I look at you and wonder
will waves fight the sea?
II
fragrant flower, hush
flash not your fiery colours
unless your day lives
III
nature’s canvas lies
stretched out like an maiden book
morning soon unfolds
IV
bearded butterfly
praying on my moonlit wall
shedding memories
V
in the midst of now
escaped from time we hover
flowers seek our kiss
VI
a mirror am I
uncracked yet unreflecting
sunrays hit the pond
VII
rustles in the wind
a journey to remember
lovely yesterday
VIII
pictures of some past
framed in brownish fallen leaves
strengthen yesterdays
IX
in tree trunks we trust
building truths no soul believes
singe in open fire
X
hail ye howling winds
welcome lashing thunderstrike
wishes may come true
Rock my boat, a blues song (1980)
Your image like a phantom lingers
ever since you left my sight;
A cold despair now locks my fingers,
ah! stalking spectre, stifling night.
I imagine your scream, your silent shuffle,
your mild existence, faint and feeble being,
Your voice, by nature dim and muffled;
You meet my reaching hand by bashful fleeing.
You ask me do I love you, I ask you can I choose?
Such feelings cause me pain, a choking noose
I beg for my release, this agony to end
Please don’t rock my boat again.
How did life become so ruffled?
You ask me do I love you, I ask you can I choose?
Such feelings cause me pain, a choking noose
I sail towards this haven, a sanctuary shore
So please don’t rock my boat no more.
Haiku: burning bush (2023)
fathers take up arms
armoured daughters wielding swords
near the burning bush
Three haiku for travellers (2002)
I
restless traveller
you who have a road for lunch
questions for breakfast
II
secret visitor
kneeling at the riverbank
thoughts in the distance
III
silent messenger
break your news now, cautiously,
noiselessly, then die
Haiku: bunny in the bush (2023)
bunny in the bush
sounds from a granddaughter’s voice
radiant and bright
(This one calls for a bit of explanation: my granddaughter of 2 and her raggedy bunny doll are inseparable. One day she almost lost it because it got stuck in a bush. All the way back home she sang her own made up song: bunny in the bush)
A Sonnet for Alan Kurdi (2018)
one day you wrote your name upon the strand
a while there was the imprint of your face
little sneakers denting the brackish sand
the sea touching your brow, a diadem of lace
the sweetest boy that ever reached the shore
so beautiful, so wonderful, so dead
you were alive, full-coloured, hours before
the wind roughly and softly made your bed
I swore, we swore, never to forget
Alan, you’ll be the difference, yes, you will
we loved so deep, the moment that we met
then we ùnmet, as you lay there, so still
and came the waves and washed you away
and came the waves and washed you away
Inspired by Edmund Spenser (~1552-1599)
Corneigh Hoff 