.
halo surrounds
full moon in evening sky
winter rains approach
gray clouds weep
torrential waters rage
swiftly downstream
dark gray clouds hang
stagnant moist air lingers
distant thunder heard
yellow moon watches
fiery sunset
from behind the tree
plumes of purple smoke
obscure dying flames
in evening sky
orange ball floats
amidst hazy gray sea
light dispersed
These haiku (written in 1991 & 1992) were set to music by a long-time friend, composer John Marr, and performed at his graduate recital at California State University, Fullerton (11 April 1995).
fireflies flicker
as cicadas sing
the air is still
blue cricifix borne
on alabaster flesh -
for whom?
coyotes' cries
permeate walls
of stucco and glass
brown spider
in mid-air hanging
by a thread
Black widow spider
On ebony canvas
Awaits a new mate
Alone to kneel
Before vanishing altar
Prayer forgotten
Eyeless sight vision
Darkness light illuminate
Desert of plenty
On motorcycle
Neil Young on the radio
Down familiar streets
The last four were written and performed in a haiku writing class in early 1991. The rest are from 1992-1996, while I was periodically experimenting with the form. Many of these were read at Regency and Cafe Yorba, a couple coffee houses in Orange County, CA. Many thanks to Lee and the members of Motif, a long since defunct local folk group.
his saxophone wails
calling out to Bird and 'Trane
but no one answers
jaded angel sings
raspy voice, weeping guitar
and I'm out of beer
thunder clouds
seem so tranquil
from above
the sheets cling to her body
as she sleeps
when will I fix the fan?
standing on an industrial street
searching my soul for the
perfect beat
snow sparkles
like diamonds beneath
full moon's light
a foot of snowfall
so pleasing to the eye
so hard to shovel
life hanging
in the balance --
don't look down
not even a
jack o' lantern sustains
a flame in these winds
the sunlight
on your hair at the beach
so long ago
young deer playing
in the rain
a leaf hits my windshield
even after the first freeze
my house is blessed
with healthy bugs
(inspired in part by Issa's writing)
found heaven's gate
her nike sneakers on
cover of newsweek
fiery leaves
cover the sidewalk
love dies beautifully
"poetry is a fireplace
in summer or a fan in winter"
I laugh
(quote from Matsuo Basho)
Blackwater River
with your slow current
carry me home
The period covered by these poems has been especially turbulent, including increased marital discord during the period, and a bout with pneumonia toward the end of 1998. Not surprisingly, most of the images are ones of storminess and death.
wildflower soul
blossoms amidst concrete
brick and asphalt
setting myself up
for a downfall, lured by her
sweet voice and great legs
it ain't gonna rain
shouts the preacher as I
grab my umbrella
kind of blue
spinning in circles
so what?
lady bug at my
door stop seeking shelter
from the rain?
so quiet at night
even the shadows
can be heard now
that bright star
did it also die
a long time ago?
even in
an untended garden
flowers blossom
spring is in the air
budding trees, flowers, green grass
I sneeze
red bird and flowers
on ebony canvas
existence and void
rocking back and forth
her head in her hands
on the couch
love is a
four-letter word
when you feel nothing
lying in darkness
Bono sings "I feel numb"
in her dreams
"mommy's in the hostipal?"
he asks as I drive him
home from preschool
solitude
the only friend
of the depressed
love is a long walk
in a downpour
without an umbrella
so quiet now
in this house where we once
laughed, argued, made love
the bugs emerge
at night in the kitchen
to keep me company
why turn on
the porch light now?
I'm going nowhere
Information: If any of these interest you and you would like to see more, please drop me a line. Just click on the envelope below:
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The above works copyright 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, and 1999 by Siddhartha Vicious.