Corneigh Hoff

Twelve haiku: dreams, come true or broken

I

thoughts are wandering 
leave the safety of childhood 
thoughts are wondering

II

future, once a myth 
caught in dreams and secret songs 
starlight blinding eyes

III

how are we feeble 
our strengths absent and hidden 
how are we limping

IV

doors, opened or closed 
voices chanting morning dreams 
rainbow like a dome

V

brittle memories 
crumpled seas of yesteryear 
stations abandoned

VI

people do steal hearts 
seems they do it all the time
 never give ‘m back

VII

face-distorting frown 
shape steps from its tarnished shade 
ugliness revealed

VIII

here in these wetlands 
no way to keep your boots dry 
now it starts to rain

IX

how do evenings speak 
subdued breaths of hurried wings 
never to look back

X

fangs loom over me 
venom shoots into my veins
pain is limitless

XI

homicidal heart 
core of man’s anatomy 
veins network of lies

XII

wishing I could see 
all that’s hidden in the bright
 pain and ache and hurt

Two haiku: memories (2021)

I

her smile looked funny
 and dressed for the occasion 
and we had pizza

II

and I heard her voice 
speak words I can’t remember 
and we had coffee

Five haiku on beauty

I

watch the light, she said
I looked at her worn, bare skin 
watching it, I said

II

my eyes can’t see you 
my brow seems tired and heavy 
you surround my heart

III

what beauty is like 
no one alive can reveal 
it must be you then

IV

she said: I’m a rose
then she handed me a thorn
I said: you’re a rose

V

breathing, heaving breast
keeping me awake all night
dream-blurring beauty

Haiku: decision

take the road ahead
but what if there’s a junction?
take the road ahead

Five haiku with animals

I

lions sharing den
alligator water well
roses far away

II

eagle swerving peak
feathered sails embracing wind 
descending summit

III

horses riding out
saddleless and freed of strain 
hills welcome their trot

IV

antelope dashed by
hey, I asked, what’s the hurry? 
just running, she said

V

cheetah crossed my path 
where you going, I wondered 
just running, he said

Haiku: peace on its way

half the speed of snails
thrice the pain of scorpion stings
peace is on its way

Haiku: love is sweet (2017)

love is sweet and harsh 
sugar bullets piercing hearts
love is harsh and sweet

Four haiku: the four winds II (2022)

I 

they came from the east 
stinging wasps and killer bees 
forecast: scattered clouds

II

they came from the south 
humming drones and blasting dams 
forecast: sun and bright

III

they came from the north 
black birds in formation flight 
forecast: breezy spells

IV

they came from the west 
time to write the musical 
forecast: star careers